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March Madness games today: Ranking the 16-game men's NCAA Tournament schedule for Friday
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- March Madness games today: Ranking the 16-game men's NCAA Tournament schedule for Friday
Be sure to follow USA TODAY Sports' live updates keeping track of all of NCAA Tournament's Friday first round games.
Half of the first round of the men's NCAA basketball tournament is complete. But we're far from done, March Madness fans.
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The action Friday continues with another full slate of 16 contests. Once again, this will be your guide for the day with all the matchups, channels and tip times. Stick with us all day as teams advance and brackets are busted.
March Madness predictions, odds: Picking all 16 games on today's NCAA Tournament schedule
Once again, the times listed can vary slightly if preceding contests run long, but there should always be something happening throughout the afternoon and evening hours. Here's the ranking of all the games and everything you need to know about how to watch Friday's contests.
1. No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State
Time/TV:4:10 p.m. ET, TNT
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The Aggies have appeared in every NCAA Tournament but one since 2019 but own just one victory in that stretch, something this veteran lineup with leaders MJ Collins Jr. and Mason Falslev hopes to change. They should match up well with the Wildcats, though Duke Brennan could give Villanova the edge in the paint.
2. No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio)
Time/TV:4:25 p.m. ET, TBS
You'd be hard-pressed to find a first-round contest featuring more contrasting styles. The free-wheeling RedHawks won over plenty of skeptics in Wednesday night's First Four victory against SMU , but the Volunteers will do their best to make this affair a grind with a premium on controlling the boards.
Miami (Ohio) forward Antwone Woolfolk (13) plays the ball while being defended by SMU guard Boopie Miller (2) during their First Four game of the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the University of Dayton Arena.
3. No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa
Time/TV:6:50 p.m. ET, TNT
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The final 8-9 matchup tips off the evening session, though it, too, provides something of a contrast. The Hawkeyes have a true floor general in Bennett Stirtz , who rarely leaves the floor. But the Tigers' ability to spread the offensive load could serve them well given their recent injury woes. This looks to be tight throughout.
4. No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara
Time/TV:12:15 p.m. ET, CBS
One of the sport's name-brand programs appears in the leadoff spot, though this year's Wildcats can hardly be considered Final Four contenders. They figure to get a formidable first-round challenge from the Broncos, a well-rounded squad led by veteran coach Herb Sendek that shares the ball and holds its own on the glass.
5. No. 7 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 10 Missouri
Time/TV:10:10 p.m. ET, truTV
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The final game of the round of 64 features what is as de facto home game for Mizzou despite its lower seed. The Tigers, however, enter the tourney on a three-game losing streak, so a fast start by the Hurricanes could neutralize the home-state crowd in St. Louis. Missouri leading scorer Mark Mitchell will have to keep pace with the Miami duo of Malik Reneau and Tre Donaldson.
6. No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Central Florida
Time/TV:7:25 p.m. ET, TBS
The Bruins' late push in the crowded Big Ten could elevate them only so far up the seeding hierarchy, but they should at least be at full strength for this assignment. The Knights weren't at their best in the closing weeks of the season but have enough weapons to be dangerous.
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7. No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron
Time/TV:12:40 p.m. ET, truTV
Unfortunately, the loss of All America forward JT Toppin to a season-ending knee injury severely dampened Final Four hopes for the Red Raiders. They didn't phone in the rest of their season, of course, but they now find themselves as credible upset picks against the experienced and very talented Zips, paced by lead guard Tavari Johnson and versatile forward Amani Lyles.
8. No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra
Time/TV:3:15 p.m. ET, truTV
While courts of a different sort have kept Alabama in the news for much of this season, the Crimson Tide are still capable of making noise in March if Labaron Philon has his A-game. His opposite number here will be Hofstra's Cruz Davis, a high-usage point guard who puts up 20.2 points and 4.6 assists a game.
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9. No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist
Time/TV:9:45 p.m. ET, CBS
With plenty of questions about their overall chemistry and the uncertainty around star freshman Darryn Peterson entering the tourney, the Jayhawks arguably need an easy first-round tuneup more than most upper-tier squads. They might not get it against the Lancers and WAC player of the year Dominique Daniels (23.2 ppg).
10. No. 5 St. John's vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa
Time/TV:7:10 p.m. ET, CBS
Big East champion St. John's and its supporters have plenty of reasons to be displeased with the committee for their tournament draw, not the least of which is this first-round matchup in far away San Diego against a program with a veteran coach, Ben Jacobson, and a reputation as a March giant killer. Be that as it may, the Panthers might not have an answer for Red Storm big man Zuby Ejiofor .
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11. No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State
Time/TV: 1:50 p.m. ET, TBS
The new-look Cavaliers have a different playing style than the past versions that proved susceptible to the occasional first-round exit. Nonetheless, they must be ready for a challenge from the Horizon League champion Raiders, who also like to play fast and connect on 36.1% of their three-point tries.
12. No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State
Time/TV:2:50 p.m. ET, CBS
When everything is working, the Cyclones can look like a Final Four team. But the program has been here before as a No. 2 seed that suffered a memorable loss to Hampton in the first round. The high-scoring guard tandem of Aaron Nkrumah and (17.6 ppg) and Travis Harper (17.3) could keep the Tigers in it for a while.
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13. No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens
Time/TV:7:35 p.m. ET, truTV
The Boilermakers were undoubtedly happy to see their name on the Friday slate on Selection Sunday after a hard weekend of work in the Big Ten tournament. And the improvement to a No. 2 seed means a favorable matchup with the Royals, newcomers to the big stage, at least hope to make a good first impression.
14. No. 2 Connecticut vs. No. 15 Furman
Time/TV:10:00 p.m. ET, TBS
All UConn coach Danny Hurley has to do to get his players' attention is remind them what Furman did the last time it played in this event. Bob Richey is still coaching the Purple Paladins, as he was in 2023 when they sent Virginia packing in the first round, and he once again has a dependable floor leader in Alex Wilkins (17.7 ppg, 4.7 apg). But the Huskies look primed to make a title run this year.
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15. No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Long Island
Time/TV:1:35 p.m. ET, TNT
Arizona has a history of underachieving in March, but that usually comes on the second weekend. This well-constructed version of the Wildcats should make short work of this one. Jamal Fuller, a 43.8% marksman from the arc, is a guy to watch for coach Rod Strickland's Sharks.
16. No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M
Time/TV:9:25 p.m. ET, TNT
Congratulations are in order for the Panthers as they claimed their first ever March Madness victory. The run almost certainly stops here against the defending champion Gators, though Prairie View's Dontae Horne can make things happen at both ends of the floor.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games today: NCAA Tournament first-round schedule Friday
