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The Michigan Wolverines enter the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, capping off one of the most dominant regular seasons in Big Ten history.
In just his second year in Ann Arbor, Dusty May has transformed the Wolverines (31-3) into a national juggernaut. Michigan bulldozed through the conference with a 19-1 record — setting a new Big Ten record for league wins — and finished a perfect 10-0 in true road games. The Wolverines didn't just win; they overwhelmed opponents, recording 24 double-digit victories and a staggering seven wins by 40 points or more. Despite a hard-fought loss to Purdue in the Big Ten Championship game, Michigan remains a betting favorite to cut down the nets in Indianapolis.
The engine of this historic run is Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg, a do-it-all forward who turned down massive NIL offers elsewhere to play for May. Lendeborg (14.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG) anchors a "gargantuan" frontline alongside 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara, whose elite rim protection and improved scoring have made Michigan nearly impossible to score on inside. Complemented by the playmaking of Elliot Cadeau and the sharpshooting of freshman standout Trey McKenney, the Wolverines boast a "pace-and-space" attack that ranks in the top 15 nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
The road to the Final Four begins in Buffalo, where Michigan awaits the Howard Bison, who defeated UMBC in the First Four to punch their ticket to New York. While the Wolverines are heavy favorites to advance, the stakes are high as they look to extend the nation's longest active streak of Sweet 16 appearances to seven. With the Midwest Regional semifinals scheduled just down the road at the United Center in Chicago, the Wolverines have a clear path to play in front of a home-away-from-home crowd if they can take care of business in the opening weekend.
Here's what you need to know about Thursday's matchup between Michigan and Howard, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is Michigan vs. Howard on today?
- TV channel: CBS
- Live stream: Fubo, Paramount+
Top-seeded Michigan opens its NCAA Tournament campaign against No. 16 Howard on CBS. Jason Benetti and Jim Jackson are on the call, with Allie LaForce 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 Michigan vs. Howard today?
- Date: Thursday, March 19
- Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
The NCAA tournament game between Michigan and Howard is set to tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
The Wolverines have made eight Final Fours in program history and are looking to make their first one in eight years. Howard is making its fifth March Madness appearance in tournament history. The Bison made history in 2026 by winning its first tournament game, knocking off UMBC in the First Four.
Michigan vs. Howard radio coverage
- Radio station: SiriusXM
Those wanting to listen to Michigan vs. Howard can find it on SiriusXM channel 203.
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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