March Madness is here, which means all eyes in the college basketball world will be on the 2026 NCAA Tournament, but don’t sleep on the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) to bring you some added excitement on the court.
The NIT officially kicks off on Tuesday, March 17, with a full slate of games across the ESPN family of networks. Games are hosted on the campus sites of the higher-ranked teams for the first round.
MORE: 2026 NIT bracket, teams, schedule, game times & dates
Tuesday night brings us the first eight games of the tournament, with the opening game tipping off at 6:00 p.m. ET and the action running through the night.
Auburn Tigers head coach Steven Pearl huddles with his team after the game as Auburn Tigers take on Kentucky Wildcats at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Auburn Tigers defeated Kentucky Wildcats 75-74.
The semifinal will be held at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, while the NIT championship will be held Sunday, April 5, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
All games will stream live on the ESPN app, with most games also available on Fubo (free trial).
How can you tune into Tuesday’s action?
All of the information you need to watch the NIT games on Tuesday, March 17, can be seen below.
— Click here for a printable 2026 NIT bracket —
NIT TV schedule & viewing info
Mar 12, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Auburn Tigers cheerleaders against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
| Game | Time (ET) | TV Info |
|---|---|---|
| George Mason vs. Liberty | 6 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Yale vs. UNCW | 7 p.m. | ESPN app |
| Wichita State vs. Wyoming | 7 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Oklahoma State vs. Davidson | 8 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Tulsa vs. Stephen F. Austin | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Seattle U vs. St. Thomas (Minn.) | 10 p.m. | ESPN app |
| Auburn vs. South Alabama | 10 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| UC Irvine vs. UNLV | 11 p.m. | ESPNU |
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