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DeutschIn less than two weeks, the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament will already be underway in Dayton with the First Four.
So, buckle up.
The 68-team bracket will be revealed on Sunday, March 15 on CBS, where the 1-seed line looks to be all but locked up with Duke, Michigan, Arizona and Connecticut. Less than a week ago, Purdue and Iowa State both looked to be in the mix for the 1-seed or a 2-seed, but recent losses have dropped them down to the 3-seed.
The Boilermakers and Cyclones aren't the only ones who have seen their NCAA Tournament picture take a hit of late, as the bubble continues to move like a revolving door.
Conference tournaments have already started at the mid-major level, with the Horizon League the first to begin on Monday, Feb. 2. The first automatic bid to March Madness will be secured on Saturday, March 7 with the winner of the Ohio Valley Conference.
The Big East and power conference tournaments begin next week. Here's a look at the full 2026 NCAA Tournament schedule for men's college basketball:
When is Selection Sunday for March Madness?
Selection Sunday for the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament is set for Sunday, March 15 at 6 p.m. ET, or immediately following the final championship game of the day. The unveiling of the 68-team bracket will take place after all conference tournament championship games are completed.
When does March Madness begin?
March Madness gets going on Tuesday, March 17 in Dayton, Ohio, at UD Arena with the First Four. The final 64-team bracket will then officially get underway with first-round games two days later on Thursday, March 19.
When is the Final Four?
The Final Four for the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament will take place over Saturday, April 4 and Monday, April 6 in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium. The national semifinals will tip off at 6 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET on April 4, while the national championship will tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET on April 7.
Complete March Madness 2026 schedule
Here’s a rundown of the schedule for the 2026 NCAA men's tournament:
- First Four: March 17-18
- First round: March 19-20
- Second round: March 21-22
- Sweet 16: March 26-27
- Elite Eight: March 28-29
- Final Four: Saturday, April 4 (at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis)
- National championship game: Monday, April 6 (at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis)
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness schedule for 2026 men's NCAA Tournament