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Both the Iowa State Cyclones and Tennessee Volunteers have been perennial programs in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
Though, the next step has been a struggle: Iowa State's last Final Four appearance came in the 1940s, while the Volunteers have never made the Final Four in program history. Come Friday night, one team will take a massive step closer to Indianapolis when Rick Barnes and T.J. Otzelberger's squads face off in Chicago in the Sweet 16.
Iowa State arrives in the Windy City as one of the tournament's most balanced teams after a commanding 82-63 win over Kentucky in the Round of 32. Senior point guard Tamin Lipsey was the catalyst, exploding for a career-high 26 points and 10 assists to guide the Cyclones back to the second weekend for the third time in the Otzelberger era. The big question for Friday remains the status of All-American forward Joshua Jefferson, who has been sidelined with a sprained ankle.
Tennessee is making its fourth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance under Rick Barnes, a testament to the program’s consistent excellence. The Volunteers earned their trip to Chicago by grinding out a 79-72 victory over Virginia, led by 21 points from Ja'Kobi Gillespie and a strong double-digit performance from freshman standout Nate Ament. Despite their recent success, the Vols are still hunting for that elusive first Final Four berth, having been stopped in the Elite Eight in each of the last two tournaments.
The matchup promises a clash of defensive identities. Iowa State’s no-middle defense is designed to force turnovers and chaos, while Tennessee boasts one of the most physically imposing frontcourts in the nation.
Here's what you need to know about Friday's matchup between Iowa State and Tennessee, including broadcast information and start time.
What time is Iowa State vs. Tennessee today?
- Date: Friday, March 27
- Time: 10:10 p.m. ET | 9:10 p.m. CT
The NCAA tournament game between Iowa State and Tennessee is set to tip off at 10:10 p.m. ET from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
No. 2 seed Iowa State (29-7) enters the contest having won six of its last seven games, including a dominant run through the Big 12 tournament. No. 6 seed Tennessee (22-11) looks to reach the Elite Eight for the third straight year and remains in pursuit of the first Final Four appearance in program history.
What channel is Iowa State vs. Tennessee on today?
- TV channel: TBS
- Live stream: DIRECTV
The Midwest Regional semifinal will be broadcast on TBS and truTV. The broadcast team features Andrew Catalon (play-by-play) and Steve Lappas (analyst), with Evan Washburn serving as the sideline reporter.
Fans looking to stream Iowa State vs. Tennessee can watch live on DIRECTV.
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Iowa State vs. Tennessee radio coverage
- Radio station: SiriusXM
Listen to every game of the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament live on the SiriusXM app or on channel 202 in vehicles.
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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