Iowa State and Tennessee tip off Friday night at the United Center in Chicago, with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line. Here is everything you need to watch.
Iowa State vs. Tennessee: Time, TV Channel and Live Stream
- Date: Friday, March 27, 2026
- Time: 9:10 p.m. CT / 10:10 p.m. ET
- Location: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
- TV channel: TBS
- Live stream: March Madness Live
- Announcing crew: Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Steve Lappas (analyst), Evan Washburn (reporter)
The game is the second of four Sweet 16 contests on Friday night. TBS will carry the broadcast nationally.
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Cord-cutters can stream the game free through March Madness Live on NCAA.com or the NCAA March Madness app, which requires a TV provider login for live games on cable channels.
What to Know Before Tipoff
No. 2 seed Iowa State (29-7, 12-6 Big 12) enters as the heavy favorite. The Cyclones dismantled Kentucky by 19 points in the Round of 32, marking their eighth all-time Sweet 16 appearance and third in the last five years under head coach T.J. Otzelberger. Guard Tamin Lipsey has been Iowa State’s engine in the tournament, putting up 26 points and 10 assists against Kentucky while leading all Sweet 16 performers with four steals per game.
No. 6 seed Tennessee (24-11, 11-7 SEC) got here the hard way. The Volunteers upset No. 3-seed Virginia by seven points in the Round of 32, earning their fourth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance under head coach Rick Barnes. Tennessee plays physical, disciplined defense and has the experience to keep this competitive deep into the second half.
Iowa State’s defense is the class of this matchup. Otzelberger’s teams have finished inside the top 15 nationally in defensive rating in each of his five seasons, and this year is no different. Tennessee has the offensive talent to stress any defense, but the Cyclones have not allowed opponents to get comfortable in this tournament.
Rick Barnes spoke about what makes Iowa State such a challenge when talking to media. “Toughness, defense, well-coached, really terrific point guard play. I think they really, as a team, they’re connected. They know who needs to be shooting it, when they need to be shooting it and just play extremely well together. But really excellent defensive team. Excellent.”
Meanwhile, T.J. Otzelberger praise for what Tennessee has been able to accomplish this season. “We have tremendous respect for our opponent, for Coach Barnes, the Tennessee program, all they’ve been able to accomplish. Very impressive team. They play with a lot of heart, a lot of grit, a lot of tenacity. We know it’s going to be a big challenge.”
Iowa State is the pick to advance. The Cyclones are deeper, better defensively, and coming off a performance that showed another gear. Tennessee’s tournament run has been admirable, but the Volunteers face a team with both the talent and the system to end it.
