The 2021 NCAA is set to land the tournament and the matchup to two of the greatest programs in First Four college basketball ensues.
Michigan State (15-12, 9-11 Big Ten) appears to be a marquee matchup of the first four to win over UCLA (17-9, 13-6 Pac-12). Both teams will be looking to improve on their already strong March Madness Legacy and the winner will get a chance to score against BYU in the round of 64.
These two schools have already played each other six times in the series, even three games are in appi. The most recent game between the two teams came in 2019 when the Sparts defeated the Bruins 75–62 at the Maui Invitational. Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman led Michigan State in scoring during that game, combining for the team’s 34 points.
It is also notable, this is the second time these two programs have met during the big dance. The first game came in 2011 and the 7-seed Bruins defeated the 10-seed Spartans in a close fight between 78–76. Draymond Green led Michigan State with 23 points, while UCLA saw Tyler Honeycutt and Malcolm Lee fall by 16 points in that competition, winning each time.
UCLA will enter this first four games, with four consecutive games, including an overtime game for the eventual Pac-12 champion Oregon State Beavers in the Pac-12 tournament. Meanwhile, Tom Izzo’s Spartans have a 2-3 record in their final five, but they had a stunning 70–64 win over Archery and No. 2 overall Michigan during that period. They will look to gain some forward momentum during this NCAA tournament to deliver a shot at the giant killers.
Sporting News has you covered to watch Thursday’s meeting between UCLA and Michigan State, including time, TV channels and streaming options.
MORE MARCH MADNESS: TV Schedule | Printable bracket | Difference
Which channel is UCLA vs Michigan State today?
UCLA vs. Michigan State will air on Thursday night on TBS. This will mark the second game broadcast by TBS during the tournament.
UCLA vs Michigan State Start Time
- Date: Thursday, March 18
- Time: 9:57 pm ET
UCLA vs. Michigan State will tip off at 9:57 pm ET at McKay Arena. This is the last one of the first four games in which a tip has been given.
March madness schedule 2021
First four
Thursday, March 18
| sport | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 1: No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s vs. No. 16 Texas Southern | 5:10 PM | truTV |
| Game 2: No. 11 Wichita State vs. No. 11 Drake | 6:27 PM | TBS |
| Game 3: No. 16 Norfolk State vs. No. 16 Appalachian State | 8:40 PM | truTV |
| Game 4: No. 11 Michigan State vs. No. 11 UCLA | 9:57 AM | TBS |
round 1
Friday, March 19
| sport | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 5: No. 10 Virginia Tech vs. No. 7 Florida | 12:15 PM | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 6: No. 14 Colgate vs. No. 3 Arkansas | 12:45 PM | truTV |
| Game 7: No. 16 Illinois vs. No. 1 Illinois | 1:15 PM | TBS |
| Game 8: No. 11 Utah State vs. No. 6 Texas Tech | 1:45 pm | TNT |
| Game 9: No. 15 Oral Roberts vs. No. 2 Ohio State | 3 in the afternoon | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 10: No. 16 Hartford vs. No. 1 Baylor | 3:30 pm | truTV |
| Game 11: No. 9 Georgia Tech vs. No. 8 Loyola Chicago | 4 pm | TBS |
| Game 12: No. 12 Oregon State vs. No. 5 Tennessee | 4:30 pm | TNT |
| Game 13: No. 13 Liberty vs. No. 4 Oklahoma State | 6:25 PM | TBS |
| Game 14: No. 9 Wisconsin vs. No. 8 North Carolina | 7:10 PM | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 15: No. 15 Cleveland State vs. No. 2 Houston | 7:15 PM | truTV |
| Game 16: No. 13 North Texas vs. No. 4 Purdue | 7:25 pm | TNT |
| Game 17: No. 10 Rutgers vs. No. 7 Clemson | 9:20 PM | TBS |
| Game 18: No. 11 Syracuse vs. No. 6 San Diego State | 9:40 PM | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 19: No. 14 Morehead State vs. No. 3 West Virginia | 9:50 PM | truTV |
| Game 20: Number 12 Winthrop Number 5 Villanova | 9:57 AM | TNT |
Saturday, March 20
| sport | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 21: No. 12 Georgetown vs. No. 5 Colorado | 12:15 PM | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 22: No. 13 UNC Greensboro vs. No. 4 Florida State | 12:45 PM | truTV |
| Game 23: No. 14 Eastern Washington vs. No. 3 Kansas | 1:15 PM | TBS |
| Game 24: No. 9 St. Bonventure vs. No. 8 LSU | 1:45 pm | TNT |
| Game 25: No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s / Texas Southern vs. No. 1 Michigan | 3 in the afternoon | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 26: No. 12 UC Santa Barbara vs. No. 5 Creighton | 3:30 pm | truTV |
| Game 27: No. 15 Iona vs. No. 2 Alabama | 4 pm | TBS |
| Game 28: No. 11 Wichita State / Drake vs. No. 6 USC | 4:30 pm | TNT |
| Game 29: No. 15 Grand Canyon vs. No. 2 Iowa | 6:25 PM | TBS |
| Game 30: No. 10 Maryland vs. No. 7 UConn | 7:10 PM | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 31: No. 13 Ohio vs. No. 4 Virginia | 7:15 PM | truTV |
| Game 32: No. 9 Missouri vs. No. 8 Oklahoma | 7:25 pm | TNT |
| Game 33: No. 16 Norfolk State / Appalachian State vs. No. 1 Gonzaga | 9:20 PM | TBS |
| Game 34: No. 11 Michigan State / UCLA vs. No. 6 BYU | 9:40 PM | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 35: No. 14 Abilene Christian vs. No. 3 Texas | 9:50 PM | truTV |
| Game 36: No. 10 VCU vs. No. 7 Oregon | 9:57 AM | TNT |
Second Round
Sunday, March 21
Sunday’s second-round tip time will be announced after Friday’s game.
| sport | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 37 | afternoon | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 38 | 2:30 pm | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 39 | At 5 pm | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 40 | at 6 pm | TNT |
| Game 41 | at 7 pm | TBS |
| Game 42 | 7:30 pm | truTV |
| Game 43 | 8:30 pm | TNT |
| Game 44 | 9:30 PM | TBS |
Monday, March 22
The second-round tip bar will be announced Monday after Saturday’s game.
| sport | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 45 | afternoon | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 46 | 2:30 pm | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 47 | At 5 pm | TBS |
| Game 48 | at 6 pm | TNT |
| Game 49 | at 7 pm | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 50 | 7:30 pm | TBS |
| Game 51 | 8:30 pm | TNT |
| Game 52 | 9:30 PM | Cbs, fuboTV |
sweet 16
Saturday, March 27
| sport | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 53 | 2:30 pm | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 54 | At 5 pm | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 55 | 7:15 PM | TBS |
| Game 56 | 9:45 PM | TBS |
Sunday, March 28
| sport | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 57 | at 2 pm | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 58 | 4:45 pm | Cbs, fuboTV |
| Game 59 | at 7 pm | TBS |
| Game 60 | 9:45 PM | TBS |
Elite eight
Monday, March 29
Tuesday, March 30
| sport | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 63 | at 7 pm | TBS |
| Game 64 | 9:45 PM | TBS |
Last four
Saturday, April 3
NCAA Tournament National Championship
Monday, april 5
| sport | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 67 | Night 4 | Cbs, fuboTV |
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