After becoming the only team in the NCAA tournament to win three games on opening week, No. 11 Texas looks to continue its Cinderella run when it takes on No. 2 Purdue in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
Purdue charged into the NCAA tournament by winning the Big 10 tournament and then rolled into the second weekend.
The Boilermakers are solid favorites, as the winner gets either Arizona or Arkansas in the Elite 8.
Texas Longhorns men’s basketball game today
The No. 11 Texas men’s basketball team takes on No. 2 Purdue in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament’s West Region in San Jose. The 5:10 p.m. MT/6:10 p.m. CT tip Thursday, March 26, will be aired on CBS.
How to watch Texas vs. Purdue in the NCAA tournament Sweet 16
The Texas vs. Purdue game will air on CBS at 5:10 p.m. MT/6:10 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 26.
More: Predicting every Men’s NCAA tournament game using AI
Who does the winner of Texas-Purdue play?
The winner of No. 11 Texas vs. No. 2 Purdue advances to the Elite 8 West Region final in San Jose, where it will play the winner of No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 4 Arkansas on Saturday.
Texas men’s basketball record
The Texas Longhorns are 21-14.
More: USA Today NCAA basketball coverage
Purdue men’s basketball record
The Purdue Boilermakers are 29-8.
Texas Longhorns vs. Purdue Boilermakers odds
Odds from BetMGM.com: Purdue -7 1/2. Moneyline: Purdue -375, Texas +290. Over/under 147 1/2.
Texas Longhorns men’s basketball vs. Purdue Boilermakers predictions, picks
The Arizona Republic: Purdue 80, Texas 70
Jeremy Cluff writes: “We didn’t have Texas making it past BYU in the first round, so we are very surprised the Longhorns are in the Sweet 16. An upset over Purdue for Sean Miller’s team would be extremely surprising for us. The Boilermakers are tough.”
Dimers: Purdue 80, Texas 71
It writes: “After extensive simulations, our model gives Texas a win probability of 22%, while Purdue has a win probability of 78%.”
ESPN: Purdue has a 75.5% chance to beat Texas
The site gives the Longhorns a 24.4% shot at defeating the Boilermakers in the NCAA Tournament March Madness Sweet 16 game.
Bookies.com: Bet Purdue to cover vs Texas
Bill Speros writes: “Another Big Ten-SEC Sweet 16 matchup – along with Michigan vs Alabama. In the West, Cinderella swapped those glass slippers for a pair of longhorns. Camden Heide hit a 3-pointer with 14.7 seconds left — his first points of the entire 2026 tournament — to seal Texas’ upset of Gonzaga. Texas previously beat NC State (First Four) and BYU in reaching the Sweet 16. Purdue’s run, meanwhile, has been steady and dominant. Purdue doesn’t turn the ball over and Texas struggled to force them. Shop around as this number is floating between 7.5 and 8.5. This will be Texas’ fifth game in 12 days. That’s a big ask against a deep, physical and punishing Boilermakers’ team. A close game opens up in the final 10 minutes.”
Topeka Capital-Journal: Take Purdue to beat Texas
Wyatt D. Wheeler writes: “Texas isn’t the most attractive Cinderella story we’ve ever seen. Purdue guard Braden Smith deserves some time in the spotlight.”
USA TODAY Sports: Go with Purdue to advance past Texas
Eight of nine experts on the site predict that Purdue will win the Sweet 16 game against Texas.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas Longhorns men’s basketball vs. Purdue: TV, odds, predictions