A look at the key March Madness 2026 games to watch Thursday:
(9) TCU vs. (8) Ohio State
12:15 p.m., CBS
This is when it all begins, when the Big Dance officially tips off with a matchup more suited for the College Football Playoff. The Horned Frogs needed to rip off eight Big 12 wins in nine games to have a chance at cracking the field. Bruce Thornton, the Buckeyes’ all-time leading scorer, is someone who could take over. The likely reward for whoever wins? No. 1 seed Duke.
(11) South Florida vs. (6) Louisville
1:30 p.m., TNT
Amid the coaching carousel chatter, Bryan Hodgson has the Bulls positioned as a potential Cinderella. The Cardinals won’t have star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. either, and will need to figure out how to replace his 18.2 points per game. Could this be the first true upset?
(12) High Point vs. (5) Wisconsin
1:50 p.m., TBS
High Point was a trendy pick to upset Purdue last year, and that buzz has returned after the Panthers landed a showdown with Wisconsin, which has a dynamic guard in Nick Boyd (20.6 points per game) but a difficult résumé to dissect. To avoid becoming the latest 5-12 upset, the Badgers will need to keep pace with the high-scoring Panthers.
(11) VCU vs. (6) North Carolina
6:50 p.m., TNT
With Caleb Wilson in their lineup, it’s not far-fetched to call the Tar Heels a contender. But without the star freshman, who is out for the remainder of the season, can they even make it to Saturday? That’ll depend on center Henri Veesaar (16.7 points, 8.7 rebounds). Phil Martelli Jr., the first-year VCU coach, will get a chance to make his legendary father proud with some March magic of his own.
(14) Penn vs. (3) Illinois
9:25 p.m., TNT
Other Ivy League schools have had Cinderella runs in recent years. This time, Penn, which hasn’t won a Tournament game since 1994, will get that chance. It won’t be easy, though. Brad Underwood’s group peaked at No. 5 in the AP Top 25 this season and features Keaton Wagler, who averages 17.9 points.
(9) Saint Louis vs. (8) Georgia
9:45 p.m., CBS
The Billikens were a mid-major program that appeared in the AP Top 25. Georgia has averaged the fifth-most points per game in the country (89.8), led by Jeremiah Wilkinson’s 17 points per game. A Saint Louis run would become an undeniable storyline and further elevate the status of head coach Josh Schertz, who recently inked a long-term deal.
