The 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, commonly known as March Madness, ran from March 18 to April 7, 2025. The event featured 68 teams competing across multiple rounds to determine the national champion for the 2024-25 season.
Selection Sunday on March 16 marked the official announcement of the tournament bracket, with all 68 teams placed into their respective regions. The championship game took place on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, concluding a three-week competition that drew millions of viewers nationwide.
Games aired across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV throughout the tournament, with all times listed in Eastern Time. The event showcased college basketball’s top programs as they competed for the national title.
What Are the Official Dates for March Madness 2025?
The tournament spanned 22 days, beginning with Selection Sunday and concluding with the national championship. The official dates for March Madness 2025 covered the entire competition from bracket release through the final game.
- The tournament ran from March 16 through April 7, a span of 22 days
- Selection Sunday occurred on March 16, with the bracket revealed at 6 p.m. ET on CBS
- The First Four games took place March 18-19 at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio
- The 68-team field competed across 14 venues throughout the United States
- Final Four and championship events were held at the Alamodome in San Antonio
| Event | Date | Location/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | March 16 | Bracket reveal at 6 p.m. ET on CBS |
| First Four | March 18-19 | UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio |
| First Round | March 20-21 | 8 sites nationwide |
| Second Round | March 22-23 | Same sites as first round |
| Sweet 16 | March 27-28 | Newark and San Francisco |
| Elite Eight | March 29-30 | 4 regional locations |
| Final Four | April 5 | Alamodome, San Antonio |
| Championship | April 7 | Alamodome, San Antonio, 8:50 p.m. ET |
When Does March Madness 2025 Start?
Selection Sunday and Bracket Release
The official start of March Madness 2025 began with Selection Sunday on March 16. The NCAA announced all 68 tournament teams and released the complete bracket at 6 p.m. ET on CBS. This broadcast revealed the seedings and matchups for all four regions, allowing fans to begin filling out their brackets.
According to schedules published by ESPN and Fox Sports, the bracket announcement marked the formal beginning of tournament coverage for the 2024-25 season.
The First Four Tournament Games
The First Four round kicked off the on-court competition on March 18 and continued through March 19. These games featured the lowest-seeded teams competing for spots in the main bracket. All First Four matchups took place at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
For example, the CBS Sports coverage documented games such as (11) Xavier defeating (11) Texas 86-80 on March 18. The First Four served as the opening act before the main tournament rounds began.
First Round Start Date
The first round of March Madness 2025 started on Thursday, March 20, with games continuing through Friday, March 21. This round featured 32 games played across eight host venues.
Games occurred at major arenas including Rupp Arena in Lexington, Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Ball Arena in Denver, Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, and Lenovo Center in Raleigh. CBS Sports reported competitive matchups such as (9) Baylor defeating (8) Mississippi State 75-72 on March 21.
March Madness 2025 Tournament Schedule by Round
First and Second Rounds
The first and second rounds formed the opening phase of the tournament. The first round ran March 20-21, while the second round took place March 22-23 at the same eight host sites used for first-round games.
Sixteen sites hosted first- and second-round games across the country. These locations included major metropolitan areas and college basketball hubs, providing accessible venues for fans throughout the tournament’s early stages.
Regional Rounds: Sweet 16 and Elite Eight
The Sweet 16 began on March 27 and continued through March 28. Regional sites included the Prudential Center in Newark for the East Region and Chase Center in San Francisco for the West Region.
Notable Sweet 16 results documented in tournament coverage included (2) Alabama defeating (6) BYU 113-88 and (1) Florida advancing past (4) Maryland 87-71 on March 27. These games determined which teams would advance to the regional finals.
The Elite Eight, also called the Regional Finals, followed on March 29-30. The East and West regional finals occurred on March 29 at their respective sites, while the South Regional took place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta and the Midwest Regional at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 30.
When and Where Is the 2025 Final Four and Championship?
Final Four Location and Date
The 2025 Final Four was held on Saturday, April 5, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. This venue served as the host for the tournament’s semifinal matchups, which determined the two teams advancing to the championship game.
