For sports fans, the First Round of the2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championshipfeatures two of the best sports days of the year. The First Round includes 32 games – 16 on Thursday and 16 on Friday – and 12-plus hours of daily coverage. If there’s one guarantee in this tournament, it’s this: expect the unexpected.

The UConn Huskies enter the 2024 NCAA Tournament as the favorite to repeat as National Champions. No team since Florida in the mid-2000s has won back-to-back national championships. With a 31-3 record, the Huskies are the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament and top the East Region. The three other No. 1 seeds include Houston in the South, Purdue in the Midwest, and North Carolina in the West.

Watch the NCAA First Round live stream on CBS, TNT, TBS, and TruTV

The best of the best 🔝@TheAndyKatzgives his top 10 players in#MarchMadness🔥pic.twitter.com/7fKzg8sAZ1

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB)June 27, 2025

The First Round is set forThursday, March 21, and Friday, March 22. All 32 games in the first round will air on one of four networks –CBS,TNT,TBS, orTruTV. You can watch all March Madness games in theMarch Madness Live app. Log in with a TV provider for access.

Watch First Round coverage

The first game on Thursday and Friday will tip off at 12:15 p.m. ET. View the First Round schedule below.

Thursday, March 21

Friday, March 22

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The stage is set. Time to dance.

Stream#MarchMadnessOnMaxbeginning Tuesday March 19th.pic.twitter.com/36y48krhXi

— Sports on Max (@SportsonMax)August 02, 2025

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Watch the NCAA First Round live stream from abroad with a VPN

If you’re planning to hit the road for the NCAA Tournament, streaming issues could arise because of traveling and spotty connections. This is why a VPN should be used when streaming. Enjoy more privacy and security with a VPN. Plus, VPNs work to fight against geo-blocking. Our top recommendation isNordVPN, which offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.