March Madness First Round Schedule: Times, TV Channels & Key Matchups
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| March Madness First Round Schedule |
This is the day fans circle every year. Multiple games happening at once, buzzer-beaters, bracket chaos, and the start of Cinderella stories. If you're planning to follow the action, you’ll want your bracket finalized before the first tip at 12:15 p.m. ET.
Here’s everything you need to know about the March Madness first round schedule for Thursday, including game times, TV channels, and key matchups to watch.
Full March Madness Schedule - Thursday, March 19 (First Round)
Afternoon Games
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12:15 p.m. ET – No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU (CBS, Fubo)
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12:40 p.m. ET – No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy (truTV, Sling TV)
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1:30 p.m. ET – No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida (TNT, Sling TV)
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1:50 p.m. ET – No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point (TBS, Sling TV)
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2:50 p.m. ET – No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena (CBS, Fubo)
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3:15 p.m. ET – No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese (truTV, Sling TV)
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4:05 p.m. ET – No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 North Dakota State (TNT, Sling TV)
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4:25 p.m. ET – No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Hawai'i (TBS, Sling TV)
Evening Games
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6:50 p.m. ET – No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU (TNT, Sling TV)
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7:10 p.m. ET – No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 Howard (CBS, Fubo)
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7:25 p.m. ET – No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas (TBS, Sling TV)
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7:35 p.m. ET – No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Texas A&M (truTV, Sling TV)
Late-Night Games
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9:25 p.m. ET – No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Penn (TNT, Sling TV)
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9:45 p.m. ET – No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 9 Saint Louis (CBS, Fubo)
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10:00 p.m. ET – No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State (TBS, Sling TV)
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10:10 p.m. ET – No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho (truTV, Sling TV)
Key Matchups to Watch on Thursday
8 vs. 9 Toss-Ups
Games like Ohio State vs. TCU and Georgia vs. Saint Louis are classic coin-flip matchups. These are often the toughest games to predict and can swing your bracket early.
Upset Alert: 12 vs. 5 Games
History says at least one No. 12 seed usually pulls off an upset. Keep an eye on:
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High Point vs. Wisconsin
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McNeese vs. Vanderbilt
These games often produce the first big surprises of March Madness.
No. 1 Seeds Begin Their Run
Top seeds Duke and Michigan headline Thursday’s slate. While 1 vs. 16 matchups are typically one-sided, early dominance can set the tone for a deep tournament run.
Dangerous Double-Digit Seeds
Teams like VCU, Texas, and South Florida come in as lower seeds but with the potential to knock off higher-ranked opponents.
How to Watch March Madness on Thursday
Games will be broadcast across:
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CBS
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TBS
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TNT
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truTV
Streaming options include platforms like Fubo and Sling TV, depending on the channel.
For the best experience, many fans use multiple screens to keep up with overlapping games throughout the day.
March Madness Thursday Preview: What to Expect
Thursday’s first round action is all about volume and unpredictability. With 16 games spread across the day, momentum swings quickly, and brackets can be busted within hours.
Expect:
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Fast-paced action from noon to midnight
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At least one major upset
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Breakout performances from future stars
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Nonstop drama across all regions
Final Thoughts
The first full day of March Madness is one of the best days in sports. Whether you're tracking every possession or casually checking scores, Thursday delivers wall-to-wall excitement.
Make sure your bracket is locked in before tip-off and get ready for a full day of college basketball chaos.
