If you woke up today thinking it’s just another Saturday in January, your TV remote is about to prove you wrong. We are officially in the "moving week" of the college hoops season. Rankings are shifting, bubble teams are sweating, and the schedule for Saturday, January 17, 2026, is absolutely loaded with Top 25 matchups and conference-altering showdowns.
Honestly, trying to figure out what time is ncaa basketball on today can feel like a full-time job. Between Peacock exclusives, the SEC Network, and the classic afternoon slots on CBS and FOX, the "channel surfing" struggle is real.
The good news? I’ve done the digging. Whether you’re looking for the No. 1 Arizona Wildcats trying to survive a road trip or you want to see if Nebraska can keep their improbable Top 10 run alive, here is the breakdown of everything hitting the hardwood today.
The Early Window: High Stakes and Rivalries (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET)
The coffee is still brewing, but the intensity is already at a ten. We start with a heavy-hitter at noon ET as Kentucky travels to No. 24 Tennessee on ESPN. This isn’t just a rivalry; it’s a desperate spot for a Vols team that slid three spots in the latest AP poll.
If you prefer the Big Ten, Minnesota is at No. 13 Illinois (BTN). Brad Underwood has the Illini humming, but the Gophers have a weird way of making these games ugly. At the same time, No. 3 UConn—the reigning gold standard of the Big East—is taking on Georgetown on FOX. It's a classic matchup, though the Huskies look like a freight train right now.
- Noon ET: Kentucky @ No. 24 Tennessee (ESPN)
- Noon ET: No. 3 UConn @ Georgetown (FOX)
- Noon ET: No. 16 Virginia @ SMU (ESPN2)
- 12:30 PM ET: Duquesne @ Fordham (USA)
Keep an eye on that Virginia/SMU game. Ryan Odom has the Cavaliers back in the Top 20, but SMU has been a "giant killer" lately and actually just stunned them in a buzzer-beater earlier this season. They'll be looking to protect Moody Coliseum at all costs.
Afternoon Chaos: Ranked Matchups Galore (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET)
The 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET window is where the schedule gets truly congested. This is when the heavy lifting happens for your parlay or your rooting interest. No. 18 Alabama is at Oklahoma (SECN), and the Tide are looking to stop a freefall after tumbling five spots last week.
🔗 Read more: M. A. Chidambaram Stadium: Why the Chepauk Vibe Just Can’t Be Replicated
But the game of the afternoon? That’s No. 19 Florida at No. 10 Vanderbilt at 2:00 PM on ESPN. Vanderbilt is 16-0. Let that sink in. They haven't been in the Top 10 since 2011, and the Commodores are legitimately one of the best stories in sports right now. Memorial Gym will be rocking.
Key Afternoon Tip-Offs
- 1:00 PM ET: UCLA @ Ohio State (CBS)
- 2:00 PM ET: No. 2 Iowa State @ Cincinnati (Peacock)
- 2:00 PM ET: Iowa @ Indiana (FOX)
- 2:00 PM ET: No. 19 Florida @ No. 10 Vanderbilt (ESPN)
- 3:30 PM ET: Missouri @ LSU (SECN)
A quick tip for the cord-cutters: The Iowa State vs. Cincinnati game is a Peacock exclusive. If you’re looking for the No. 2 team in the country, don't go scrolling through your cable box—you won't find them there.
The Sunset Slate: West Coast Vibes and ACC Battles (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET)
As we move into the late afternoon, the focus shifts to the ACC and the Big Ten’s newest West Coast members. No. 17 Arkansas faces No. 21 Georgia on ESPN2. This is a massive SEC "Top 25 showdown" in Athens. Georgia has been ranked for five straight weeks—the longest streak for the Bulldogs since the early 2000s.
Meanwhile, the top team in the land, No. 1 Arizona, is on the road at UCF (4:00 PM, ESPN). Arizona is the consensus No. 1 right now, but playing in Orlando is never as easy as it looks on paper.
