March Madness kicks off in earnest on Thursday, marking one of the biggest wall-to-wall coverage days of any sport. The first round of the NCAA Tournament brings about an irreplaceable air of excitement, as any team can steal the spotlight and cause the country to become enamored with it.
This year features a few potential Cinderellas at the ball, including some double digit seeds who could be poised to make waves. It’s sure to be an exciting first day of tournament play, and once we tip off at 12:15, there’s no going back.
MORE: Watch March Madness games live with Sling TV (free trial)
So make sure your bracket is in order, and get ready. Once coverage begins, there isn’t going to be a break until Monday leading into the Sweet 16. It’s a full weekend of college basketball, and it all starts with Colorado State vs. Michigan in Indianapolis. After that, all eyes look to New Orleans, where the Final Four is to be hosted in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Here’s a complete guide to watch Thursday’s March Madness games, including a full TV schedule and live stream information for Round 1.
March Madness live scores
Keep track of the latest scores, results and highlights from every game with The Sporting News’ live March Madness bracket headquarters below.
TSN’s MARCH MADNESS HQ
Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Predictor tool
What channel is March Madness on today?
March Madness games will be broadcast nationally across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV on cable.
Thursday’s live college basketball action tips off at 12:15 p.m. ET with No. 6 Colorado State vs. No. 11 Michigan on CBS with the final tip-off of the night scheduled for 9:57 p.m. ET between No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 Texas Southern on truTV.
Thursday, March 17
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| No. 11 Michigan 75, No. 6 Colorado State 63 | 12:15 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 4 Providence 66, No. 13 South Dakota State 57 | 12:40 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 9 Memphis 64, No. 8 Boise State 53 | 1:45 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 1 Baylor 85, No. 16 Norfolk State 49 | 2 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 3 Tennessee 88, No. 14 Longwood 56 | 2:45 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 5 Iowa vs. No. 12 Richmond | 3:10 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 16 Georgia State | 4:15 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 9 Marquette | 4:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 5 UConn vs. No. 12 New Mexico State | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 15 Saint Peter’s | 7:10 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 5 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 12 Indiana | 7:20 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 8 San Diego State vs. No. 9 Creighton | 7:27 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Vermont | 9:20 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 7 Murray State vs. No. 10 San Francisco | 9:40 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 13 Akron | 9:50 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 Texas Southern | 9:57 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
How to live stream NCAA Tournament games
Fans will be able to watch all March Madness games through NCAA March Madness Live, as well as through several other streaming options including Paramount+ and Sling TV.
Sling TV offers the best value to stream all March Madness games broadcast on TBS, TNT and TruTV (49 of 67 total games). New subscribers who sign up for a three-day free trial to Sling TV’s blue bundle would pay $35 per month thereafter.
To watch the additional 18 games broadcast on CBS, you can add a Paramount+ premium subscription for $9.99. Combined with Sling TV, that is the cheapest way to watch every NCAA Tournament game compared to YouTube TV, fuboTV, Hulu and DirecTV.
| Sling Blue & Paramount+ | YouTube TV | fuboTV | Hulu + Live | DirecTV Stream | |
| CBS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TNT | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| TruTV | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| TBS | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $44.99 | $64.99 | $64.99 | $69.99 | $69.99 |
March Madness schedule 2022
Round 1
Thursday, March 17
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| No. 6 Colorado State vs. No. 11 Michigan | 12:15 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 4 Providence vs. No. 13 South Dakota State | 12:40 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 8 Boise State vs. No. 9 Memphis | 1:45 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 16 Norfolk State | 2 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 14 Longwood | 2:45 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 5 Iowa vs. No. 12 Richmond | 3:10 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 16 Georgia State | 4:15 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 9 Marquette | 4:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 5 UConn vs. No. 12 New Mexico State | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 15 Saint Peter’s | 7:10 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 5 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 12 Indiana | 7:20 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 8 San Diego State vs. No. 9 Creighton | 7:27 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Vermont | 9:20 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 7 Murray State vs. No. 10 San Francisco | 9:40 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 13 Akron | 9:50 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 Texas Southern | 9:57 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
Friday, March 18
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Loyola-Chicago | 12:15 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 2 Auburn vs. No. 15 Jacksonville State | 12:40 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 14 Montana State | 1:45 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 3 Purdue vs. No. 14 Yale | 2 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 15 Delaware | 2:45 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 7 USC vs. No. 10 Miami | 3:10 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 11 Notre Dame | 4:15 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 6 Texas vs. No. 11 Virginia Tech | 4:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 4 Illinois vs. No. 13 Chattanooga | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Cal State Fullerton | 7:10 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 6 LSU vs. No. 11 Iowa State | 7:20 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Wright State | 7:27 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 5 Houston vs. No. 12 UAB | 9:20 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Davidson | 9:40 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 14 Colgate | 9:50 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 8 Seton Hall vs. No. 9 TCU | 9:57 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
Round 2
Saturday, March 19
| Game | Time | TV |
| TBD vs. TBD | Noon | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
Sunday, March 20
Sunday’s second-round tip times will be announced after Friday’s games.
| Game | Time | TV |
| TBD vs. TBD | Noon | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, TNT, truTV, CBS |
Sweet 16
Thursday, March 24
| Game | Time | TV |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | TBS, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, CBS |
Friday, March 25
| Game | Time | TV |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | TBS, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, CBS |
Elite Eight
Saturday, March 26
Sunday, March 27
| Game | Time | TV |
| TBD vs. TBD | 2 p.m. | CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | CBS |
Final Four
Saturday, April 3
Saturday, April 2
National championship
Monday, April 4
| Game | Time | TV |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
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