2025 March Madness NCAAB Complete Schedule
Last updated February 20, 2025
March Madness is soon back for 2025, and basketball fans nationwide are already gearing up for one of the most thrilling tournaments in sports. With 68 teams competing and countless bracket-busting upsets on the horizon, this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament promises excitement from the First Four to the Final Four in San Antonio.
| Key Details | |
| Start of the Tournament: | Selection Sunday on March 16, 2025 |
| Number of Teams: | 68 |
| Final Four & Championship: | April 5 and April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas |
Selection Sunday and Seeding
On Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 6 p.m. ET on CBS, the NCAA Selection Committee will reveal the 68-team bracket, announcing each team’s seeding and regional placement for the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. This highly anticipated event, commonly referred to as Selection Sunday, officially launches the madness that grips the college basketball world each March.
| Date | Sunday, March 16, 2025 |
| Time | 6 p.m. ET on CBS |
| Purpose | The NCAA Selection Committee reveals the 68-team bracket, seeding, and regions |
How Teams Are Chosen
In total, 32 Division I conferences award automatic bids to their conference tournament champions, ensuring representation from each league. Beyond those automatic qualifiers, the NCAA Selection Committee picks 36 at-large teams based on an extensive evaluation of performance, strength of schedule, and other pertinent metrics. Once chosen, all teams are placed into four regions (East, West, South, and Midwest) and are seeded from 1 to 16. Four additional teams compete in the First Four for a final opportunity to the Round of 64 field.
Where to Watch
The Selection Show will air on CBS on March 16, unveiling the full bracket and seeds for March Madness. Throughout the tournament, games will be covered by CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, ensuring widespread access for basketball fans. Additionally, streaming options are available through the NCAA March Madness Live app and partner platforms, allowing viewers to watch from anywhere.
Schedule Overview
Below is a timeline of the major rounds and dates for the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament:
| Round | Dates | Location / Note |
| Selection Sunday | March 16 (6 p.m. ET) | Broadcast on CBS |
| First Four | March 18-19 | Dayton, Ohio (UD Arena) |
| First Round | March 20-21 | Various Sites (See Venues Below) |
| Second Round | March 22-23 | Various Sites (See Venues Below) |
| Sweet 16 | March 27-28 | Regional Sites (Prudential Center, Chase Center, etc.) |
| Elite Eight | March 29-30 | Regional Sites (See Below) |
| Final Four | April 5 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas |
| NCAA Championship | April 7 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas |
Host Venues and Cities
First Four
| Round | City | Venue | Dates | Host |
| First Four | Dayton, Ohio | UD Arena | March 18 - 19 | University of Dayton |
First/Second Round Sites
| Round | City | Venue | Dates | Host |
| First/Second | Lexington, KY | Rupp Arena | March 20 - 22 | University of Kentucky |
| First/Second | Providence, RI | Amica Mutual Pavilion | March 20 - 22 | Providence College |
| First/Second | Seattle, WA | Climate Pledge Arena | March 21 - 23 | University of Washington |
| First/Second | Wichita, KS | Intrust Bank Arena | March 20 - 22 | Wichita State University |
| First/Second | Cleveland, OH | Rocket Arena | March 21 - 23 | Mid-American Conference |
| First/Second | Denver, CO | Ball Arena | March 20 - 22 | Mountain West Conference |
| First/Second | Milwaukee, WI | Fiserv Forum | March 21 - 23 | Marquette University |
| First/Second | Raleigh, NC | Lenovo Center | March 21 - 23 | North Carolina State University |
Regional Sites (Sweet 16 & Elite Eight)
| Region | City | Venue | Dates | Host |
| East Regional | Newark, NJ | Prudential Center | March 27 - 29 | Seton Hall University |
| West Regional | San Francisco, CA | Chase Center | March 27 - 29 | Pac-12 Conference |
| South Regional | Atlanta, GA | State Farm Arena | March 28 - 30 | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Midwest Regional | Indianapolis, IN | Lucas Oil Stadium | March 28 - 30 | IUPUI/Horizon League |
Final Four & National Championship
- Dates: April 5 (Final Four); April 7 (National Championship)
- Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
- Notable: The Alamodome has hosted multiple Final Fours in the past and is known for its electric atmosphere.
How the Bracket Works
- First Four: Eight teams compete in four play-in games to finalize the Round of 64 field. These games typically include the last four at-large bids and the four lowest-seeded conference champions.
- First and Second Rounds: 64 teams are whittled down to 16 across eight different sites. Each site hosts back-to-back days of basketball excitement.
- Sweet 16 & Elite Eight: Teams that advance head to their assigned regional site. The winners of the Elite Eight in each region earn a trip to the Final Four.
- Final Four: Four teams battle it out in San Antonio, with the winners advancing to the national title game on April 7.
