The Athletic has live coverage of the second round of 2026 Men’s March Madness.
Sunday closes out the first weekend of the men’s college basketball tournament, and the games haven’t been short on theatrics so far. In Saturday’s second-round action, Nebraska made its inaugural Sweet 16 — just two days after its first-ever NCAA Tournament win — with a late go-ahead basket against Vanderbilt, which watched a potential 3-point Hail Mary rim out in dramatic fashion.
Meanwhile, Arkansas super-freshman Darius Acuff Jr. put the Razorbacks on his, uh, back to sneak past surprising No. 12 seed High Point. Another double-digit seed, No. 11 Texas, did manage to pull off the upset. The Longhorns took down No. 3 seed Gonzaga for their third win in five days.
On Sunday, eight more teams will join them in the Sweet 16. The lineup is chalkier; two No. 9 seeds are the lowest remaining in this half of the bracket. But the potential for suspense remains.
All times ET. All efficiency stats via KenPom.
Men’s March Madness schedule for round of 32, Sunday
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Purdue vs. Miami |
12:10 p.m. |
CBS |
|
|
Iowa State vs. Kentucky |
2:45 p.m. |
CBS |
|
|
Kansas vs. St. John’s |
5:15 p.m. |
CBS |
|
|
Virginia vs. Tennessee |
6:10 p.m. |
TNT |
Max |
|
Florida vs. Iowa |
7:10 p.m. |
TBS |
Max |
|
Arizona vs. Utah State |
7:50 p.m. |
truTV |
Max |
|
UConn vs. UCLA |
8:45 p.m. |
TNT |
Max |
|
Alabama vs. Texas Tech |
9:45 p.m. |
TBS |
Max |
CBS is free over the air and included in Paramount+ subscriptions. Streaming is also available on the March Madness Live app.
No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 7 Miami
West Region
Purdue has been inconsistent down the stretch, dropping four of its last six regular-season games and then flipping the switch to win the Big Ten tournament. That’s why, despite the No. 2 seed, the Boilermakers feel like a sneaky team capable of a deep run … if the shots fall.
Miami is just average from 3, but it’s elite inside the arc, ranking No. 35 in 2-point percentage. The path to an upset is clear: attack, get to the free-throw line and convert — something the Hurricanes have struggled with this season (68.1 percent, 321st nationally).
No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 7 Kentucky
Midwest Region
Future first-round pick Joshua Jefferson is likely sidelined due to an ankle injury, which is a major loss for Iowa State. That puts pressure on sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic and veteran point guard Tamin Lipsey to elevate their play.
Kentucky survived Santa Clara in overtime thanks to Otega Oweh’s heroics, but this Cyclones team is vulnerable. Can Oweh, Denzel Aberdeen and Mouhamed Dioubate take advantage? Easy baskets and Kentucky’s deeper bench could swing this game. Notably, the Wildcats are just 8-13 when shooting under 48 percent.
No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 5 St. John’s
East Region
This might be the best matchup of the weekend: two Hall of Fame coaches, a potential No. 1 overall pick and a Sweet 16 berth on the line.
Kansas will lean on future NBA star Darryn Peterson again, but he can’t do it alone. In the games he missed, the supporting cast grew more confident — that growth now becomes crucial. Expect St. John’s to key in on Peterson, meaning Tre White (13.8 points per game) and/or Melvin Council Jr. (12.6) must deliver.
The Johnnies aren’t looking to run — they scored just one fast-break point against Northern Iowa — but they will control the glass. Zuby Ejiofor (7.3 rebounds per game) and Bryce Hopkins (6.2) form arguably the best frontcourt duo in the country. This one will be decided on the boards and defensively, with the guard play likely tipping the scales.
No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 6 Tennessee
Midwest Region
This game will be about discipline, toughness and execution. Both teams rank in the top 35 in offensive and defensive efficiency, so every possession matters — loose balls, rebounding and turnovers will determine the winner.
Tennessee is 18-1 when holding opponents under 70 points, but Virginia has only been held below that mark three times. On the flip side, UVA is 25-0 when allowing fewer than 74 points.
With several projected lottery picks already out of the tournament, this is a big stage for Tennessee’s Nate Ament to boost his NBA stock.
No. 1 Florida vs. No. 9 Iowa
South Region
Here’s a classic contrast in styles. Can Iowa slow the pace and grind it out, or will Florida turn it into a track meet?
The Hawkeyes have proven they can win ugly, going 20-2 when allowing fewer than 71 points. But the real concern is on the glass. Florida pulls down more rebounds than any team in the country and ranks second in offensive rebounding percentage, while Iowa sits 356th in defensive boards per game — a dangerous mismatch.
Plenty of NBA talent will be on display: Florida’s Thomas Haugh (17 points per game), Boogie Fland (11.7) and Alex Condon (14.9), as well as Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz (19.9).
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 9 Utah State
West Region
Utah State’s formula is simple: run efficient offense, generate quality looks and force turnovers (its defense ranks 17th in turnover percentage and 18th in steal percentage).
The problem? Arizona is elite on both ends. The Wildcats rank in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency, making this a steep climb for the Aggies.
Utah State can get hot — it missed just two shots in the final 12 minutes against Villanova — but that margin for error shrinks against Arizona. A major concern for the upset-minded Aggies is on the boards. Arizona ranks sixth in offensive rebounding percentage, while Utah State is 234th in average defensive rebounds. That mismatch alone could decide the game.
No. 2 UConn vs. No. 7 UCLA
East Region
Outside of St. John’s vs. Kansas, this might be the most intriguing matchup on the slate. A lot of brackets will understandably lean toward UCLA pulling the upset, but Tyler Bilodeau’s availability looms large after he missed Friday’s opening-round win with a knee injury. If their leading scorer can return, that would change everything for the Bruins.
While UConn still has the makeup of a Final Four team, the Huskies haven’t been at their sharpest lately. Injuries to starting point guard Silas Demary Jr. and wing Jaylin Stewart haven’t helped, and much like UCLA, they’re trying to find consistency at the right time.
The Bruins are dangerous from deep, shooting 37.9 percent from 3 (19th nationally), but they don’t rely solely on that. They take a heavy dose of midrange shots, which puts pressure on defensive communication and discipline.
Talent-wise, UConn has the edge. Confidence is a real concern, though. The Huskies are shooting just 18.2 percent from long range over their last two games. If that continues, expect them to shift gears and attack inside, where they rank 26th nationally in 2-point efficiency, using physicality to control the game.
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 5 Texas Tech
Midwest Region
You can never overlook a Grant McCasland-coached team. His players are always prepared, disciplined and capable of winning any matchup.
Alabama will once again be without Aden Holloway, and his absence is significant in a game like this. On the other side, Christian Anderson headlines a strong guard group, surrounded by shooters. Anderson, Donovan Atwell and Jaylen Petty all knock down over 38 percent from behind the arc, giving Texas Tech plenty of perimeter firepower.
The Red Raiders will miss JT Toppin’s presence on the glass, but Alabama isn’t typically a team that punishes opponents heavily in that area anyway. Where the Tide may separate itself is depth. Texas Tech has dealt with injuries to its bench all season, which has limited rotation flexibility. If foul trouble becomes a factor, Nate Oats’ team has the bodies and production off the bench to capitalize.
If you’re into high-level guard play and a barrage of 3-point shooting, this one should deliver.
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