The Louisville Cardinals are set to face the USF Bulls in a first-round game of the NCAA Tournament. Let’s have a detailed look at the timing, TV broadcast, streaming options, radio, and more for this East Region March Madness clash.
Louisville vs. USF Game Details
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
Time: 1:30 pm ET
Location: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
How To Watch
TV Channel: TNT
Announcers: Brian Anderson will have the play-by-play call of the NCAA Tournament game, with Jim Jackson as the analyst and Allie LaForce as the reporter
Live Stream: March Madness Live App, Paramount+, HBO Max
Radio Station: SiriusXM
Where Do Louisville and USF Stand Heading Into Thursday’s Game?
Louisville heads into the NCAA Tournament as a No. 6 seed, marking its second season under head coach Pat Kelsey. The Cardinals wrapped up their season with a solid 23-10 overall record, including an 11-7 mark in ACC play. However, they are coming off a narrow 78-73 loss to Miami on Thursday, which snapped some of their late momentum.
One of Louisville’s biggest concerns entering its matchup against USF is the absence of standout freshman point guard Mikel Brown Jr. He has officially been ruled out for the tournament opener due to a lingering lower back injury, but Kelsey expressed excitement about the opportunity ahead.
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“Excited to be here,” Kelsey said about the USF game. “I tell people all the time, recruits, whoever, the national tournament, the NCAA Tournament, March Madness, it’s the best spectacle in American sports in my opinion. And to be a part of it once again, we feel very, very fortunate. Our team is excited. We’ve had a couple really good days of preparation, and excited about the opportunity.”
Meanwhile, USF will arrive in Buffalo riding an 11-game winning streak, having not lost since the end of January. The Bulls closed their season at 25-8, most recently beating Wichita State 70-55, and a standout 19-point performance from junior guard Wes Enis fueled that win. This tournament appearance is especially significant for USF, as it marks their first trip to the Big Dance since 2012 and just the fourth in program history.
The Bulls have shown tremendous growth and competitiveness under head coach Bryan Hodgson. Thursday’s game also carries personal meaning for Hodgson, who returns to his roots in western New York.
“This is home,” Hodgson said. “Just icing on the cake to be able to do that back here at home in western New York in front of friends and family, and really looking forward to the opportunity of playing against a very good Louisville team.”
The winner of Thursday’s matchup will advance to face either No. 3 Michigan State or No. 14 North Dakota State in the second round on Saturday.
Louisville has dominated the series between the two teams, holding a 29-4 lead. The Cardinals also won the most recent meeting, an 80-54 victory back in 2014 February.
