We did it! March Madness tips today with 12 hours of non-stop hoops, no. 8 Ohio State vs. no. 9 at TCU starting at 12:15 pm ET. Stuck at work all day? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Our NBC News staff will live-blog all the games today and tomorrow, keeping you up to date with all the upset warnings, nail-biting finishes and fun storylines. Click here to follow.
Before the games started, we checked Steve KornackiNBC News’ chief data analyst predicted this year’s “Cinderella” and champion. Our reporters have picked their favorite games in today’s slate and some storylines to watch for through March. For more coverage, visit as always NBC News.
Kornacki’s Cinderella and Champion
Who could be this year’s “Cinderella”?
Last year it was no. 10-ranked Arkansas was. Two years ago, it was no. The 11 seed was NC State. If a new era is dawning, this may be the type of March magic we need to settle for now — teams that finish at the bottom of power conferences get on a roll when it really counts.
This year, I’m thinking it might be Texas A&M, the South Region’s no. is the 10 seed. The Aggies play “bucky ball,” a relentless, up-tempo style that is a trademark of their first-year coach. Bucky McMillanAnd it can flummox foes. Previously, McMillan was at Samford, which led to Kansas’ upset in the 2024 tournament.
As for my 2026 national championship pick … my previous five predicted champions performed like this:
2021: Illinois lost in the round of 32
2022: Villanova lost in the Final Four
2023: Duke lost in the round of 32
2024: Auburn lost in the round of 64
2025: St. John’s lost in the round of 32
That’s just plain cruel, I wonder if by picking a team I’m asking some kind of psychic power to stop them.
Given this unique possibility, I can’t in good conscience pick a team that I want to win it all and, deep down, make a real run (I won’t say the name, but it rhymes with “St. Bon’s”). So instead, I’ll go with the depth and balance of long-term Arizona. Sorry to do this to you, Wildcat fans.
Click Here For the rest of Kornacki’s 2026 March Madness breakdown.
Final four options
The “NBA Showtime” crew agrees Steve Kornacki. Three NBA legends made their Final Four picks for NBC Sports, and all three predicted Houston vs. Arizona in the Finals, with the Wildcats cutting down the nets. Here are their full options:
Vince Carter
Semifinal: No. 1 Duke vs. no. 2 Houston
Semifinal: No. 1 Arizona vs. no. 1 Michigan
Final: Houston vs. Arizona
Champion: Arizona
Tracy McGrady
Semifinal: No. 2 UConn vs. no. 2 Houston
Semifinal: No. 1 Arizona vs. no. 1 Michigan
Final: Houston vs. Arizona
Champion: Arizona
Carmelo Anthony
Semifinal: No. 1 Duke vs. no. 2 Houston
Semifinal: No. 1 Arizona vs. no. 1 Michigan
Final: Houston vs. Arizona
Champion: Arizona
To watch today’s games:
Here’s what we’re watching on today’s slate:
Tim Rohan: I’m curious to see a dynamic guard Darius Acuff Jr and no. 4 Arkansas takes on No. 13 Hawaii. Acuff averages nearly 23 points per game, 44.5% from 3-point range, and plays with poise beyond his years. He is coach John Calipari’s latest and greatest freshman guard.
Andrew Greif: Perhaps no other fan base enters the tournament with as much anxiety as Nebraska’s. 0-8 all-time, no. The 4-seeded Huskers are the last power conference team still winless in the tournament. Now, 40 years after the program’s first March Madness appearance, they can provide complete catharsis with a win over No. 13-ranked Troy.
Greg Rosenstein: No. 11 Texas vs. no. 6 I’m excited to watch BYU. The Cougars have the best player in America and the no. 1 boasts being a contender for the NBA draft pick. AJ Dybantsa. He’s got everything professional scouts drooling about—proceeding. But Texas has the better defense in this matchup, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see an upset.
March Madness subplots
Here’s what our reporters are looking for in March:
Tim Rohan: Will a singular star emerge in the women’s tournament? Caitlin Clark And Paige Bookers Graduated, and Juju Watkins Injured. This tournament has several strong teams with headliner players, but which one will come through in the clutch? of the Yukon Grandma Fud Or Sarah Strong? UCLA’s Lauren Betts? Vanderbilt’s Michaela Blakes? It will be interesting to see who asserts themselves this March.
Andrew Greif: Twenty-three years after becoming a freshman Carmelo Anthony Having brought Syracuse a national title in his lone college season, I look forward to seeing if the new crop of one-and-done superstars can match that feat.
Greg Rosenstein: will do Tom Izzo Is there enough magic to lead Michigan State to another national championship? The Spartans are always contenders but haven’t cut down the nets since 2000. Izzo is 71 years old (and now dealing with the ever-disappointing NIL world), and this may be his last best shot.
What are we looking at?
NCAA Tournament First Round Tips Today! Our NBC News team will live-blog all the action. We’re covering all the games and the full slate is here, but here are some of the most important ones to watch.
Can Nebraska collect its first March Madness win? How to top NBA prospects AJ Dybantsa And Darius Acuff Jr Look at their tournament debuts? Can Virginia Commonwealth upset North Carolina, who are playing without an injured star forward Caleb Wilson?
All times pre:
- 12:40 PM: No. on TruTV. 4 seed Nebraska vs. no. 13 Troy
- 4:25 pm: No. 4 seed Arkansas vs. no. 13 in Hawaii, on TBS
- 6:50 PM: No. 6 seed North Carolina vs. no. 11 at VCU, TNT
- 7:25 pm: No. 6 seed BYU vs. no. 11 at Texas, TBS
That’s it for now! We will be back tomorrow.
