yahoo - 3/27/2026 12:39:26 AM - GMT (+2 )
The Sweet 16 tips off tonight in San Jose and Houston.
Does Texas have another upset in it? Iowa upset the defending champs, can they take down their neighbors?
Will Illinois be able to overcome Houston's home-cooking? And which freshmen will get the better of each other in the Arkansas vs. Arizona game?
March Madness: Sweet 16 games ranked
Toppmeyer: Don't cry for Cinderella. Nebraska, John Calipari, Duke can save March Madness
We will provide live updates, analysis from our team of reporters on-site in Houston and San Jose on Thursday and in Chicago and Washington D.C. on Friday:
HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.
Sweet 16 schedule: What time do March Madness games start?All times Eastern.
Games held at Toyota Center in Houston and SAP Center in San Jose, California
THURSDAY, MARCH 26
- 7:10 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 11 Texas (West), CBS (Fubo)
- 7:30 p.m.: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Iowa (South), TBS/truTV (Sling TV)
- 9:45 p.m.: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 4 Arkansas (West), CBS (Fubo)
- 10:05 p.m.: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 3 Illinois (South), TBS/truTV (Sling TV)
FRIDAY, MARCH 27
- 7:10 p.m.: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 St. John's (East), CBS (Fubo)
- 7:35 p.m.: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama (Midwest), TBS/truTV (Sling TV)
- 9:45 p.m.: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Michigan State (East), CBS (Fubo)
- 10:10 p.m.: No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 6 Tennessee (Midwest), TBS/truTV (Sling TV)
- Purdue vs. Texas will air on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.
- Nebraska vs. Iowa will air on TBS and truTV and stream via Fubo.
- Arkansas vs. Arizona will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
- Houston vs. Illinois will air on TBS/truTV and stream via Fubo.
Odds provided by BetMGM as of 10 p.m., Wednesday, March 25.
∎ Nathan Baird, IndyStar: Purdue 83, Texas 76
The Boilers need a big game from their bigs against an opponent which thrives on interior scoring and offensive rebounding. This may also be decided by which defense with a marginal track record all season maintains a recent trajectory of improvement — and does so without fouling. Purdue's seniors are playing, and leading, better than ever, and this matchup sets up well for another Elite Eight trip.
∎ Sam King, Journal & Courier: Purdue 84, Texas 73
Texas has had a luxury of facing injury-hampered teams to get to the Sweet 16. If C.J. Cox is good to go, Purdue is fine. If Cox can’t, Purdue will still dance on.
- Blake Toppmeyer: Purdue
- Paul Myerberg: Purdue
- Jordan Mendoza: Purdue
- John Brice: Purdue
- Matt Glenesk: Purdue
- Craig Meyer: Purdue
- John Leuzzi: Purdue
- Austin Curtright: Purdue
- Ehsan Kassim: Texas
- Moneyline: Purdue (-350); Texas (+275)
- Spread: Purdue (-7.5)
- Over/under total: 148.5
Odds provided by BetMGM as 9:30 a.m., Thursday, March 26.
∎ Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register: Iowa 68, Nebraska 65
The Huskers and Hawkeyes split the season series, with each of them winning on thier home floors. This game, though, clearly has a lot more at stake than just a regular season Big Ten victory. Both games were very tight, with Nebraska's win earlier this month in Lincoln going to overtime with a big Iowa comeback.
This game could really go either way, and regardless of the result, it would be historic. A win would earn Iowa its first trip to the Elite Eight since 1987. A victory for Nebraska would keep this historic March Madness run alive. Either way, the winner of this one will be just three wins away from a national title.
- Blake Toppmeyer: Nebraska
- Paul Myerberg: Nebraska
- Jordan Mendoza: Nebraska
- John Brice: Nebraska
- Matt Glenesk: Nebraska
- Craig Meyer: Iowa
- John Leuzzi: Nebraska
- Austin Curtright: Iowa
- Ehsan Kassim: Nebraska
- Moneyline: Nebraska (-130); Iowa (+110)
- Spread: Nebraska (-1.5)
- Over/under total: 131.5
Odds provided by BetMGM, as of noon, Thursday, March 26.
- Blake Toppmeyer: Houston
- Paul Myerberg: Houston
- Jordan Mendoza: Houston
- John Brice: Houston
- Matt Glenesk: Houston
- Craig Meyer: Houston
- John Leuzzi: Illinois
- Austin Curtright: Houston
- Ehsan Kassim: Illinois
- Moneyline: Houston (-165); Illinois (+135)
- Spread: Houston (-2.5)
- Over/under total: 139.5
Odds provided by BetMGM as of 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 26.
∎ Jackson Fuller, Fort Smith Southwest Times Record: Arizona 88, Arkansas 84
Darius Acuff Jr. will keep the Hogs close, but Arizona's depth will prove too much for an Arkansas team that used a six-man rotation during the opening weekend. Look for the Wildcats' bigs to control the interior and power Arizona into the Elite Eight.
∎ Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: Arizona 85, Arkansas 80
The Wildcats did not play well against Utah State, but got past the Aggies with defense, rebounding and free throws, to win ugly. They will have to play better to beat the Razorbacks. They will. Jaden Bradley won't let this team lose.
- Blake Toppmeyer: Arizona
- Paul Myerberg: Arizona
- Jordan Mendoza: Arizona
- John Brice: Arizona
- Matt Glenesk: Arkansas
- Craig Meyer: Arkansas
- John Leuzzi: Arizona
- Austin Curtright: Arizona
- Ehsan Kassim: Arkansas
- Moneyline: Arizona (-375); Arkansas (+290)
- Spread: Arizona (-7.5)
- Over/under total: 165.5
∎ USA TODAY Sports staff made their picks. Check them out here.
∎ How'd we do in our original predictions? We grade our selections.
Who will advance to Final Four?Some of us have revised our Final Four predictions after Florida's loss to Iowa busted our brackets.
Sweet 16 injury updatesThe 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament is down to 16 teams and the injury report remains an important part of sifting through the remaining games in the bracket. Nearly one-third of the teams to qualify for the Sweet 16 are dealing with a significant player hobbled by injury, including No. 1 overall seed Duke.
∎ Here's a look at the Sweet 16's most important injuries (and replacements) that could shape March Madness.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sweet 16 live updates, games schedule, scores, how to watch March Madness
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