Michigan State vs North Dakota State: March Madness Showdown

0:00On March 19, Michigan State faces North Dakota State in the first round of the men's March Madness 2026 tournament. The Spartans grab the number 3 seed in the East region by finishing third in the Big 10 regular season. North Dakota State enters as the number 14 seed. The matchup highlights the opening action packed into Thursday and Friday. Michigan State brings Big 10 experience against the bison's underdog energy from the Summit League. Fans can tune in from the Key Bank Center in Buffalo, New York. Excitement builds as top teams like Duke and Michigan also hit the court early. Catch the tip off Thursday, March 19 at 405 PM Eastern on TNT. Stream it live on HBO Max starting at $18.49 per month or direct TV stream. First round games fill the schedule through Friday, March 20, leading to the final four on April 4 in Indianapolis. Keep an eye on these early clashes as the bracket shakes out.