Welcome to March.
As fans have enjoyed buzzer-beaters, upsets, and conference championships, now is the time for the real test: the NCAA Tournament.
Thursday marks the beginning of the Round of 64 with 16 first-round games beginning at 12:15 p.m. ET. The final game doesn’t tip off until around 10:05 p.m. ET, and you’ll need a handful of TVs to catch all the action at once with multiple games overlapping.
MORE: Watch 2024 March Madness games live with Sling TV
No. 1 North Carolina is the top-seeded team on Thursday’s slate, as the Tar Heels look to capture their seventh NCAA championship and first since 2017. No. 9 Michigan State kicks things off at 12:15 p.m. ET against No. 8 Mississippi State.
Perhaps the most anticipated game of the day is 12th-seeded McNeese facing fifth-seeded Gonzaga at 7:25 p.m. ET.
The Sporting News will have you covered with live results, updates, and highlights throughout the day.
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March Madness live bracket scores
Round 1: Thursday, March 21
All times Eastern
- (9) Michigan State vs. (8) Mississippi State, 12:15 p.m.
- (11) Duquesne vs. (6) BYU, 12:40 p.m.
- (14) Akron vs. (3) Creighton, 1:30 p.m.
- (15) Long Beach State vs. (2) Arizona, 2 p.m.
- (16) Wagner vs. (1) North Carolina, 2:45 p.m.
- (14) Morehead State vs. (3) Illinois, 3:10 p.m.
- (11) Oregon vs. (6) South Carolina, 4 p.m.
- (10) Nevada vs. (7) Dayton, 4:30 p.m.
- (10) Colorado State vs. (7) Texas, 6:50 p.m.
- (14) Oakland vs. (3) Kentucky, 7:10 p.m.
- (12) McNeese vs. (5) Gonzaga, 7:25 p.m.
- (15) South Dakota State vs. (2) Iowa State, 7:35 p.m.
- (15) Saint Peter’s vs. (2) Tennessee, 9:20 p.m.
- (11) NC State vs. (6) Texas Tech, 9:40 p.m.
- (13) Samford vs. (4) Kansas, 9:55 p.m.
- (10) Drake vs. (7) Washington State, 10:05 p.m.
MORE: Are there any perfect brackets left in 2024?
NCAA Tournament results, highlights from today’s games
All times Eastern.
(14) Akron vs. (3) Creighton
1:35 p.m.: The two offenses have started off strong to begin this matchup. Creighton leads 8-6 with 16:38 remaining in the half.
(11) Duquesne vs. (6) BYU
1:34 p.m.: The Dukes hold a 38-30 lead at halftime behind Dae Dae Grant’s 12 points and Necas’ eight points. BYU is shooting just 34.6 percent from the field.
1:23 p.m.: Jakub Necas knocks down a 3-pointer to put the Dukes up 10. Duquesne leads 31-21 with 3:11 remaining in the first half.
1:11 p.m.: And there goes that BYU lead. The Dukes take back the lead and head into a timeout up 24-20.
1:10 p.m.: BYU went from scoreless in the first four minutes to taking the lead at the seven-minute mark. Cougars took a 20-19 lead over the Dukes.
12:55 p.m.: The Cougars are on the board as Jaxson Robinson knocks down two free throws to break the scoring drought.
12:50 p.m.: Duquesne has held BYU scoreless in the first 4:19 of the game. BYU is shooting 0-for-6 from the field, while Duquesne is shooting 3-for- to lead 7-0.
(9) Michigan State vs. (8) Mississippi State
1:43 p.m.: The Spartans lead 53-43 with 10:45 remaining in the second half, but it feels closer than a 10-point margin. Jaden Akins posterized the Mississippi State defense.
AKINS UP HIGH AND DOWN HARD 😤@MSU_BASKETBALL pic.twitter.com/oZPLhIkj5V
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 21, 2024
1:00 p.m.: Malik Hall caps off the Spartans’ first half with a tough layup at the buzzer. Michigan State leads Mississippi State 31-24 at halftime. Tyson Walker has 10 points. Josh Hubbard has 13 points.
