NCAA Tournament 2026: First Four Kicks Off

0:00On March 16, the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament starts, Tuesday, March 17, with the first four games in Dayton, Ohio, 68 teams will battle through 67 games to claim the national title, all broadcasts on CBS, TBS, TNT, and True TV. In Eagle returns for his third straight year as the lead play by play voice, handling final four calls alongside Bill Raftrey, Grant Hill, and reporter Tracey Wolfson. Studio hosts include Ernie Johnson with Nate Burleson and others, while analysts like Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Renee Montgomery break it down from New York and Atlanta. Fans are gearing up with brackets and pools, including challenges offering dream trips to the 2027 Final Four. Newcomers Candace Parker and Wally Cezarbiak joined the booth for the first time, with Robbie Hummel on-site through regionals and rules expert Jean. Stereotor ready to clarify calls.

1:02First round action hits Thursday, March 19, in spots like Buffalo, Greenville, Oklahoma City, and Portland, followed by second round over the weekend. Sweet. Sixteen games begin March 26, in Houston, San Jose, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. building to elite eight matchups. The Final Four tips off Saturday, April 4, and Indianapolis, with the Championship Monday, April 6 on TBS, bringing non-stop excitement from opening tip to that Final One Shining Moment.