How to Watch the Louisville Cardinals vs Michigan State Spartans: TV Channel, Game Time, & Streaming Options

The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball postseason continues as the No. 23 Louisville Cardinals face the No. 11 Michigan State Spartans. This neutral site matchup features a Big Ten heavyweight taking on a resilient Atlantic Coast Conference contender. Michigan State enters the contest with a 26-7 record, while Louisville holds a 24-10 mark. Both programs are fighting for a trip to the Sweet 16. The Spartans rely on their physical presence and dominant rebounding, while the Cardinals must navigate the absence of injured star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. by leaning heavily on guard Ryan Conwell.

Watch Louisville vs Michigan on Paramount+.

Fans looking to catch every moment of this postseason clash will find everything they need right here. This guide covers the official start time, the venue location, the assigned TV channel, and all available streaming options. Keep reading to prepare for tip-off.

If you want to turn your basketball knowledge into a prediction, Kalshi offers a unique platform to get involved. Instead of traditional sports betting methods, Kalshi utilizes prediction markets where users forecast tournament outcomes. This structure allows fans to evaluate the implied probability of a Spartans victory or a Cardinals upset and make their picks accordingly as the action unfolds.

When is Louisville vs Michigan State? What time does it start?

The postseason game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Michigan State Spartans takes place on March 21, 2026. Tip-off is officially set for 2:45 PM ET. Both teams take the court for this afternoon matchup looking to keep their seasons alive.

Where is Louisville vs Michigan State?

The game takes place at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Because this is a postseason tournament event, the teams are playing at a neutral site. The Michigan State Spartans serve as the designated home team for the matchup, and the Louisville Cardinals are the designated away team.

How can I Watch Louisville vs Michigan State?

Fans looking to tune in to the matchup between the Cardinals and the Spartans can catch the game live on national television. The broadcast for this postseason contest is carried exclusively on CBS.

How can I Stream Louisville vs Michigan State?

Because this game is broadcast on CBS, fans have a few different options to stream the action live. The primary destination is Paramount+, the official streaming platform for the network. Subscribers with the appropriate Paramount+ plan can stream their local CBS broadcast directly through the app or website.

If you do not use Paramount+, several other major live TV streaming platforms include local CBS affiliates in their lineups. You can stream the game using services such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and Sling. Check your specific zip code on these platforms ahead of time to confirm that the local CBS channel is available in your market.

Who will win?

Data from Kalshi on March 20th.

Based on current prediction market data from Kalshi, the Michigan State Spartans possess a 63.0% implied probability of winning the game. The Louisville Cardinals hold a 37.0% win probability. These converted percentages indicate that Michigan State is statistically more likely to win the matchup and advance in the tournament. Louisville enters the contest as the underdog and faces a lower statistical likelihood of securing a victory.

Craig Dudek

Creative Manager and Writer at Sportradar. Craig has previously worked as a camera operator and video director in radio and television, as well as a content coordinator in the non-profit sector.