Houston and Idaho meet Thursday in the Round of 64 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, with March Madness taking center stage.

How to Watch Houston vs IdahoWhen: Thursday, March 19, 2026Time: 10:10 PM ETTV Channel: truTVLive Stream: DIRECTV (try for free)

The first round of the NCAA Tournament tips off the Round of 64, with 32 games across two days as teams from across the country begin their pursuit of a national championship.

The Houston Cougars enter the NCAA Tournament with a 28–6 overall record after finishing 16–2 in American Athletic Conference play, claiming the AAC regular-season title and earning an at-large bid following a deep run in conference play. Houston is a No. 2 seed in the West Region and will look to continue its strong postseason tradition as it opens its Round of 64 matchup.

Their opponent, the Idaho Vandals, earned a 21–12 record and captured the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship, securing the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Idaho enters the Round of 64 as the No. 15 seed in the West Region, looking to challenge Houston and make a statement in the opening round of March Madness.

This is a great college basketball matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.

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Fans can catch every moment of the NCAA Tournament through DIRECTV.

The tournament is broadcast across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, and DIRECTV packages include access to all four networks so viewers can stream every round live, from the First Four through the Final Four and national championship.

Fans looking to follow every upset and buzzer-beater can tune in across those channels or log in through streaming apps to watch the action live throughout March Madness.

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