2024 NCAA Tournament first-round game dates, tip-off times, TV channels announced

After a thoroughly riveting regular season and round of conference championship action, the NCAA Tournament bracket has been set and the outlook is now clear for the 68 teams who will participate.

Game times have also been decided and announced, and we’ll get into those below.

This year’s tournament promises to be another excellent affair. The four No. 1 seed are UConn, Houston, Purdue and North Carolina. And while they’ll be the favorites to win through to the Final Four and beyond, we know full and well that nothing is guaranteed in March.

Just ask Purdue last year.

But beyond the powerhouse No. 1 seeds, there are also plenty of other low seeds that could do some major damage in this year’s NCAA Tournament. The first action will begin with a pair of play-in games, taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Those games will be played at 6:40 p.m. ET and 9:10 p.m. ET on Tuesday night and at 6:40 p.m ET and 9:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday night.

Full first-round action then begins on Thursday starting at 12:15 p.m. ET with a contest between Michigan State and Mississippi State.

You can view the complete game times for the opening round of this year’s NCAA Tournament below. (All times Eastern)

First Four (Dayton)

16 Howard vs. 16 Wagner
Tuesday, 6:40 p.m. – truTV
16 Montana State vs. 16 Grambling State
Wednesday, 6:40 p.m. – truTV
10 Boise State vs. 10 Colorado
Wednesday, 9:10 p.m. – truTV
10 Virginia vs. 10 Colorado State
Tuesday, 9:10 p.m. – truTV

East (Boston)

Brooklyn
1 UConn vs. 16 Stetson
Friday, 2:45 p.m. – CBS
8 FAU vs. 9 Northwestern
Friday, 12:15 p.m. – CBS
Spokane
5 SDSU vs. 12 UAB
Friday, 1:45 p.m. – TNT
4 Auburn vs. 13 Yale
Friday, 4:15 p.m. – TNT
Omaha
6 BYU vs. 11 Duquesne
Thursday, 12:40 p.m. – truTV
3 Illinois vs. 14 Morehead State
Thursday, 3:10 p.m. – truTV
Omaha
7 Washington State vs. 10 Drake
Thursday, 10:05 p.m. – truTV
2 Iowa State vs. 15 South Dakota State
Thursday, 7:35 p.m. – truTV

West (Los Angeles)

Charlotte
1 North Carolina vs. 16 Howard/Wagner
Thursday, 2:45 p.m. – CBS
8 Mississippi State vs. 9 Michigan State
Thursday, 12:15 p.m. – CBS
Spokane
5 St. Mary’s vs. 12 Grand Canyon
Friday, 10:05 p.m. – truTV
4 Alabama vs. 13 Charleston
Friday, 7:35 p.m. – truTV
Memphis
6 Clemson vs. 11 New Mexico
Friday, 3:10 p.m. – truTV
3 Baylor vs. 14 Colgate
Friday, 12:40 p.m. – truTV
Salt Lake City
7 Dayton vs. 10 Nevada
Thursday, 4:30 p.m. – TBS
2 Arizona vs. 15 Long Beach State
Thursday, 2 p.m. – TBS

South (Dallas)

Memphis
1 Houston vs. 16 Longwood
Friday, 9:20 p.m. – TNT
8 Nebraska vs. 9 Texas A&M
Friday, 6:50 p.m. – TNT
Brooklyn
5 Wisconsin vs. 12 James Madison
Friday, 9:40 p.m. – CBS
4 Duke vs. 13 Vermont
Friday, 7:10 p.m. – CBS
Pittsburgh
6 Texas Tech vs. 11 NC State
Thursday, 9:40 p.m. ET – CBS
3 Kentucky vs. 14 Oakland
Thursday, 7:10 p.m. – CBS
Indianapolis
7 Florida vs. 10 Boise State/Colorado
Friday, 4:30 p.m. – TBS
2 Marquette vs. 15 Western Kentucky
Friday, 2 p.m. – TBS

Midwest (Detroit)

Indianapolis
1 Purdue vs. 16 Montana State/Grambling State
Friday, 7:25 p.m. – TBS
8 Utah State vs. 9 TCU
Friday, 9:55 p.m. – TBS
Salt Lake City
5 Gonzaga vs. 12 McNeese State
Thursday, 7:25 p.m. – TBS
4 Kansas vs. 13 Samford
Thursday, 9:55 p.m. – TBS
Pittsburgh
6 South Carolina vs. 11 Oregon
Thursday, 4 p.m. – TNT
3 Creighton vs. 14 Akron
Thursday, 1:30 p.m. – TNT
Charlotte
7 Texas vs. 10 Virginia/Colorado State
Thursday, 6:50 p.m. – TNT
2 Tennessee vs. 15 St. Peter’s
Thursday, 9:20 p.m. – TNT