Pizza Hut, KFC, Applebee’s and More are Serving Up Tasty Deals for Basketball Fans and Watch Parties
Updated March 27, 2026
March Madness is a thrilling, multi-week event that puts the talent and athleticism of the country’s best college basketball players on full display. According to Sports Media Watch, men’s college basketball games averaged 433,000 viewers on Nielsen-rated television during the 2025–26 season — a 19% increase from the previous year. Women’s regular season coverage also saw growth, averaging 238,000 viewers across all networks. This rising momentum is expected to fuel even greater interest in the “Big Dance,” the beloved nickname for the NCAA tournament coined by legendary Marquette University basketball coach Al McGuire.
Now that the tournament is underway, fans across the country are gathering for watch parties and cheering on their favorite teams. And no game day spread feels complete without crowd-pleasers like wings, chicken tenders and pizza. Franchise brands such as Pizza Hut, KFC and Applebee’s are making it even easier for fans to be the MPV of the watch party with fun promotions and specials.
Below is a compilation of the best fast-food restaurant deals for March Madness 2026.
March Madness 2026: Best Restaurant Deals and Specials
Applebee’s
Guests can enjoy Applebee’s boneless wings for 50 cents each through March 22 and from April 4–6. This promotion is valid on the restaurant franchise’s website and app.
Atomic Wings
Atomic Wings is elevating the March Madness viewing experience with a value deal. Available through April 7, guests can purchase 20 boneless wings, four dipping sauces and fries for $16.99 at participating locations.
Auntie Anne’s
Auntie Anne’s has brought back its fan-favorite basketball buckets just in time for March Madness. These limited‑edition buckets feature fun basketball‑themed packaging, built‑in dividers and dips that could make any hoops fan happy.
Buffalo’s Cafe and Hurricane Grill & Wings
To end March Madness with a bang, Buffalo’s Cafe and Hurricane Grill & Wings have a great deal for hoops fans. Dine-in guests can celebrate the Final Four with 99-cent boneless wings from April 4–6 at participating locations.
Carvel
Carvel’s Basketball Ice Cream Cake is designed to be a slam dunk at any March Madness watch party.
Friendly’s
College hoops fans, rejoice! Friendly’s is celebrating the Elite Eight — the final eight teams that advanced through the first three rounds of March Madness — by offering guests a free small sundae with any purchase from March 30–31.
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is bringing the heat for March Madness with two online-exclusive taco party packs. Available through March 22 and from April 4–6, guests can enjoy a 10-pack of ground beef and shredded chicken tacos for $25, and the 15-pack is just $35.
Hungry Howie’s
Hungry Howie’s has an online exclusive deal that is sure to please basketball and pizza fans alike. From March 23 through April 7, the pizza franchise is offering large four-topping pizzas for $9.99 at participating locations with promo code BBALLPZ.
KFC
It wouldn’t be a March Madness watch party without wings. For a limited time, KFC is beating the buzzer by offering 20 wings for $20.
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Moe’s Southwest Grill is helping college hoops fans feed a crowd with its Groups & Parties Meals. Popular options include Taco & Variety Value Packs, Southwest Salad catering trays, build-your-own taco, nacho, and fajita kits and a chips and dips trio. Additionally, Moe Rewards members can get $5 off online orders of $20 or more from March 27–29.
Native Grill & Wings
College hoops fans can score free delivery on Native Grill & Wings orders of $30 or more from April 4–6. This promotion is valid at participating locations.
Newk’s Eatery
Newk’s Eatery is kicking off basketball tournament season with a great deal. From March 26–28, guests can enjoy two pizzas and a salad for $20.
Outback Steakhouse
Through April 6, Outback Steakhouse is offering 60 wings for $60. Fans can choose from mild, medium, hot and limited-time flavors such as Sweet BBQ and Buffalo Ranch.
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut, the Official Pizza Partner of March Madness, has teamed up with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products to release limited-edition menu items inspired by the classic basketball film, “Space Jam.” The Jam x Triple Treat Box includes two medium pizzas, breadsticks and cinnamon sticks — all served in “Space Jam” packaging. The bundle is available for a limited time on the pizza franchise’s app and website.
Pizza Hut fans who become loyalty members during March Madness will receive alerts and access to exclusive merchandise drops, including a “Space Jam” letterman jacket and a warmup jacket and jersey.
Potbelly
Through April 12, Potbelly fans can score 10% off small catering bundles by using the promo code TIPOFF. The Tip-Off Time Bundle includes sandwiches, chips and cookies, plus a toppings box.
Round Table Pizza
Round Table Pizza is serving up basketball-inspired March Madness promotions. From March 26-29, guests can get 16% off large and extra-large pizzas at participating locations with code RTP444. During the Elite Eight, from March 28-31, code RTP588 takes $8 off large and extra-large pizzas. Large and extra-large pizzas will be discounted by $4 at participating locations from April 2–7 with code RTP699.
Smashburger
Smashburger is rewarding its loyalty members during March Madness with three weeks of promotions. Members can enjoy a buy one, get one free (BOGO) deal on burgers and hot dogs through March 22. From March 26-29, any single burger or hot dog is just $6. Guests can end the tournament with a slam dunk with a BOGO deal on burgers and hot dogs from April 4–7.
Starbird
Starbird is bringing back its fan-favorite Game Day Packages through April 6. Available in small and large sizes, the bundles are designed to feed a crowd with wings, chicken tenders, slaw and sauces.
Sullivan’s Steakhouse
Sullivan’s Steak has a championship-worthy deal online running through March 29. Hoops fans can get $20 off orders of $60 or more on the brand’s website with promo code MARCH.
Teriyaki Madness
Just in time for March Madness, Teriyaki Madness is rewarding loyalty members with double points on Double Protein Bowls from March 23–29.
TGI Fridays
Many college basketball fans know the frustration of a “busted bracket” — when even one prediction goes wrong during the tournament. To take the edge off, TGI Fridays is offering a limited-time promotion: guests who bring in their unsuccessful brackets can receive six free wings at participating locations through April 7. For the rare few who manage to keep a perfect bracket, there’s an even bigger reward — showing up on April 7 with a flawless prediction could earn them free wings for an entire year.
The Greene Turtle
Through April 6, guests at The Greene Turtle can earn $5 Turtle Rewards Bucks. These coupons are valid from April 7–30. Additionally, college hoops fans can cheer on their favorite teams with The Starting Five drink deals, including $3 house margaritas, $4 tall Coors Lights, $5 Truly and White Claws and $6 tall Turtle IPAs.
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks and Dos Equis have brought back the Dos Million Bracket Challenge, giving participants a shot at $2 million for having the nearly impossible perfect bracket. Participants with busted brackets can still have a chance to win $500 during each round or a $50 gift card for having the top bracket at their Twin Peaks restaurant.
Wendy’s
Wendy’s is leveling up for March Madness with the new Official Dunks Menu. Available through the fast-food brand’s app and website, this new menu spotlights a dunkable match made in heaven: French fries and the Frosty. The menu will expand on March 23 from just the Frosty and fries to include six-piece Nuggets or three-piece Tendys for dunking in Wendy’s sauces.
Through April 6, anyone who purchases an item through the Dunks Menu on the app is automatically entered into a Dunkstakes for a chance to win prizes. These include 10 cash prizes of $1,000, 25 pairs of dunk-inspired custom sneakers, 500 Wendy’s gift cards or the grand prize of $100,000 in cash.
