As the Sweet Sixteen rolls into Friday, March 27, the tension is palpable with the final spots in the Elite Eight up for grabs. Among the contenders, No.
4 Alabama and No. 1 Michigan are set to clash in what promises to be a thrilling matchup.
Alabama enters the fray as a formidable No. 4 seed, having dispatched No. 13 Hofstra with a decisive 20-point victory in the opening round.
They followed that up by dismantling No. 5 Texas Tech, 90-65, showcasing their offensive prowess.
This marks the sixth consecutive year the Crimson Tide have danced into the NCAA Tournament and their fourth straight appearance in the Sweet Sixteen. A win tonight would propel them into the Elite Eight for the third year running, a testament to their consistent excellence.
On the other side, Michigan stands tall as a No. 1 seed, a position earned through a season of hard-fought battles. The Wolverines cruised past No.
16 Howard with a commanding 101-80 win, followed by a solid 95-72 victory over No. 9 Saint Louis.
This is their second consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearance, and they're eager to avenge their last Elite Eight outing in 2021, where they were narrowly edged out by No. 11 UCLA.
Alabama vs. Michigan Game Details
The showdown is set for 7:35 p.m. ET at Chicago's United Center, the first of Friday’s Sweet Sixteen games, ensuring no delays due to earlier matchups.
Fans can catch all the action on TBS and truTV, with commentary from Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, and Evan Washburn. Streaming is available via DIRECTV for those on the go.
March Madness 2026 Schedule
Sweet 16
Thursday, March 26
- No. 11 Texas vs.
No. 2 Purdue at 7:10 p.m.
- No. 4 Nebraska vs.
No. 9 Iowa at 7:30 p.m.
- No. 4 Arkansas vs.
No. 1 Arizona at 9:45 p.m.
- No. 3 Illinois vs.
No. 2 Houston at 10:05 p.m.
Friday, March 27
- No. 5 St.
John’s vs. No.
1 Duke at 7:10 p.m. (CBS, Fubo, Paramount+)
- No. 4 Alabama vs.
No. 1 Michigan at 7:35 p.m.
(TBS, truTV, DIRECTV)
- No.
3 Michigan State vs. No.
2 UConn at 9:45 p.m. (CBS, Fubo, Paramount+)
- No. 6 Tennessee vs.
No. 2 Iowa State at 10:10 p.m.
(TBS, truTV, DIRECTV)
Elite Eight
Saturday, March 28 & Sunday, March 29
- Matchups and times are to be determined, with coverage on TBS, truTV, CBS, Fubo, and Paramount+.
Final Four and National Championship
Saturday, April 4 & Monday, April 6
- Final Four games and the National Championship will be broadcast on TBS, truTV, and DIRECTV, with the championship game set for 8:50 p.m. on April 6.
As Alabama and Michigan prepare to tip off, the stakes couldn't be higher. Both teams have shown they have what it takes to go the distance, but only one will move forward tonight. Buckle up for an unforgettable night of college basketball.