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The No. 2 seed Iowa State Cyclones and No. 7 seed Kentucky Wildcats are set for a Midwest Region showdown on Sunday, but both teams enter the second round dealing with the emotional and physical fallout of a wild opening Friday. Iowa State advanced with a convincing 108-74 win over Tennessee State, while Kentucky survived an overtime thriller against Santa Clara to set up this top-25 clash in St. Louis.
The Cyclones' victory was dampened by a significant blow to their rotation when All-American forward Joshua Jefferson suffered a left ankle injury just minutes into the game. Jefferson, a versatile 6-9 playmaker averaging nearly 17 points and 8 rebounds, had to be helped off the floor and later appeared on the bench in a walking boot. While X-rays were negative and coach T.J. Otzelberger has labeled him "day-to-day," his availability for Sunday remains the biggest question mark of the weekend for Iowa State.
Kentucky arrives at the second round thanks to one of the most improbable shots in tournament history. Trailing by three with just 2.4 seconds left in regulation, Otega Oweh sprinted down the floor and banked in a 40-foot heave at the buzzer to force overtime. Oweh’s heroics — part of a career-high 35-point performance — reignited a Wildcats team that had struggled with consistency late in the season, giving Mark Pope’s squad a massive wave of momentum heading into Sunday.
If Jefferson is unable to go, Iowa State will lean even more heavily on Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic to navigate Kentucky's length. The Wildcats, led by Oweh and big man Mouhamed Dioubate, will look to exploit the interior if the Cyclones are missing their primary rim protector and rebounder. It’s a matchup of Iowa State’s elite defense against a Kentucky offense that finally found its spark in the clutch.
Here's what you need to know about Sunday's matchup between Iowa State and Kentucky, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is Iowa State vs. Kentucky on today?
- TV channel: CBS
- Live stream: Fubo, Paramount+
The second-round game between Iowa State and Kentucky will be broadcast nationally on CBS. The broadcast team of Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Jim Spanarkel (analyst), and Jon Rothstein (reporter) will be on the call from St. Louis.
Fans can stream the game live on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers so you can try the service before you buy.
Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Paramount+ is another streaming option for all CBS games in the tournament.
What time is Iowa State vs. Kentucky today?
- Date: Sunday, March 22
- Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
The NCAA tournament game between Iowa State and Kentucky is set to tip off at 2:45 p.m. ET from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
Iowa State is looking to reach the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years, while Kentucky is searching for its second straight trip to the second weekend under Pope. Iowa State is looking to reach the Final Four for the first time since 1944.
Iowa State vs. Kentucky radio coverage
- Radio station: SiriusXM
Fans looking to listen to Iowa State vs. Kentucky can find it on SiriusXM channel 201.
Listen to every game of the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament live on SiriusXM.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
March Madness bracket 2026
Check the Sporting News NCAA Tournament live bracket for the latest final scores and next-round matchups.
When and where is the Final Four in 2026?
- Date: April 4 and 6
- Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
The 2026 Men's Final Four is set for April 4 and 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The semifinals will be played Saturday night and the national championship game is set for Monday night.
The home of the Indianapolis Colts previously hosted the event in 2010, 2015 and 2021 and is set to host again in 2029. Indianapolis previously hosted the Final Four at other facilities in 1980, 1991, 1997, 2000 and 2006.
Only Kansas City has been home to the Final Four more often (10 times), but the last one held there was in 1988.
March Madness tournament schedule 2026
Here is the round-by-round schedule for the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament:
| Round | Date |
| First Four | March 17-18 |
| First round | March 19-20 |
| Second round | March 21-22 |
| Sweet 16 | March 26-27 |
| Elite Eight | March 28-29 |
| Final Four | April 4 |
| National championship | April 6 |
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