Despite having just one win in 13 Quad 1 games this season, the North Carolina Tar Heels were awarded a contentious bid into the NCAA Tournament. Tonight, they’ll have to play to defend their No. 11 seed into the first round.
The Tar Heels have never started the tournament in the First Four before this year, and the selection came with its fair share of controversy as UNC’s athletic director Bubba Cunningham served as the head of this year’s selection committee.
RELATED: How to bet on Tuesday’s two First Four games
To secure the No. 11 seed in the South region, the Tar Heels will face the San Diego State Aztecs, who seemed well-positioned to make the tournament but ended up on the bubble after an early-round loss to Boise State during the Mountain West Tournament.
Whoever wins tonight’s game, which airs on truTV, will move on to face No. 6 seed Ole Miss on Friday, March 21 at 4:05 p.m. ET.
North Carolina vs. San Diego State date and time: When does North Carolina play San Diego State in the First Four?
The University of North Carolina Tar Heels play the San Diego State Aztecs to secure the No. 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament today, March 18. Tip-off at UD Arena is set for approximately 9:10 p.m. ET, but the official start time will depend on the end time of Alabama State vs. Saint Francis.
The Post has you covered with a printable NCAA bracket featuring the full 68-team March Madness 2025 field.
What channel is the North Carolina vs. San Diego State game on?
The North Carolina vs. San Diego State game is airing on truTV.
How to watch North Carolina vs. San Diego State in the NCAA Tournament for free:
If you’re a cord-cutter, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to watch the game.
Here are two cable replacement streaming services that we recommend, both of which come with free trials.
- DIRECTV Stream: MySports Genre Pack ($69.99/month) or Choice base plan ($89.99/month), both include five-day free trials
- Hulu + Live TV: the base plan is three days free, then $82.99/month
You can also watch the truTV games of the NCAA Tournament on Sling TV with the Sling Blue plan. Right now, you’ll save 50% on your first month, bringing the total down to $25.50 ($50.99/month after).
The game will also stream live on Max ($9.99/month) with the Bleacher Report Sports add-on included. BR Sports streams games on TBS, TNT, and truTV live for Max subscribers.
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping and New York Post’s streaming property, Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on each streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews
