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It’s been exactly a decade since Kris Jenkins hit the most iconic shot in Villanova history, and as the 10-year anniversary of that 2016 national title approaches, Kevin Willard has the program back on the path to national prominence.
In his debut season on the Main Line, Willard has orchestrated a swift rebuild, guiding the No. 8 seed Wildcats (24-8) back to the Big Dance for the first time in four years. After three seasons of post-Jay Wright mediocrity, Villanova reclaimed its status as a Big East heavyweight this year, finishing third in the conference behind a high-motor defense and the steady leadership of junior guard Tyler Perkins and center Duke Brennan.
Standing in their way are the No. 9 seed Utah State Aggies (28-6), the undisputed kings of the Mountain West. Under Mountain West Coach of the Year Jerrod Calhoun, the Aggies secured a school-record 28 wins and swept both the conference regular-season and tournament titles. They arrive in San Diego as one of the country's most balanced units, led by Mountain West Player of the Year Mason Falslev and a backcourt that excels at turning defensive pressure into transition points.
With both teams finishing their respective conference schedules at 15-5, this 8-vs-9 clash is widely considered a coin flip game, with the winner likely moving on to face top-seeded Arizona. Villanova's Acaden Lewis provides a dynamic scoring threat for a team eager to erase the memory of a Big East Tournament upset, the stage is set for a deep run in the West Region. However, they’ll need to be locked in from the opening tip to stop a Utah State team that has already proven it can beat anyone, anywhere.
Here's what you need to know about Friday's matchup between Team1 and Team2, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is Villanova vs. Utah State on today?
- TV channel: TNT
- Live stream: DIRECTV
Villanova and Utah State will be on TNT, with Kevin Harlan, Robbie Hummel and Stan Van Gundy on the call. Lauren Shehadi will join them on the sidelines.
Fans looking to stream Villanova vs. Utah State can watch live on DIRECTV.
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What time is Villanova vs. Utah State today?
- Date: Friday, March 20
- Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
The NCAA tournament game between Villanova and Utah State is set to tip off at 4:10 p.m. ET from Viejas Arena in San Diego, California.
Villanova is searching for its first national championship since 2018 and 10 years removed from the iconic title win over North Carolina. On the other side, Utah State has made the NCAA Tournament the past three seasons, winning one game.
Villanova vs. Utah State radio coverage
- Radio station: SiriusXM
Those who want to listen to Villanova vs. Utah State 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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