Opening Games Hope To Deliver Early Drama As The Main College Basketball Tournament Begins

The road to the national championship tips off Tuesday with the first two play in games that officially launch college basketball’s biggest tournament, then the final two on Wednesday.

Tuesday

16 UMBC vs 16 Howard

11 Texas vs 11 NC State

Wednesday

16 Prairie View vs 16 Lehigh

11 Miami OH (only undefeated team in regular season) vs 11 SMU

These opening matchups will hopefully show exactly what fans expect this time of year, tight finishes, standout performances, and teams fighting to extend their seasons by just a few more days.

With the bracket now fully set, attention quickly shifts to Thursday’s massive slate featuring 16 games in one action packed day, where contenders, underdogs, and bracket busters all collide.

Thursday’s Full Slate: 16 Games and a Wall to Wall College Basketball Marathon

Thursday marks one of the most anticipated days of the entire year. From early in the day through late night, 16 games unfold across multiple regions, creating nonstop action for fans and plenty of opportunities for upsets.

Early Window

9 TCU vs 8 Ohio State

13 Troy vs 4 Nebraska

11 South Florida vs 6 Louisville

12 High Point vs 5 Wisconsin

Afternoon Matchups

16 Siena vs 1 Duke

12 McNeese vs 5 Vanderbilt

14 N Dakota St vs 3 Michigan St

13 Hawai'i vs 4 Arkansas

Late Afternoon

11 VCU vs 6 North Carolina

16 UMBC vs 16 Howard (winner) vs 1 Michigan

11 Texas vs 11 NC State (winner) vs 6 BYU

10 Texas A&M vs 7 Saint Mary's

Night Finales

14 Penn vs 3 Illinois

9 Saint Louis vs 8 Georgia

14 Kennesaw St vs 3 Gonzaga

15 Idaho vs 2 Houston

The Tournament Energy Is Just Getting Started

The opening games are all set up to decide the tone with intense, win or go home basketball early in the week. While later, starting Thursday a full day of 16 games is on deck, the tournament truly has begun.

Every year, the opening round produces unforgettable moments, buzzer beaters, Cinderella stories, and bracket chaos that define the early days of the tournament.