What we know about Thursday’s Sweet 16 games:
Our slate opens with No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 11 Texas at 7:10 ET on CBS, live from SAP Center in San Jose, CA.
The second game is No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Iowa at 7:30 ET on TBS and truTV, coming to you from Toyota Center in Houston, TX.
Check out our recaps of every NCAA Tournament game here.
MARCH 26 / 6:30 ET
A key to watch for each of tonight’s contests
No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 11 Texas, 7:10 ET (CBS)
Purdue point guard Braden Smith recently set the all-time NCAA career record for assists (1,083), leading the Boilermakers to the best offensive rating in the nation in the regular season (131.9). Can Texas disrupt his rhythm?
No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Iowa, 7:30 ET (TBS / truTV)
These rivals split their season series 1-1 and advanced to the Sweet 16 with clutch heroics — Alvaro Folgueiras’s corner 3-pointer to lift Iowa, Braden Frager’s slashing layup to win it for Nebraska.
Can Nebraska break Iowa’s defense, which was the best in the Big Ten?
They shot 5-of-24 (20.8%) from 3-point range in the first game of the season series, a 57-52 loss, but went 10-of-27 (37%) in the second, a 84-75 win. Their season average from deep was 35.5%.
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 4 Arkansas, 9:45 ET (CBS)
Which team will thrive in transition? Both can run. Arkansas had the second-most fast break points per game in the country (19.03) while Arizona was 20th (14.97).
No. 2 Houston vs. No. 3 Illinois, 10:05 ET (TBS / truTV)
This will be a de facto home game for Houston, as it’ll be held in the Toyota Center, home of the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Can the Fighting Illini handle the Cougars’ pressure defense and the roar of the crowd?
MARCH 26 / 6 ET
Get tapped in for tonight’s action
With the CBS Sports HQ crew.
MARCH 26 / 5:30 ET
Welcome to the Sweet 16!
It’s one of the great nights on the college basketball calendar, as eight of the best teams in the nation square off with hopes of surviving and advancing in the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Here’s the complete schedule:
No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 11 Texas, 7:10 ET (CBS)
No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Iowa, 7:30 ET (TBS / truTV)
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 4 Arkansas, 9:45 ET (CBS)
No. 2 Houston vs. No. 3 Illinois, 10:05 ET (TBS / truTV)