While the round of 64 starts Thursday, the NCAA Tournament technically began Tuesday night with the First Four.
The four lowest-seeded at-large bids and the four lowest-seeded automatic bids are competing for the final four spots in the 64-team bracket. All four games are being played at the UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, with two games Tuesday night and two games Wednesday night.
Here’s what to know about the First Four including dates, times and TV schedule.
SN’s MARCH MADNESS HQ
Live NCAA bracket news | TV schedule | Printable PDF
March Madness First Four schedule, results 2024
All times ET
Tuesday, March 19
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| No. 16 Wagner 71, No. 16 Howard 68 | 6:40 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 10 Colorado State 67, No. 10 Virginia 42 | 9:10 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
Wednesday, March 20
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| No. 16 Grambling vs. No. 16 Montana State | 6:40 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 10 Colorado vs. No. 10 Boise State | 9:10 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
MORE: Buy tickets to 2024 March Madness games
First Four live scores, updates, highlights from opening NCAA Tournament games
All times Eastern.
Wednesday
6:54 p.m.: Montana State is off to a hot start, knocking down eight of its first 10 shots to go up 18-9 over Grambling with 12:57 remaining in the first half.
Tuesday: Colorado State 67, Virginia 42
11:32 p.m.: Colorado State moves onto the Round of 64! The Rams defeat Virginia, 67-42, in the First Four. Colorado State will face Texas in the first round.
11:12 p.m.: The Cavaliers are trailing by 20, 55-35 with 5:34 minutes remaining. If Virginia scores seven more points, it will double its first-half point total in the second half.
10:44 p.m.: If you were hoping for offense, you’re out of luck. Virginia missed 19 straight field goals as Colorado State is now leading by 20 points with 13:07 remaining.
10:12 p.m.: Colorado State has established a 27-14 lead at halftime. Virginia did not record a field goal in the final 10:30 of the first half. The Cavaliers made just two free throws during this stretch.
9:31 p.m.: The next First Four game is underway as Virginia takes on Colorado State. Virginia leads 4-2 with 14:52 remaining in the first half.
Tuesday: Wagner 71, Howard 68
8:52 p.m.: The Seahawks are moving on to the Round of 64! Wagner defeats Howard 71-68 after the Bison missed three straight 3-pointers on the final possession. Julian Brown nailed two free throws to give Wagner the three-point cushion just prior.
8:48 p.m.: Bryce Harris scores a tough layup to bring the game to 69-68. Howard has one timeout with 17 seconds remaining. Wagner is out of timeouts.
8:44 p.m.: The Bison have made it a one-possession game! Behind a 12-2 run, Howard is within three points at 69-66 with 1:02 remaining.
8:37 p.m.: Towns knocks down a big 3-pointer to cut the lead to 67-60 with 2:24 minutes remaining.
8:33 p.m.: The Seahawks are on the verge of punching their ticket to the Round of 64. Wagner leads 67-54 with 3:50 remaining. Four Wagner players are in double-figure points and the team only has five turnovers.
8:14 p.m.: Howard is hanging around. The Bison managed to cut the deficit to 10 points with 10:32 left in the game. After the 8-0 run by Wagner, Howard responded with an 11-2 stretch.
7:57 p.m.: The Seahawks are picking up right where they left off in the first half. After Howard cut the deficit to nine, Wagner goes on an 8-0 run to extend its lead to 17 with 16:22 to go in the second half.
7:31 p.m.: Wagner leads 38-27 at the half as Council is up to 13 points. Seth Towns leads Howard with 11 points.
7:08 p.m.: The Seahawks extended their lead up to 23-12 with 7:12 remaining in the first half. Council is nearly outscoring Howard on his own with 11 points on 5-of-6 field-goal shooting to go along with his four assists.
6:56 p.m.: Wagner’s Melvin Council Jr. launched a logo 3-pointer to give the Seahawks an early advantage in the first half.
Melvin Council Jr. pulls up from the LOGO 😤 pic.twitter.com/jQmEaEE4hN
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 19, 2024
How to watch NCAA First Four games
- TV channels: truTV
- Live streams: Sling TV, NCAA March Madness Live
All four of the First Four games will be broadcast on truTV. Viewers also can stream the games through NCAA March Madness Live by logging into their TV provider.
Sling TV will offer the First Four games on its streaming service.
STREAM: Watch 2024 NCAA Tournament games live with Sling
NCAA Tournament schedule 2024
Round 1
Thursday, March 21
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| No. 9 Michigan State vs. No. 8 Mississippi State | 12:15 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 11 Duquesne vs. No. 6 BYU | 12:40 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 14 Akron vs. No. 3 Creighton | 1:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 15 Long Beach State vs. No. 2 Arizona | 2 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 16 Wagner vs. No. 1 North Carolina | 2:45 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 14 Morehead State vs. No. 3 Illinois | 3:10 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 6 South Carolina | 4 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 10 Nevada vs. No. 7 Dayton | 4:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 10 Colorado State vs. No. 7 Texas | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 14 Oakland vs. No. 3 Kentucky | 7:10 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 12 McNeese vs. No. 5 Gonzaga | 7:25 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 15 South Dakota State vs. No. 2 Iowa State | 7:35 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 15 Saint Peter’s vs. No. 2 Tennessee | 9:20 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 11 NC State vs. No. 6 Texas Tech | 9:40 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 13 Samford vs. No. 4 Kansas | 9:55 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 10 Drake vs. No. 7 Washington State | 10:05 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
Friday, March 22
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| No. 9 Northwestern vs. No. 8 Florida Atlantic | 12:15 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 14 Colgate vs. No. 3 Baylor | 12:40 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 12 UAB vs. No. 5 San Diego State | 1:45 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 15 Western Kentucky vs. No. 2 Marquette | 2 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 16 Stetson vs. No. 1 UConn | 2:45 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 11 New Mexico State vs. No. 6 Clemson | 3:10 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 13 Yale vs. No. 4 Auburn | 4:15 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 10 Colorado/Boise State vs. No. 7 Florida | 4:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 9 Texas A&M vs. No. 8 Nebraska | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 13 Vermont vs. No. 4 Duke | 7:10 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 16 Grambling State/Montana State vs. No. 1 Purdue | 7:25 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 13. Charleston vs. No. 4 Alabama | 7:35 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 16 Longwood vs. No. 1 Houston | 9:20 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 12 James Madison vs. No. 5 Wisconsin | 9:40 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 9 TCU vs. No. 8 Utah State | 9:55 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 12 Grand Canyon vs. No. 5 Saint Mary’s | 10:05 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |