Here’s a look at some key March Madness matchups coming up this Sunday in 2026.
7 Miami (Florida) vs. 2 Purdue
12:10 PM, CBS
Purdue, having made it to the title game two years ago, seeks to advance to the Sweet 16 for a third consecutive year if they can outplay the Hurricanes. Braden Smith’s strong performance in the first round, scoring 25 points, has set the stage nicely for Purdue, which began the preseason ranked first. That would be quite a story, don’t you think?
On the other hand, Miami pulled off an impressive 24-point victory over Missouri, led by Malik Luhnow, which remains one of the season’s standout comebacks.
7 Kentucky vs. 2 Iowa State
2:45 PM, CBS
You might remember Otega Oweh’s thrilling buzzer-beater that sent the game against Santa Clara into overtime. It’ll likely get some airtime in “One Shining Moment,” but the Wildcats really need to avoid any emotional hangover. Meanwhile, there’s some uncertainty surrounding Iowa State’s star, Joshua Jefferson, who has been nursing a sprained ankle. His potential return could really shake things up.
6 Tennessee vs. 3 Virginia
6:10 PM, TNT
If Tennessee goes on to the Sweet 16, it would mark their fourth straight appearance in the second weekend under coach Rick Barnes. Jacobi Gillespie has been nothing short of sensational, scoring 29 points against Miami (Ohio), making them quite the Cinderella team. Virginia, meanwhile, is eager to break past the second round for the first time since Tony Bennett’s retirement, aided by Jakari White’s impressive 26 points off the bench in their game against Wright State.
9 Utah State vs. 1 Arizona
7:50 PM, truTV
The excitement was palpable when Utah State triumphed over Villanova in their tournament opener. But if Kevin Willard decides to make staff changes post-game, Utah State might find themselves in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. They face a tough opponent in Arizona, with Brayden Burries and Koa Pete leading the way, setting up a fascinating clash between the top offenses from the Mountain West and the Big 12.
7 UCLA vs. 2 University of California
8:45 PM, TNT
This matchup might end up being more about the coaches, with both Mick Cronin of UCLA and Dan Hurley from the Huskies potentially racking up technical fouls. UCLA will certainly need a strategy to counter Taris Reed Jr., who had an incredible game last Friday with 31 points and 27 rebounds.
5 Texas Tech vs. 4 University of Alabama
9:45 PM, TBS
Alabama narrowly escaped an upset from Hofstra without their star Aiden Holloway. The question remains, can they navigate the next round without him? Texas Tech, on the other hand, managed to sidestep the classic 5-12 upset after all four starters put up at least 14 points, led by Josiah Moseley’s career-high 26 points off the bench.
