Of course, March Madness is following a different schedule this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The FIrst Four games, typically held on Tuesday and Wednesday, are all being held on Thursday this year, so that means that Round 1 of the NCAA Tournament will officially tip off on Friday this year. That means starting at 12:15 p.m. ET and running all throughout the day, college basketball fans will be treated to 16 games of win-or-go-home basketball.
There will surely be upsets. Brackets will be busted and fan-favorite Cinderellas will emerge. And after March Madness was canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic, college basketball fans will be nothing but happy to watch their favorite players and tournament-winner picks square off in what is arguably the greatest playoff in sports.
Here’s everything you need to know about Round 1 of the NCAA Tournament, including a full schedule with TV channels and start times.
MORE: Watch select March Madness games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
What channel is March Madness on today?
Friday, March 19
All times Eastern
LIVE: Follow SN’s March Madness bracket for scores and more
How to watch NCAA Tournament games
Friday’s March Madness games will be broadcast nationally across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV on cable.
March Madness Live is the hub for live streaming at NCAA.com. All games broadcast on CBS can also be streamed on fubtoTV, which offers a seven-day free trial.
No. 7 Florida 75, No. 10 Virginia Tech 70
No. 3 Arkansas 85, No. 14 Colgate 78
No. 1 Illinois 79, No. 16 Drexel 48
No. 6 Texas Tech 65, No. 11 Utah State 53
No. 15 Oral Roberts 75, No. 2 Ohio State 72
No. 1 Baylor 79, 16 Hartford 55
No. 8 Loyola Chicago 71, No. 9 Georgia Tech 60
No. 12. Oregon State 70, No. 5 Tennessee 56
No. 4 Oklahoma State 69, No. 13 Liberty 60
No. 9 Wisconsin 85, No. 8 North Carolina 62
No. 2 Houston 87, No. 15 Cleveland State 56
No. 13 North Texas 78, No. 4 Purdue 69 (OT)
No. 10 Rutgers 60, No. 7 Clemson 56
No. 11 Syracuse 78, No. 6 San Diego State 62
No. 3 West Virginia 84, No. 14 Morehead State 67
No. 5 Villanova 73, No. 12 Winthrop 63
March Madness schedule 2021
Round 1
Friday, March 19
Saturday, March 20
Round 2
Sunday, March 21
Monday, March 22
Monday’s second-round tip times will be announced after Saturday’s games.
Sweet 16
Saturday, March 27
Sunday, March 28
Elite Eight
Monday, March 29
Tuesday, March 30
Final Four
Saturday, April 3
NCAA Tournament national championship
Monday, April 5