March Madness Sweet 16 Begins as Upsets Shake Tournament Landscape

CLEVELAND, Ohio – March Madness resumes today with the highly anticipated Sweet 16 games, showcasing some of college basketball’s top teams battling for a spot in the Elite Eight. Games will take place on March 27 and 28, 2025, across various networks including truTV, TBS, and CBS.

This year’s tournament has been filled with surprises, including reigning champion UConn‘s unexpected elimination in the second round during a nail-biting 77-75 game against top-seeded Florida. Florida, with a record of 32-4, faces No. 4 Maryland (27-8) tonight at 7:39 p.m. ET, a matchup that promises high-stakes drama.

Maryland survived a thrilling second-round game against No. 12 Colorado State, clinching a win with a buzzer-beater, marking their second Sweet 16 appearance in three years. “We’re ready for this challenge,” said Maryland guard Derik Queen, whose performance has been pivotal in the tournament so far.

In another pivotal game, No. 3 Texas Tech takes on No. 10 Arkansas tonight at 10:09 p.m. ET. Texas Tech (27-8) advanced by defeating 11th-seeded Drake 77-64. Arkansas, hailed as the tournament’s Cinderella team, has pulled off remarkable upsets over No. 7 Kansas and No. 2 St. John’s.

In the women’s tournament, which runs concurrently, teams like USC, UCLA, and South Carolina are looking strong as they head into the Sweet 16. However, USC faced a setback as star guard JuJu Watkins suffered an ACL injury, sidelining her for the rest of the season.

The Sweet 16 will feature an exciting lineup of games including No. 2 Tennessee against No. 3 Kentucky, set for 7:39 p.m. ET. Tennessee (29-7) is eager for a win after two previous losses to Kentucky this season, while Kentucky (24-11) bolstered their confidence with a victory over Illinois.

All games will be available across various streaming platforms, making it more accessible for fans. “We want to make sure all basketball lovers can tune in,” said an NCAA spokesperson. Fans can catch the action on services like Paramount+ and Sling TV, or through their local CBS affiliates for those with digital antennas.

The stakes are high as the tournament progresses to the Elite Eight on March 29-30, leading up to the Final Four on April 5, and culminating with the National Championship on April 7.

With each game, the excitement and unpredictability of March Madness is on full display, making this year’s tournament one of the most thrilling to watch. Follow your favorite teams as they aim for college basketball’s ultimate prize.