12:43 p.m.: Perhaps you’ve noticed Michigan State center Carson Cooper sporting a face mask for the opening March Madness game. He suffered a bloody nose during the Big Ten Tournament and will undergo a procedure after the season. Here’s more on the new look.
12:35 p.m.: The Spartans are off to a hot start, shooting 8-of-12 from the field to begin the Round of 64. Michigan State leads 20-8 with 10:20 remaining in the first half.
March Madness schedule today
Thursday, March 21
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| No. 9 Michigan State vs. No. 8 Mississippi State | 12:15 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| No. 11 Duquesne vs. No. 6 BYU | 12:40 p.m. | TruTV, Sling |
| No. 14 Akron vs. No. 3 Creighton | 1:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| No. 15 Long Beach State vs. No. 2 Arizona | 2 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
| No. 16 Wagner vs. No. 1 North Carolina | 2:45 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| No. 14 Morehead State vs. No. 3 Illinois | 3:10 p.m. | TruTV, Sling |
| No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 6 South Carolina | 4 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| No. 10 Nevada vs. No. 7 Dayton | 4:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
| No. 10 Colorado State vs. No. 7 Texas | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| No. 14 Oakland vs. No. 3 Kentucky | 7:10 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| No. 12 McNeese vs. No. 5 Gonzaga | 7:25 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
| No. 15 South Dakota State vs. No. 2 Iowa State | 7:35 p.m. | TruTV, Sling |
| No. 15 Saint Peter’s vs. No. 2 Tennessee | 9:20 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| No. 11 NC State vs. No. 6 Texas Tech | 9:40 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| No. 13 Samford vs. No. 4 Kansas | 9:55 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
| No. 10 Drake vs. No. 7 Washington State | 10:05 p.m. | TruTV, Sling |
March Madness schedule 2024
Round 1
Friday, March 22
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| No. 9 Northwestern vs. No. 8 Florida Atlantic | 12:15 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| No. 14 Colgate vs. No. 3 Baylor | 12:40 p.m. | TruTV, Sling |
| No. 12 UAB vs. No. 5 San Diego State | 1:45 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| No. 15 Western Kentucky vs. No. 2 Marquette | 2 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
| No. 16 Stetson vs. No. 1 UConn | 2:45 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| No. 11 New Mexico vs. No. 6 Clemson | 3:10 p.m. | TruTV, Sling |
| No. 13 Yale vs. No. 4 Auburn | 4:15 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| No. 10 Colorado vs. No. 7 Florida | 4:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
| No. 9 Texas A&M vs. No. 8 Nebraska | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| No. 13 Vermont vs. No. 4 Duke | 7:10 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| No. 16 Grambling vs. No. 1 Purdue | 7:25 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
| No. 13 College of Charleston vs. No. 4 Alabama | 7:35 p.m. | TruTV, Sling |
| No. 16 Longwood vs. No. 1 Houston | 9:20 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| No. 12 James Madison vs. No. 5 Wisconsin | 9:40 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| No. 9 TCU vs. No. 8 Utah State | 9:55 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
| No. 12 Grand Canyon vs. No. 5 Saint Mary’s | 10:05 p.m. | TruTV, Sling |
Round 2
Saturday, March 23
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 12 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| TBD vs. TBD | 2:30 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| TBD vs. TBD | 5 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| TBD vs. TBD | 6 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7:30 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
Sunday, March 24
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 12 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| TBD vs. TBD | 2:30 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| TBD vs. TBD | 5 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| TBD vs. TBD | 6 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7:30 p.m. | truTV, Sling |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
Sweet 16
Thursday, March 28
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9:30 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| TBD vs. TBD | 10 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
Friday, March 29
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9:30 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| TBD vs. TBD | 10 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
Elite Eight
Saturday, March 30
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 6 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
Sunday, March 31
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 2 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| TBD vs. TBD | 4:55 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
Final Four
Saturday, April 6
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 6 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
National Championship
Monday, April 8
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 9 p.m. | TBS, Sling |