What to Watch
- No. 4 Michigan @ Oregon (4:00 PM, NBC/Peacock): The Wolverines are the reigning Big Ten tournament champs and look every bit the part of a Final Four contender.
- No. 14 North Carolina @ California (4:00 PM, ACCN): The Heels are climbing the rankings and need to avoid a "let-down" game in Berkeley.
- No. 17 Arkansas @ No. 21 Georgia (4:00 PM, ESPN2): Expect plenty of dunks here; these two teams lead the nation in field goal percentage from dunks.
Prime Time: The Big Stage (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET)
When the sun goes down, the lights get brighter. No. 6 Duke is at Stanford (6:00 PM, ACCN). It's a long trip for the Blue Devils, and Stanford has a way of being pesky in the evening.
💡 You might also like: Grave of Dale Earnhardt: Why You Can’t Visit and Where He Really Rests
But the real intrigue might be No. 5 Purdue at USC (6:00 PM, Peacock). The Boilermakers have stayed in the top tier all season thanks to the veteran play of Fletcher Loyer. Watching them navigate a road trip to the Galen Center is going to be a litmus test for their championship pedigree.
- 6:00 PM ET: No. 6 Duke @ Stanford (ACCN)
- 6:00 PM ET: No. 5 Purdue @ USC (Peacock)
- 6:00 PM ET: Texas A&M @ Texas (ESPN)
- 6:00 PM ET: Wake Forest @ Florida State (ESPN2)
Late Night: Desert Heat and Lubbock Loudness (8:00 PM – 11:00 PM ET)
If you’re still awake, the Big 12 is about to give you a reason to stay up. No. 11 BYU travels to No. 15 Texas Tech at 8:00 PM on ESPN. BYU is a dark-horse title contender specifically because of AJ Dybantsa, who is essentially a walking bucket and a future NBA lottery pick.
To wrap up the night, we head to the Pacific Northwest. No. 9 Gonzaga takes on Seattle (9:00 PM, ESPN+). The Zags are 17-1 and quiet as kept, they are playing some of the most efficient basketball in the country.
- 8:00 PM ET: No. 11 BYU @ No. 15 Texas Tech (ESPN)
- 8:00 PM ET: No. 20 Louisville @ Pitt (ESPN2)
- 9:00 PM ET: No. 9 Gonzaga @ Seattle (ESPN+)
Navigating Today's Schedule: Practical Tips
Knowing what time is ncaa basketball on today is only half the battle. The other half is actually finding the games without losing your mind.
📖 Related: Adidas Harden Basketball Shoes: Why People Still Love the Beard’s Kicks
- Check the App: If a game isn't on a major network like ESPN or FOX, it's almost certainly on ESPN+, Peacock, or the NBC Sports app.
- The "Quad 1" Factor: Pay attention to the bubble teams. Teams like SMU, Cincinnati, and UCF are fighting for tournament lives today. A win against a Top 10 opponent changes their entire season trajectory.
- Time Zone Awareness: Most national schedules are listed in Eastern Time. If you're in the Midwest or out West, remember to subtract those hours so you don't miss the 9:00 AM local tip-offs.
Your Game Plan for Saturday Hoops
The best way to handle a day like this is to pick your "anchor" games. Start with UConn/Georgetown at noon, move to the Vanderbilt/Florida game at 2:00 PM, catch the Arizona road test at 4:00 PM, and finish with the BYU/Texas Tech brawl at 8:00 PM.
If you're tracking the rankings, keep an eye on Nebraska. They are currently No. 8 in the AP poll, matching a program record from 1966. Every win they get right now is historic.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Sync your calendar: Go to the official NCAA site or your favorite sports app and "favorite" the teams in the Top 25 to get push notifications for tip-off.
- Verify your logins: Make sure your Peacock and ESPN+ accounts are active before the 2:00 PM window hits, as that's when the biggest streaming-exclusive games start.
- Watch the injury reports: In 2026, late scratches are common. Check Twitter (X) or specialized sites like KenPom about 30 minutes before tip to see if any key starters are sitting out.
Enjoy the madness. It's only January, but today is going to feel a lot like March.