If you're asking when is the next NCAA basketball game, the answer usually depends on whether you're standing in a sports bar at noon or scrolling through your phone at 2:00 AM.
Right now, we are deep in the 2025-2026 season. It’s Saturday, January 17, 2026. This isn't just any Saturday; it's one of those massive mid-January "Super Saturdays" where the schedule is so packed it's basically impossible to keep up with every whistle.
The Immediate Schedule: Saturday, January 17, 2026
The "next" game is literally happening as we speak or starting within the hour. For most of the country, the action kicked off early.
If you are looking for the absolute next tip-off from this exact moment, you’ve got a massive afternoon and evening slate. Kentucky is taking on No. 24 Tennessee right around the midday mark. That’s a massive SEC rivalry that usually dictates the mood in Lexington for the next week.
At the same time, No. 3 UConn is facing Georgetown. UConn has been a juggernaut lately, and while Georgetown is always trying to reclaim that 90s glory, playing the Huskies is a tall order.
Here is the thing about college hoops: there is never just one next game. Because of the different time zones and conference TV deals, games are staggered. You’ll have a block of games starting at 12:00 PM ET, then another wave at 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and so on, all the way until the West Coast "After Dark" games tip at 10:00 PM ET.
✨ Don't miss: The Indiana Fever Record 2023: Why That Rough Season Actually Saved the Franchise
Heavy Hitters Tipping Off Soon
- Arizona (No. 1) vs. UCF: This one is huge. Arizona has been the team to beat this year, becoming the fastest team in history to take down five ranked opponents in a single season. They tip at 4:00 PM ET.
- Purdue (No. 5) vs. USC: Catch this one at 6:00 PM ET. Purdue is led by coach Matt Painter, who just hit his 500th career win earlier this season.
- Duke (No. 6) vs. Stanford: Also a 6:00 PM ET tip. Jon Scheyer is currently the fastest coach to reach 100 wins in ACC history, and he's looking to keep that momentum rolling on the road.
- Gonzaga (No. 9) vs. Seattle: If you’re a night owl, this 10:00 PM ET game is your finale.
Why the "Next Game" Question is Trickier Than You Think
Honestly, most people get the schedule wrong because they only look at the AP Top 25. But there are over 350 Division I teams.
On a day like today, there are roughly 150 different games happening across the country. While you might be focused on Kansas vs. Arizona State (women's) or Texas A&M vs. Texas, there are hundreds of other student-athletes playing in half-empty gyms in the Ivy League or the MAC.
Wait. Let’s talk about the Ivy League for a second. Columbia is playing Brown at 2:00 PM ET today. Columbia is sitting at a surprising 12-4. Most people ignore these games until March, but the "next game" in the Ivy League often has more drama than a blowout on ESPN.
Understanding the 2025-2026 Season Timeline
If you aren't just looking for today's tip-off but want to know when the big next steps are, here is the roadmap for the rest of this year:
- The Regular Season Finish: This runs until March 15, 2026. This is the "grind" where conference standings are decided.
- Selection Sunday: March 15, 2026. This is when the brackets come out and everyone’s productivity at work drops by 90%.
- The First Four: March 17-18, 2026, in Dayton.
- The Big Dance: The tournament officially starts its main rounds on March 19.
- The National Championship: April 6, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Where to Actually Watch These Games
You can’t just turn on one channel anymore. It’s a mess.
👉 See also: Golden State Warriors Recent Games: What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Standings
Basically, if you want to see the "next" game, you need to have a rotation of apps. Today's games are spread across FOX, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, and even Peacock.
For example, the Michigan vs. Oregon game at 4:00 PM ET is on NBC. But if you want to see Indiana vs. No. 4 Michigan, you’ve got to head over to Peacock. It’s annoying, I know. You’ve basically got to be a digital detective to find your team half the time.
Factors That Change the Schedule
It’s important to remember that tip-off times are "soft." If the game before a matchup goes into double overtime, the "next" game isn't starting on time.
I’ve seen fans sit in a stadium for an extra hour because a 12:00 PM game had twelve reviews in the final two minutes. If you’re tracking a specific game, always check the "live" status on an app like ESPN or the NCAA's own scoreboard.
What Really Happened with the Schedule This Year?
This season has been weird. Michigan became the first team ever to beat two ranked teams back-to-back by 30+ points (Auburn and Gonzaga). Because of that, their games are getting moved to prime-time slots.
Even the records are falling. Braden Smith at Purdue just became the Big Ten's all-time assist leader on January 3rd. When you're looking for the next game, you're often looking for the next piece of history.
How to Stay Ahead for Tomorrow
If you miss the boat today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, has its own slate, though it's usually lighter than Saturday. Most of the power conferences (ACC, Big 10, SEC) load up their Saturdays to compete for TV ratings, leaving Sunday for a mix of women's marquee matchups and random mid-major games.
📖 Related: Por qué ver un partido del París Saint-Germain ya no es lo que era (y por qué eso es bueno)
To find the absolute next game for your specific team:
- Check the official conference website (like SECSports.com or TheACC.com).
- Use a live-updating scoreboard.
- Don't trust the printed schedules from November; times change for TV.
The best move right now? Grab a drink, pull up a multi-view stream if you have one, and enjoy the chaos of mid-January basketball.
Go check the live scores for the Kentucky vs. Tennessee game immediately. If it's close in the second half, that is where you need to be. After that, keep an eye on the Arizona vs. UCF game at 4:00 PM—it's the No. 1 team in the country trying to survive a road test in the Big 12 environment.
The next game is always just a few minutes away. Enjoy the madness.