The NCAA has released the schedule for the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Check out dates and TV listings below.
The NCAA has officially unveiled the schedule for the 2021 NCAA Tournament, which begins on Sunday, March 14, with the bracket release and will culminate with the national championship on Monday, April 5.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s March Madness will look and feel different from previous years. To begin, the entire tournament will be held in the state of Indiana across six different venues. Additionally, the NCAA has yet to decide on stadium capacity for fans throughout the tournament.
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However, after last year’s March Madness cancellation, a schedule is now in place to crown a champion this April.
Here is everything you need to know about this year’s March Madness schedule, locations, TV info and more.
When is March Madness 2021?
- First Four: Thu., March 18
- First round: Fri./Sat., March 19-20
- Second round: Sun./Mon., March 21-22
- Sweet 16: Sat./Sun., March 27-28
- Elite Eight: Mon./Tue., March 29-30
- Final Four: Sat., April 3
- Championship: Mon., April 5
The First Four will start on Thursday this year and be played in the only non-Indianapolis locations of this year’s tournament at Mackey Arena (West Lafayette) and Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (Bloomington). All four games will be played on Thursday instead of its usual format of doubleheaders on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The first round will be played on Friday and Saturday with the second round immediately following on Sunday and Monday, just a day later than its usual window. The following weekend will be the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds which will take place Saturday through Tuesday, two days later than the standard tournament format.
March Madness will conclude with the Final Four and National Championship with the semifinals on Saturday, April 3, and the title game on Monday, April 5.
Where will March Madness 2021 be played?
- Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Ind. (First Four, First Round)
- Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bloomington, Ind. (First Four, First Round)
- Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Ind. (First Round, Second Round, Sweet 16)
- Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Ind. (First Round, Second Round, Sweet 16)
- Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Indianapolis, Ind. (First Round, Second Round)
- Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind. (First Round, Second Round, Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, National Championship)
Six facilities will be used to host 2021 March Madness. Mackey Arena and Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall will have both First Four and first round games; Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Hinkle Fieldhouse will have first round, second round and Sweet 16 games; Indiana Farmers Coliseum will have first and second round games, and Lucas Oil Stadium will host games from every round following the First Four matchups.
When is Selection Sunday 2021?
- Date: Sun., March 14
- Time: TBD
- TV channel: TBD
The Selection Show will take place as originally planned on Sunday, March 14. Time and TV channel will be released at a later date.
Where can you watch March Madness 2021?
- TV: TBS, TNT, TruTV, CBS
- Streaming: March Madness Live
| Date | Round | Tip Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, March 18 | First Four | 5 p.m. | truTV |
| Thursday, March 18 | First Four | 6:20 p.m. | TBS |
| Thursday, March 18 | First Four | 8:30 p.m. | truTV |
| Thursday, March 18 | First Four | 9:50 p.m. | TBS |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | Noon | CBS |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 12:30 p.m. | truTV |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 1 p.m. | TBS |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 1:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 2:45 p.m. | CBS |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 3:20 p.m. | truTV |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 3:50 p.m. | TBS |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 4:20 p.m. | TNT |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 6:15 p.m. | TBS |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 7 p.m. | CBS |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 7 p.m. | truTV |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 7:15 p.m. | TNT |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 9:10 p.m. | TBS |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 9:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 9:45 p.m. | truTV |
| Friday, March 19 | First Round | 9:50 p.m. | TNT |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | Noon | CBS |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 12:30 p.m. | truTV |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 1 p.m. | TBS |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 1:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 2:45 p.m. | CBS |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 3:20 p.m. | truTV |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 3:50 p.m. | TBS |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 4:20 p.m. | TNT |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 6:15 p.m. | TBS |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 7 p.m. | CBS |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 7 p.m. | truTV |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 7:15 p.m. | TNT |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 9:10 p.m. | TBS |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 9:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 9:45 p.m. | truTV |
| Saturday, March 20 | First Round | 9:50 p.m. | TNT |
| Sunday, March 21 | Second Round | Noon | CBS |
| Sunday, March 21 | Second Round | 2:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Sunday, March 21 | Second Round | 5 p.m. | CBS |
| Sunday, March 21 | Second Round | 6 p.m. | TNT |
| Sunday, March 21 | Second Round | 7 p.m. | TBS |
| Sunday, March 21 | Second Round | 7:30 p.m. | truTV |
| Sunday, March 21 | Second Round | 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Sunday, March 21 | Second Round | 9:30 p.m. | TBS |
| Monday, March 22 | Second Round | Noon | CBS |
| Monday, March 22 | Second Round | 2:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Monday, March 22 | Second Round | 5 p.m. | TBS |
| Monday, March 22 | Second Round | 6 p.m. | TNT |
| Monday, March 22 | Second Round | 7 p.m. | CBS |
| Monday, March 22 | Second Round | 7:30 p.m. | TBS |
| Monday, March 22 | Second Round | 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Monday, March 22 | Second Round | 9:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Saturday, March 27 | Sweet 16 | 2:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Saturday, March 27 | Sweet 16 | 5 p.m. | CBS |
| Saturday, March 27 | Sweet 16 | 7:15 p.m. | TBS |
| Saturday, March 27 | Sweet 16 | 9:45 p.m. | TBS |
| Sunday, March 28 | Sweet 16 | 2 p.m. | CBS |
| Sunday, March 28 | Sweet 16 | 4:45 p.m. | CBS |
| Sunday, March 28 | Sweet 16 | 7 p.m. | TBS |
| Sunday, March 28 | Sweet 16 | 9:30 p.m. | TBS |
| Monday, March 29 | Elite Eight | 7 p.m. | CBS |
| Monday, March 29 | Elite Eight | 9:45 p.m. | CBS |
| Tuesday, March 30 | Elite Eight | 7 p.m. | TBS |
| Tuesday, March 30 | Elite Eight | 9:45 p.m. | TBS |
| Saturday, April 3 | National Semifinals | 5 p.m. | CBS |
| Saturday, April 3 | National Semifinals | 8:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Monday, April 5 | National Championship | 9 p.m. | CBS |
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