Two First Four games remain before the final 64-team NCAA Tournament is set, but it’s likely one of the matchups will garner more attention.
With apologies to Bryant vs. Wright State, there’s a reason the meeting between Notre Dame (22-10) out of the ACC and Rutgers (18-13) out of the Big Ten is the headliner of the night. Not only does it have more name recognition, but also because whoever advances between the Fighting Irish and Scarlet Knights will match up against 6-seed Alabama in the first round. Half of The Sporting News’ experts picks have the Scarlet Knights upsetting the Crimson Tide in Round 1, so this showdown could be one of the first “bracket busters” of the Tournament.
MORE: Watch every First Four game live on Sling TV (free trial)
Neither team can afford to look past the other, however. Notre Dame had a solid season that included a 15-5 ACC record, though it only had a 2-8 record vs. Quad 1 opponents. They have three players, Blake Wesley (14.6), Dane Goodwin (13.9), and Paul Atkinson (12.3), who average more than 10 points per game. Two more players, Prentiss Hubb and Nate Laszewski, average 9.2 and 9.1 ppg, respectively, as well.
Rutgers’ Ron Harper leads the Scarlet Knights with 15.6 points per game while also averaging 5.9 rebounds per game. Geo Baker and Clifford Omoruyi head into this game averaging 12.4 and 11.8 ppg, respectively. The Scarlet Knights likely earned their way into the tournament with a 6-6 Quad 1 record that included a four-game win streak over Iowa, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Purdue. All were ranked at the time, and all are in the NCAA Tournament.
The Sporting News has you covered on how to watch this fascinating matchup play out on Wednesday, including time, TV channel, and streaming options:
TSN’s MARCH MADNESS HQ
Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Predictor tool
What channel is Notre Dame vs. Rutgers on today?
- TV Channel: truTV, Sling TV
- Live Stream: NCAA March Madness Live
Notre Dame vs. Rutgers will be on truTV, which will air every First Four game in 2022.
Notre Dame vs. Rutgers start time
- Date: Wednesday, March 16
- Time: 9:10 p.m. ET
Notre Dame vs. Rutgers will tip off at 9:10 p.m. ET at the UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. It’s the final First Four game of the tournament and will follow Wright State-Bryant’s matchup.
March Madness schedule 2022
First Four
Tuesday, March 15
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| No. 16 Texas Southern 76, No. 16 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 67 | 6:40 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 12 Indiana 66, No. 12 Wyoming 58 | 9:10 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
Wednesday, March 16
Round 1
Thursday, March 17
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| No. 6 Colorado State vs. No. 11 Michigan | 12:15 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 4 Providence vs. No. 13 South Dakota State | 12:40 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 8 Boise State vs. No. 9 Memphis | 1:45 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 16 Norfolk State | 2 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 14 Longwood | 2:45 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 5 Iowa vs. No. 12 Richmond | 3:10 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 16 Georgia State | 4:15 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 9 Marquette | 4:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 5 UConn vs. No. 12 New Mexico State | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 15 Saint Peter’s | 7:10 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 5 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 12 Indiana | 7:20 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 8 San Diego State vs. No. 9 Creighton | 7:27 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Vermont | 9:20 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 7 Murray State vs. No. 10 San Francisco | 9:40 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 13 Akron | 9:50 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 Texas Southern | 9:57 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
Friday, March 18
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Loyola-Chicago | 12:15 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 2 Auburn vs. No. 15 Jacksonville State | 12:40 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 14 Montana State | 1:45 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 3 Purdue vs. No. 14 Yale | 2 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 15 Delaware | 2:45 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 7 USC vs. No. 10 Miami | 3:10 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 11 Notre Dame/Rutgers | 4:15 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 6 Texas vs. No. 11 Virginia Tech | 4:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 4 Illinois vs. No. 13 Chattanooga | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Cal State Fullerton | 7:10 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 6 LSU vs. No. 11 Iowa State | 7:20 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Bryant/Wright State | 7:27 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
| No. 5 Houston vs. No. 12 UAB | 9:20 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV |
| No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Davidson | 9:40 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 14 Colgate | 9:50 p.m. | TBS, Sling TV |
| No. 8 Seton Hall vs. No. 9 TCU | 9:57 p.m. | truTV, Sling TV |