The semifinal games featured top-seeded programs competing for spots in the final. According to Wikipedia’s tournament summary, (1) Florida defeated (1) Auburn 79-73 in the first semifinal at 6:09 p.m. ET, followed by (1) Houston edging (1) Duke 70-67 at 8:49 p.m. ET.
The Alamodome in San Antonio hosted both the Final Four and National Championship for the 2025 tournament. Future Final Four sites include Detroit in 2027, though these dates remain unrelated to the 2025 event.
National Championship Game Date and Time
The national championship game took place on Monday, April 7, at 8:50 p.m. ET. The game aired on CBS from the Alamodome in San Antonio. Florida faced Houston in the final, with Florida opening as the slight favorite according to sportsbook lines.
The championship game concluded the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and determined the national champion for the 2024-25 college basketball season. Florida emerged victorious in the final against Houston.
Is the March Madness 2025 Bracket Out Yet?
The official March Madness 2025 bracket was released on Selection Sunday, March 16, at 6 p.m. ET on CBS. All 68 teams appeared in their seeded positions across the four regions following the NCAA Selection Committee’s announcement.
Confirmed Information
- Bracket released March 16 at 6 p.m. ET
- Broadcast on CBS
- 68 teams fully seeded
- Four regions established
- All matchups finalized
Contextual Notes
- Teams determined by regular season performance
- Bracket remained unchanged after release
- No modifications reported during tournament
- Official NCAA bracket available on selection day
Fans could access the complete bracket immediately following the Selection Sunday broadcast. Official bracket information was available through NCAA’s digital platforms and broadcast partner channels.
Context and Background
The 2025 tournament marked the continuation of a tradition dating back decades in college basketball. The Alamodome in San Antonio previously hosted major basketball events, making it a familiar venue for the Final Four and championship game.
The 2024 tournament concluded with UConn claiming the national title. The 2025 event determined whether another program would join the championship winners’ circle or if a repeat run would occur. Florida ultimately captured the championship by defeating Houston in the final.
The tournament’s structure remained consistent with previous years, featuring the First Four play-in games, followed by the main bracket of 64 teams across four regions. The broadcast schedule on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV provided comprehensive coverage throughout all rounds. For additional coverage of major sporting events, see the Ohio State Football News page.
Sources and Credibility
The dates and schedule information for March Madness 2025 came from multiple authoritative sources covering college basketball.
The 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament ran from March 18 to April 7, with Selection Sunday on March 16, the First Four on March 18-19 in Dayton, Ohio, and the championship game on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
— Fox Sports, NCAA Tournament Schedule Coverage
The tournament determined the 2024-25 season champion, with Florida and Houston advancing to the final after semifinal wins over Auburn and Duke.
— CBS Sports Championship Game Coverage
Additional verification came from ESPN’s schedule coverage and NCAA.com’s future site announcements. Wikipedia’s comprehensive tournament page provided additional cross-referencing for game results and venue information. Related basketball analysis can be found in the Orlando Magic vs Milwaukee Bucks Match Player Stats resource.
Summary
March Madness 2025 officially ran from Selection Sunday on March 16 through the championship game on April 7. The tournament featured 68 teams competing across 14 venues, with the Final Four and championship held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. All rounds aired on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, with the bracket revealed during a nationally televised Selection Sunday broadcast. Florida captured the national championship by defeating Houston in the final game on April 7.
Frequently Asked Questions
What date did Selection Sunday occur for March Madness 2025?
Selection Sunday for March Madness 2025 took place on Sunday, March 16, with the bracket announcement at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.
When did the 2025 March Madness tournament start and end?
The 2025 tournament began with Selection Sunday on March 16 and concluded with the championship game on April 7, 2025.
Where was the Final Four held in 2025?
The 2025 Final Four was held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday, April 5.
What teams played in the 2025 championship game?
The 2025 national championship featured Florida versus Houston on Monday, April 7, at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
When did the First Four games take place?
The First Four games occurred on March 18 and March 19, 2025, at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
What channel broadcast the March Madness 2025 bracket release?
The bracket release was broadcast on CBS at 6 p.m. ET on Selection Sunday, March 16.
How many teams participated in the 2025 NCAA Tournament?
The 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament featured 68 teams competing for the national championship.