The 2026 March Madness First Four is set to commence on March 17 and 18 at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. The tournament will feature four games, including matchups between UMBC and Howard, and Texas against NC State on the first day.
The opening game on March 17 will see UMBC face Howard at 6:40 p.m., followed by Texas taking on NC State at 9:15 p.m.. The following day will continue the action with Lehigh competing against Prairie View A&M at 6:40 p.m., and Miami (Ohio) squaring off against SMU at 9:15 p.m..
The First Four games are crucial as they feature the four lowest-ranked No. 16 seeds and the final four at-large inclusions, typically No. 11 seeds. The winners of these games will secure their spots in the main tournament, with the victor of UMBC vs. Howard earning the No. 16 seed in the Midwest region, and the winner of Texas vs. NC State becoming the No. 11 seed in the West region.
In addition, the winning team from the Lehigh vs. Prairie View A&M game will claim the No. 16 seed in the South region, while the Miami (Ohio) vs. SMU winner will take the No. 11 seed in the Midwest region. All four games will be broadcast nationally on truTV.
The First Four has been a part of the NCAA tournament since its expansion from 65 to 68 teams in 2011, providing additional opportunities for teams to compete in the tournament.
As the tournament approaches, excitement is building among fans and teams alike. “The First Four begins on Tuesday, March 17 with the UMBC-Howard and Texas-NC State games,” a statement from the NCAA noted.
With Miami (Ohio) boasting a strong record of 31-1, their matchup against SMU is anticipated to be particularly competitive. The 2026 March Madness tournament officially began with selections on Sunday, March 15, setting the stage for these critical games.
As the teams prepare for their respective matchups, fans are eager to see which teams will advance in this year’s tournament. The NCAA men’s basketball tournament will begin with the First Four games at UD Arena, marking the start of an exciting journey toward the championship.
