We succeeded! March Madness kicks off today with 12 hours of non-stop hoops, starting with No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU at 12:15 pm ET. Stuck at work all day? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Our NBC News team will be live-blogging every game today and tomorrow, bringing you all the upset previews, thrilling finishes and exciting news. Click here to follow.
Before the games started, we entered no Steve KornackiSenior data analyst for NBC News, who predicted this year’s “Cinderella” and champion. Our reporters have also picked their favorite games from today’s slate and some stories to watch in March. For more information, as always, visit NBC News.
Kornacki’s Cinderella and Champ
Who could be this year’s “Cinderella”?
Last year it was No. 10-seeded Arkansas. Two years ago, it was No. 11 seed NC State. When the new season begins, this may be the kind of March magic we now have to fix – teams that finished in the bottom half of power conferences start to run when it really matters.
This year, I think it might be Texas A&M, the No. 1 seed. 10 in the South region. The Aggies play “Bucky Football,” a relentless style that has become a trademark of their first-year coach. Bucky McMillanand that may cause flummox enemies. Previously, McMillan was at Samford, which almost led to an upset of Kansas in the 2024 championship.
As for my picks for the 2026 national championship … here’s how my past five predicted heroes fared:
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 bad, so much so that I wonder if by choosing a team I’m actually conjuring up some kind of mystical force to prevent it.
Since this is possible, I can’t in good conscience pick a team that I want to beat all of and that, deep down, I think can really run (I won’t say the name, but it rhymes with “St. Bohn”). So instead, I’ll go with Arizona’s long overdue depth and balance. Wildlife fans, I’m sorry to do this to you.
Click here for all of Kornacki’s 2026 March Madness details.
Final Four Chosen
The “NBA Showtime” team 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 the nets. Here’s their full selection:
Vince Carter
Semi-finals: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 2 Houston
Semi-finals: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 1 Michigan
Final: Houston vs. Arizona
Hero: Arizona
Tracy McGrady
Semi-finals: No. 2 Conn vs. No. 2 Houston
Semi-finals: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 1 Michigan
Final: Houston vs. Arizona
Hero: Arizona
Carmelo Anthony
Semi-finals: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 2 Houston
Semi-finals: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 1 Michigan
Final: Houston vs. Arizona
Hero: Arizona
Today’s Games to Watch:
Here’s what we’re looking at during today’s slideshow:
Tim Rohan: I look forward to seeing a strong guard Darius Acuff Jr. and No. 4 Arkansas to take No. 13 Hawaii. Acuff averages about 23 points per game, 44.5% from 3-point range, and plays with poise beyond his years. He is John Calipari’s latest and greatest guard.
Andrew Greif: Perhaps no other fans enter this tournament with as much anxiety as Nebraska’s. At 0-8 all-time, the No. The 4-seeded Huskers are the last powerhouse conference team yet to win the tournament. Now, 40 years after the first appearance of the March Madness program, they can provide plenty of catharsis with a win against the No. 13 seed Troy.
Greg Rosenstein: I am happy to watch No. 6 BYU vs. 11 Texas. The Cougars boast the best player in America and a contender for the NBA’s No. 1 draft pick AJ Dybantsa. He is a top player that has professional scouts salivating. But Texas has the top defense in this matchup, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see an upset.
March Madness clips
Here’s what our writers are looking for throughout March:
Tim Rohan: Will one star emerge during the women’s tournament? Caitlin Clark again Paige Bueckers they have graduated, too Juju Watkins you are injured. This tour features several dominant teams with the best players, but which one will come through in the clutch? The UConn team Azi Fudd or Sarah Strong? The UCLA team Lauren Betts? Vanderbilt photo Mikayla Blakes? I’m curious to see who you say in March.
Andrew Greif: Twenty-three years after the new student Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to a national title in his lone collegiate season, I’m looking to see if a new crop of potential one-man stars can match that success.
Greg Rosenstein: Is it Tom Izzo had enough magic to lead Michigan State to one national championship? The Spartans are almost always competitive but haven’t broken the net since 2000. Izzo is 71 (and now facing the ever-frustrating world of the NIL), and this may be his last shot at the best.
What we are watching
The first round of the NCAA Tournament is over today! Follow along as our NBC News team covers all the action live. We’re covering all the games, and here’s the full slate, but here are a few key ones to watch.
Can Nebraska pick up its first-ever March Madness win? How high will NBA prospects be AJ Dybantsa again Darius Acuff Jr. look at their first matches? Can Virginia Commonwealth upset North Carolina, which is playing without an injured player Caleb Wilson?
All times are Eastern:
- 12:40 p.m.: No. 4 seed Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy, on TruTV
- 4:25 p.m.: No. 4 seed Arkansas vs. No. 13 Hawai’i, on TBS
- 6:50 pm: No. 6 seed North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU, on TNT
- 7:25 p.m.: No. 6 seed BYU vs. No. 11 Texas, on TBS
That’s it for now! We will be back tomorrow.
