For college basketball fans, the arrival of March means one thing: it’s time to fill out your bracket. The 2025 NCAA men’s tournament officially begins with Selection Sunday on March 16, and the first games tip off two days later in Dayton, Ohio. This guide walks through the exact schedule, key dates, and what to expect from the bracket.
Selection Sunday: March 16, 2025 ·
First Four Start: March 18, 2025 ·
First Round Start: March 20, 2025 ·
Final Four: April 5 & 7, 2025 ·
Championship: April 7, 2025 ·
Number of Teams: 68
Quick snapshot
- Selection Sunday: March 16 (Yahoo Sports)
- First Four: March 18 (Yahoo Sports)
- First Round: March 20 (Yahoo Sports)
- Semifinals: April 5 (NCAA.com future dates)
- National Championship: April 7 (NCAA.com future dates)
- Venue: Alamodome, San Antonio (NCAA.com future dates)
- Selection Sunday evening (Yahoo Sports)
- 64-team bracket revealed (Yahoo Sports)
- Perfect bracket prize: $1 billion offer (Yahoo Sports)
Six key facts that define the 2025 tournament, from the defending champion to the broadcast lineup.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Tournament | 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship |
| First Game Date | March 18, 2025 |
| Championship Date | April 7, 2025 |
| Number of Teams | 68 |
| Defending Champion | UConn Huskies (2024) |
| TV Networks | CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV |
The pattern: these six facts anchor the tournament’s identity, but the real drama unfolds in the bracket matchups.
What day is the start of March Madness?
Selection Sunday 2025
- Selection Sunday for the 2025 NCAA men’s tournament fell on March 16, 2025 (Yahoo Sports).
- On that evening, the full 68-team bracket was revealed, setting the stage for the postseason.
First Four dates
- The First Four games were played March 18–19, 2025, at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio (Yahoo Sports).
- These four games involve the last at‑large teams and the lowest‑seeded automatic qualifiers.
First Round start
- The first round of the 2025 tournament began on March 20, 2025, two days after the First Four concluded (Yahoo Sports).
The implication: fans who wait until the first round miss the high-stakes elimination games that set the tournament’s tone.
What is the first March Madness game?
First Four matchups
- The first game of the 2025 tournament was a First Four contest on March 18, 2025, in Dayton, Ohio (NCAA.com).
- These typically involve teams seeded 11 or 16 fighting for a spot in the first round.
Opening round significance
- The First Four gives smaller‑conference champions and bubble teams a chance to enter the main bracket. The winners advance to face a top seed.
For the teams involved, the First Four is win‑or‑go‑home. A loss ends the season; a win earns a date with a #1 or #2 seed.
The catch: those First Four winners often become the Cinderella stories that define March Madness.
What is the schedule for March Madness?
First Round (March 20‑21)
- 32 games across multiple sites, televised on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV (Yahoo Sports).
Second Round (March 22‑23)
- 16 games narrow the field to the Sweet 16.
Sweet 16 & Elite Eight (March 27‑30)
- Regional semifinals and finals held at four regional sites.
Final Four (April 5 & 7)
- The national semifinals are April 5, and the championship game is April 7, both at the Alamodome in San Antonio (NCAA.com future dates).
The compressed schedule rewards depth and stamina. Teams that win early games get only one day of rest before the next round, making conditioning a decisive factor.
What this means: the schedule punishes shallow benches and rewards programs built for a sprint.
Who’s likely to win March Madness 2025?
Top contenders
- UConn entered the tournament as the defending champion and was heavily backed by bettors, according to early betting reports (ESPN).
- Florida vs. Houston was a closely watched potential matchup in the South region.
Betting odds
- Odds shifted after the bracket release, but UConn remained a favorite among analysts.
Cinderella picks
- Lower seeds such as Grand Canyon and Charleston were mentioned as possible upset candidates, though no consensus emerged.
“Bettors are heavily backing UConn to repeat as champions.”
Betting report analyst
The pattern: betting markets favor the known quantity, but the tournament’s history suggests a surprise lurks in every region.
Where is the first round of March Madness?
First Four location
- The First Four games are held exclusively at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio (NCAA.com).
First and Second Round sites
- First and second round games are hosted at eight campus or neutral venues across the United States. Specific sites for 2025 included Cleveland, Denver, Milwaukee, and others.
Regional sites
- The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight are played at four regional venues: the East (Newark), South (Atlanta), West (San Francisco), and Midwest (Indianapolis).
Final Four venue
- The Final Four takes place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas (NCAA.com future dates).
The implication: the geographic spread means travel fatigue can separate contenders from pretenders.
Timeline signal
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 16, 2025 | Selection Sunday – bracket reveal |
| March 18‑19, 2025 | First Four games (Dayton, OH) |
| March 20‑21, 2025 | First Round (32 games) |
| March 22‑23, 2025 | Second Round (16 games) |
| March 27‑28, 2025 | Sweet 16 (regional semifinals) |
| March 29‑30, 2025 | Elite Eight (regional finals) |
| April 5, 2025 | Final Four national semifinals |
| April 7, 2025 | National Championship |
The exact tip‑off times for individual games are not announced until a few days before each round, so fans checking the schedule early should expect updates.
The pattern: the NCAA’s staggered release of game times forces fans to stay engaged throughout the tournament.
Confirmed facts
- Selection Sunday was March 16, 2025 (Yahoo Sports)
- First Four games were March 18‑19, 2025 (Yahoo Sports)
- The Final Four is at the Alamodome in San Antonio (NCAA.com future dates)
What’s unclear
- Exact First Four matchups are determined only on Selection Sunday, so the specific teams aren’t known until March 16.
- Winner predictions remain speculative until the bracket is set and odds stabilize.
- Full list of game times for each round is released by the NCAA closer to the event.
“The NCAA men’s tournament is a 68‑team field that begins with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.”
NCAA.com
The 2025 tournament followed the same structure as recent years, with 68 teams competing across three weeks. For fans and bettors alike, the margin between a deep run and an early exit often comes down to bracket luck and scheduling fit.
Related reading: Iowa Hawkeyes Men’s Basketball: Roster, Schedule & Games
en.wikipedia.org, themw.com, onlocationexp.com, bigeast.com, ncaa.com, bigwest.org, ncaa.com, theamerican.org
Frequently asked questions
How many teams are in March Madness?
The men’s tournament features 68 teams: 32 automatic qualifiers from conference tournaments and 36 at‑large selections.
What is the selection process for March Madness?
A selection committee evaluates teams based on record, strength of schedule, and other metrics, then seeds them 1–16 in four regions.
How can I get tickets to March Madness 2025?
Official tickets are sold through the NCAA and partner platforms. Secondary markets also offer resale listings.
When is the March Madness bracket released?
The bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday, which in 2025 was March 16, during a televised broadcast.
What is a perfect bracket and why is it worth $1 billion?
A perfect bracket predicts every game correctly. The odds are astronomically low, but a $1 billion challenge prize from a financial firm (never claimed) highlights the difficulty.
Who won March Madness in 2024?
The UConn Huskies defeated Purdue to win the 2024 national championship.
How can I watch March Madness games online?
Games are streamed via March Madness Live, Paramount+, and network apps, with authentication required for some services.
For the casual fan checking one date, the answer to “when does March Madness start 2025” is March 18 for the First Four, but the tournament truly opens for most people on March 20 when 32 first‑round games fill the screen. For anyone filling out a bracket, the lesson is clear: get your picks in before the first tip, or watch your Cinderella run away without you.