It’s our day. But first, let’s set the scene.
Day One of the NCAA Tournament is in the books, and if you’re anything like us, you watched way too much basketball, ate things you shouldn’t have, and now you’re ready to do it all over again. Only this time, the Hawkeyes are on the card.
Friday brings us 14 first-round games, and while we’ll obviously have tunnel vision once Iowa tips off against Clemson tonight, the rest of the slate has some genuinely compelling matchups to fill your afternoon. Here’s your complete guide to Day Two.
The Main Event
🏀 (9) Iowa vs. (8) Clemson — Friday, March 20 — 5:50 PM CT on TNT — Iowa -2.5
This is the (only?) one that matters. The 9-seed Hawkeyes are slight favorites against Clemson, and rightfully so — this team has spent the entire season grinding through the Big Ten gauntlet. The Tigers are a solid team, but they haven’t seen anything like what Bennett Stirtz and company bring to the table in a win-or-go-home setting. You can get the full, detailed matchup preview from Boiler here.
Other Games Worth Watching
Kentucky (7) vs. Santa Clara (10) — 11:15 AM CT, CBS: Kentucky as a 7-seed is the kind of thing that makes Big Blue Nation lose its collective mind. Santa Clara is no pushover, and Herb Jones has the Broncos playing fearless basketball. This could be the first upset of the day.
Iowa State (2) vs. Tennessee State (15) — 1:50 PM CT, CBS: Our Cy-Hawk friends get their tournament started with what should be a comfortable opener. But it’s March, and 2-15 upsets happen. Keep an eye on this one for schadenfreude purposes, if nothing else.
Villanova (8) vs. Utah State (9) — 3:10 PM CT, TNT: Utah State is actually favored here despite being the lower seed, which tells you everything about how the committee views Villanova this year. A legit toss-up.
St. John’s (5) vs. Northern Iowa (12) — 6:10 PM CT, CBS: Hey look, an Iowa team! UNI is dancing again and draws a beatable St. John’s squad. The Panthers have a real shot here — this is your mid-major Cinderella watch of the day.
UCLA (7) vs. UCF (10) — 6:25 PM CT, TBS: Two teams with serious athletes and contrasting styles. UCLA wants to run, UCF wants to grind. Something’s got to give, and it should be fun to watch while we nervously check the Iowa score during commercial breaks.
Full Day Two Schedule — Friday, March 20
| NCAA Tournament Day Two — Friday, March 20, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time (CT) | Matchup | Spread | TV | Region |
| 11:15 AM | (7) Kentucky vs. (10) Santa Clara | UK -3.5 | CBS | Midwest |
| 11:40 AM | (5) Texas Tech vs. (12) Akron | TTU -7.5 | truTV | Midwest |
| 12:35 PM | (1) Arizona vs. (16) Long Island | ARIZ -30.5 | TNT | West |
| 1:50 PM | (2) Iowa State vs. (15) Tennessee State | ISU -24.5 | CBS | Midwest |
| 2:15 PM | (4) Alabama vs. (13) Hofstra | ALA -11.5 | truTV | Midwest |
| 3:10 PM | (8) Villanova vs. (9) Utah State | USU -1.5 | TNT | West |
| 3:25 PM | (6) Tennessee vs. (11) Miami OH | TENN -11.5 | TBS | Midwest |
| 5:50 PM | 🏀 (9) IOWA vs. (8) CLEMSON | IOWA -2.5 | TNT | South |
| 6:10 PM | (5) St. John’s vs. (12) Northern Iowa | SJU -9.5 | CBS | East |
| 6:25 PM | (7) UCLA vs. (10) UCF | UCLA -5.5 | TBS | West |
| 8:25 PM | (1) Florida vs. (16) Prairie View | FLA -35.5 | TNT | South |
| 8:45 PM | (4) Kansas vs. (13) CA Baptist | KU -14.5 | CBS | East |
The Bottom Line
There’s plenty of basketball to keep you busy before the Hawks take the floor, and plenty to flip to during timeouts once they do. Set your alarms, clear your schedules, and remember — the only thing that really matters today is what happens at 5:50 PM on TNT.
Go Hawks.
