NCAA® Men's Sweet 16® Preview: What to Watch With Sling TV
After an exciting opening to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, here’s what to watch for in the Sweet 16® and beyond.
How does it feel to be one of the 16 teams left in NCAA Men’s March Madness®? In a word: Sweet.
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The field for College Basketball's Sweet 16® is set. Nearly half the teams are No. 1 or No. 2 seeds, an indication of how “chalky” the tournament has been so far. In fact, the lowest seed still alive in the tournament is No. 11 Texas, who had to earn their spot in the tournament with a First Four win over NC State.
Still, it isn’t like the first two rounds of the tournament lacked excitement. Despite their second round exit, the ending of Kentucky’s win over Santa Clara provided a March Madness moment for the ages, as did Iowa’s stunning last-second win over defending champion Florida.
That liveliness should carry over into the Sweet 16, where some of the best teams and top players are on a collision course with win-or-go-home stakes. Here's a look at the four games available with Sling, followed by a preview of each.
2026 NCAA® Men's March Madness®: Sweet 16, plus NIT Games on ESPN
Watch TBS games with a 1, 3, or 7 Day Pass or subscribe to Sling Orange or Blue to watch the most games with Sling!
How to Watch the 2026 NCAA Men’s Sweet 16 with Sling
With the Sweet 16 broadcasts split between TBS and CBS, Sling will carry four of the eight games (watch CBS games on the NCAA website or March Madness app, or subscribe to Paramount+ to stream the games). Here’s a look at the 2026 Sweet 16 games available on Sling. To watch these games, plus the Elite 8® games on TBS on Saturday, March 28, use the link below to subscribe to a 3 Day Pass beginning Thursday, March 26.
NCAA Games on Thursday, March 26, 2026
https://youtu.be/rvAcpwzRkTg?si=OnAUOEMOPdNz57pj
#4 Nebraska vs. #9 Iowa - 7:30pm ET, TBS
The Sweet 16 brings a high-stakes Big Ten rubber match to the South Region as the No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers face the No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes. Nebraska reaches the second week of the tournament following a historic run, having secured its first-ever Sweet 16 berth with wins over Richmond (75–56) and a gritty two-point survival against Vanderbilt. Meanwhile, Iowa has emerged as the tournament's premier "Cinderella" team after shocking No. 1 seed and defending national champions Florida in the Round of 32, following an earlier win over FDU.
The Huskers and Hawkeyes split their season series, with each team winning on their home court. A key matchup to watch is Iowa’s sophomore center Ava Heiden, who dominated the Huskers for 27 points in their last meeting, against Nebraska’s freshman standout Britt Prince. Statistically, the game pits Nebraska’s elite defensive efficiency (ranked 15th nationally) against Iowa’s high-powered offense, which ranks 15th in effective field goal percentage. However, Iowa’s struggle to defend the three-pointer (165th nationally) could be their undoing if Nebraska’s shooters find their rhythm on the neutral floor in Houston.
Best Bet: Nebraska -1.5, as their superior defensive discipline should stifle an Iowa team coming off an emotional upset.
#10 Houston vs. #3 Illinois - 10:05pm ET, TBS
The South Region’s Sweet 16 features a clash of titans as the No. 2 Houston Cougars take on the No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini in what many consider a "de facto" Final Four® matchup. Houston dominated the opening weekend, dismantling Idaho and Texas A&M by identical 31-point margins. Illinois was equally impressive, cruising past Penn (105–70) and VCU (76–55) to secure their second Sweet 16 appearance in three seasons.
The game presents a fascinating contrast in styles. Illinois boasts a top-five offense and extreme length, led by freshman sensation Keaton Wagler (17.9 PPG). The Fighting Illini rank 15th nationally in three-point attempt rate, with over 50% of their shots coming from deep. Houston counters with a relentless, physical defense that ranks 14th in two-point percentage allowed. The marquee matchup pits Houston’s elite freshman guard Kingston Flemings (16.4 PPG, 5.3 APG) against Illinois’ perimeter size. While the Illini hold a massive +10.2 rebounding margin, Houston’s ability to force turnovers (top 15 nationally) could negate that advantage. Playing essentially a home game at the Toyota Center in Houston, the Cougars' defensive intensity will be the ultimate test for the Illini’s spacing.
Best Bet: Illinois +3.5, as their elite shot-making and superior size should keep them within a possession in a high-level back-and-forth affair.
NCAA Games on Friday, March 27, 2026
https://youtu.be/G_2G2GiXOec?si=yXPgtoZ5FqnaY5cf
#1 Michigan vs. #4 Alabama - 7:35pm ET, TBS
The Midwest Region’s Sweet 16 features a clash of offensive juggernauts as the No. 1 seed Michigan Wolverines take on the No. 4 seed Alabama Crimson Tide in Chicago. Michigan arrives after a dominant opening weekend in Buffalo, setting a program tournament record for shooting percentage (67.2%) in a 101–80 win over Howard before dismantling Saint Louis 95–72. Alabama has been equally explosive, scoring 90 points in back-to-back wins over Hofstra (90–70) and Texas Tech (90–65) to reach their fourth consecutive Sweet 16.
This matchup is a battle of opposing defensive philosophies. Alabama owns the nation’s top-scoring offense (91.6 PPG) and leads the country in three-point attempt rate, but ranks 221st in defensive efficiency. Michigan, led by freshman big man Morez Johnson Jr. and elite playmaker Elliot Cadeau, counters with the 12th-ranked offense and a much sturdier defense (ranked 45th). The key matchup will be Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr., coming off a near triple-double, against Michigan’s Nimari Burnett, a former Alabama player. While the Tide’s "pace and space" can overwhelm anyone, Michigan’s interior size with Aday Mara (96 blocks this season) poses a massive threat to Alabama’s rim finishers.
Best Bet: Over 174.5, as both teams rank in the top 15 for scoring and prefer a relentless, high-possession "track meet" style of play.
#2 Iowa vs. #6 Tennessee- 10:10pm ET, TBS
The Midwest Region’s second Sweet 16 game offers a physical defensive battle in Chicago between the No. 2 seed Iowa State Cyclones and the No. 6 seed Tennessee Volunteers. Iowa State reached this stage by overpowering Tennessee State 108–74 before suffocating No. 7 Kentucky in a 82–63 second-round victory. Tennessee, making its fourth straight Sweet 16 appearance, advanced by handling No. 11 St. Peter’s and outlasting No. 3 Virginia 79–72 in a gritty, veteran-led performance.
The matchup centers on whether Tennessee’s offense can survive Iowa State’s "No-Middle" defense, which ranks 4th nationally in forced turnover percentage (22%). The Volunteers rely on senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie (21 points vs. UVA), but they struggle with ball security, ranking 219th in turnover rate. Iowa State’s offense is led by Tamin Lipsey, who is fresh off a 26-point, 10-assist masterclass against Kentucky. A major injury cloud hangs over the Cyclones, however, as star forward Joshua Jefferson (16.4 PPG) remains questionable with an ankle sprain. While Tennessee is the nation’s top offensive rebounding team, Iowa State’s elite 39% shooting from deep provides a scoring ceiling the Vols may struggle to match.
Best Bet: Iowa State -3.5, as their ability to turn defensive havoc into easy transition points should overcome Tennessee’s rebounding edge.
Key Dates
- Sweet 16®: March 26-27 (TBS, CBS)
- Elite 8®: March 28-29 (TBS, CBS)
- Final Four®: April 4 (TBS)
- Championship: April 6 (TBS)
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