The round of 32 has now concluded in the 2026 NCAA March Madness tournament. There were several Cinderella stories of teams advancing that were previously under the radar, and many dominant teams maintained their status in the competition.
All to say, this year’s March Madness has been an action-packed spectacle with a lot more to be seen on the court as teams advancing to the Sweet 16 round later this week. Here is everything you need to know about the teams moving on in the tournament, plus the matchups to look to forward to as March Madness continues.
The Top 16 Men’s Basketball Teams Advancing to the Sweet 16 Round
GettyPORTLAND, OREGON – MARCH 21: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks dribbles the ball while being guarded by Cam’Ron Fletcher #11 of the High Point Panthers during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
The Sweet 16 round of March Madness will see the top 16 NCAA basketball teams go against one another for the chance to advance further in the national tournament. Following the second round of competition on March 21-22, 2026, here are the teams moving forward to the Sweet 16:
- Arkansas – after defeating High Point in the second round
- Illinois – after defeating VCU in the second round
- Houston – after defeating Texas A&M in the second round
- Texas – after defeating Gonzaga in the second round
- Purdue – after defeating Miami FL in the second round
- Nebraska – after defeating Vanderbilt in the second round
- Michigan – after defeating Saint Louis in the second round
- Duke – after defeating TCU in the second round
- Michigan State – after defeating Louisville in the second round
- Iowa State – after defeating Kentucky in the second round
- St. John’s – after defeating Kansas in the second round
- Tennessee – after defeating Virginia in the second round
- Arizona – after defeating Utah State in the second round
- Iowa – after defeating Florida in the second round
- UConn – after defeating UCLA in the second round
- Alabama – after defeating Texas Tech in the second round
Sweet 16 Matchups to Take Place Later This Week
GettyGREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 19: Cayden Boozer #2 and Maliq Brown #6 of the Duke Blue Devils celebrates during the second half against the Siena Saints in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
As March Madness continues with the Sweet 16 round, here are the dates and team matchups of the games to come later this week.
Thursday, March 26, 2026
- Texas vs Purdue – 7:10 PM ET / 6:10 PM CT / 4:10 PM PT
- Nebraska vs Iowa – 7:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM CT / 4:30 PM PT
- Arkansas vs Arizona – 9:45 PM ET / 8:45 PM CT / 6:45 PM PT
- Illinois vs Houston – 10:05 PM ET / 9:05 PM CT / 7:05 PM PT
Friday, March 27, 2026
- St. John’s vs Duke – 7:10 PM ET / 6:10 PM CT / 4:10 PM PT
- Michigan vs Alabama – 7:35 PM ET / 6:35 PM CT / 4:34 PM PT
- Michigan State vs UConn – 9:45 PM ET / 8:45 PM PT / 6:45 PM PT
- Tennessee vs Iowa State – 10:10 PM ET / 9:10 PM CT / 7:10 PM PT
March Madness games can be streamed on Fubo, Paramount+, Sling, and Direct TV. The NCAA also provides select options for viewing through their website and social media.
Sweet 16 Preview: These Are the Teams Advancing & Matchups to Watch