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Mark Pope has the No. 7 seed Kentucky Wildcats back in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, seeking to build on last season’s Sweet 16 run. The Wildcats (21-13) navigated a grueling SEC schedule that featured a marquee win at Arkansas and a regular-season sweep of Missouri, earning their first-ever 7-seed in program history. After an early exit in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, Kentucky arrives in St. Louis with a refocus and reload mentality, looking to reclaim their status as a March heavyweight.
But, Kentucky fans know that their tournament dreams can end in round one. The opponent this year is the Santa Clara Broncos (26-8), a dangerous at-large squad out of the WCC. Led by head coach Herb Sendek — a former Rick Pitino assistant in Lexington—the Broncos are making their first tournament appearance since 1996. Santa Clara brings one of the nation's most efficient offenses, ranking in the top 25 and averaging over 10 made three-pointers per game. They feature a high-scoring backcourt led by Christian Hammond (15.8 PPG) and Elijah Mahi, a duo that isn't afraid to test Kentucky's perimeter defense.
While Kentucky relies on the veteran leadership of Otega Oweh and a deep bench, the Broncos boast an elite rebounding margin and a top-20 national rank in forcing turnovers. History favors the Wildcats, who won the only prior meeting between these schools in 2006, but as a trendy upset pick on social media, Santa Clara has all the ingredients to be this year's ultimate bracket buster.
For the Wildcats, this opening round is about more than just a win; it’s about silencing the doubters who questioned their consistency during the regular season. Kentucky aims to start another deep run in the Midwest Region, however, they'll have to be sharp from the opening tip to avoid becoming another first-round casualty against a Santa Clara team that has already proven it can handle high-major competition.
Here's what you need to know about Friday's matchup between Kentucky and Santa Clara, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is Kentucky vs. Santa Clara on today?
- TV channel: CBS
- Live stream: Fubo, Paramount+
Kentucky and Santa Clara will kick off Friday's first round slate on CBS. Spero Dedes and Jim Spanarkel will be on the call, with Jon Rothstein on the sidelines.
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 Kentucky vs. Santa Clara today?
- Date: Friday, March 20
- Time: 12:15 p.m. ET
The NCAA tournament game between Team1 and Team2 is set to tip off at 12:15 p.m. ET from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri
Pope and the Wildcats are looking to build on a Sweet 16 appearance from his first tournament as the head coach. Kentucky trails North Carolina by two wins for the most by any program in the NCAA. Santa Clara is back in the tournament for the 11th time, looking to win its first game since the 1995-96 season.
Kentucky vs. Santa Clara radio coverage
- Radio station: SiriusXM channel 201
Friday's game can be listened to on SiriusXM channel 201.
Listen to every game of the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament live on SiriusXM.
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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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