The 2026 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 begins tonight with eight games spread across Thursday and Friday — and this bracket is loaded. A No. 9 seed knocked off the overall No. 1, an 11-seed fought its way from the First Four, and a rivalry game could deliver the most emotionally charged moment of the tournament.
Here's everything you need to know: full schedule, matchup breakdowns, and the games most likely to produce upsets.
Thursday, March 26 — Sweet 16 Schedule
Friday, March 27 — Sweet 16 Schedule
| Time (ET) | Region | Matchup | Network | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:10 PM | East | No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 St. John's | CBS | Capital One Arena, D.C. |
| 7:30 PM | Midwest | No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama | TBS | United Center, Chicago |
| 9:45 PM | East | No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Michigan State | CBS | Capital One Arena, D.C. |
| 10:05 PM | Midwest | No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 6 Tennessee | TBS | United Center, Chicago |
The Cinderella Stories Still Dancing
- No. 9 Iowa pulled off the tournament's biggest upset, hitting a last-second three to stun No. 1 overall seed Florida in the Second Round
- No. 11 Texas entered through the First Four and upset No. 3 Gonzaga to reach the Sweet 16
- No. 12 High Point shocked No. 5 Wisconsin in the First Round before falling in Round 2
- VCU upset No. 6 North Carolina in the opening round
- A record 13 of 32 first-round games were decided by 20+ points — the most lopsided opening round ever
5 Games to Watch Tonight
No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Iowa — The Rivalry Game
Forget seeds. This is a Big Ten rivalry game with everything on the line. Iowa rides the emotional high of their Florida upset. Nebraska has the defensive structure to contain Iowa's shooters. Expert projection: Nebraska 68, Iowa 66 — but this could swing either way.
No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 11 Texas — Cinderella's Toughest Test
Texas has won three straight elimination games since the First Four, but Purdue is a different animal. The Boilermakers have size, experience, and the ability to control tempo. Expert projection: Purdue 80, Texas 73. Texas's run likely ends here, but they've already exceeded every expectation.
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 4 Arkansas — The Late-Night Thriller
This is the Sweet 16's best pure basketball game. Arizona is a No. 1 seed for a reason, but Arkansas has the athletes and pace to turn this into a track meet. Some experts are backing Arkansas as a potential upset pick. Expert projection: Arizona 88, Arkansas 79.
No. 2 Houston vs. No. 3 Illinois — De Facto Elite Eight
Expert projection: Houston 74, Illinois 70.
Friday Preview: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 St. John's
St. John's coach Rick Pitino has history with Duke — painful history. "I hope I'm able to get Duke with a last-second shot similar to the shot that knocked me out [in 1992]," Pitino said. St. John's hasn't been in the Sweet 16 since 1999. Dylan Darling's buzzer-beater against Kansas got them here. Can they do it again?
Our Best Upset Picks
Best Upset Bets
Pros (Likely Upsets)
- Arkansas over Arizona — Arkansas has the pace and athleticism to turn this into chaos. Arizona hasn't faced a team this fast all tournament.
- Tennessee over Iowa State — Iowa State may be without Joshua Jefferson. Tennessee's physicality could exploit that absence.
Cons (Don't Bet Against)
- Purdue — Too big, too experienced. Texas's run was incredible but it ends here.
- Duke — St. John's has the narrative, but Duke has Cooper Flagg and home-region advantage. ::/proscons
