The first round of March Madness 2026 is underway, and tonight will feature a matchup between the Texas Longhorns and the North Carolina State Wolfpack. It’s an intriguing game with both teams sitting in 11th place. There’s quite a bit of buzz surrounding whether the victor can secure a spot in the West Division, while the loser might see their season end abruptly.
Earlier this season, Texas edged out North Carolina State in a nail-biting 102-97 game, which only adds more excitement to their face-off tonight.
Here’s what you should know:
- When: March 17th, 9:15 PM ET
- Where: UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
- Channel: truTV
- Streaming: Sling TV
The winner gets to be crowned the No. 11 seed in the West and will go on to face No. 6 BYU on Thursday, March 19th.
Start Time
The game between Texas and North Carolina State is slated for 9:15 PM ET today.
How to Watch
If cable isn’t part of your setup, you can catch the game on a live TV streaming service. Sling TV offers a one-day pass for $5.99, which gives you full access for 24 hours, including truTV. There are also other short-term passes available.
Another option is to sign up for a free trial with DIRECTV, which has promotions ongoing that include all the necessary channels for March Madness.
Main Tournament Dates
- Round 1: March 19th-20th
- Round 2: March 21st-22nd
- Sweet 16: March 26th-27th
- Elite 8: March 28th-29th
- Final 4: April 4th
- National Championship: April 6th
