The NCAA tournament, known as March Madness, is organized in a single-elimination format, with 68 teams competing for the national championship. The tournament starts with the First Four, in which the four lowest-seeded teams and the final four at-large games to fill the last four positions in the Round of 64. Once this first round is complete, the field is split into four regions, each with 16 teams seeded from No. 1 to No. 16 by the selection committee. Higher-seeded teams are paired against lower-seeded teams in the first round. As the tournament progresses, competition tightens with the Round of 32, Sweet Sixteen, and Elite Eight.
The four regional winners then proceed to the Final Four round, where they play the national semifinals. Winners of these games play each other in the National Championship, which is played at a neutral location. Some of the top programs, such as UCLA, Kentucky, and North Carolina, have had remarkable success in the tournament. Lower-seeded teams have also created history from time to time, like Villanova's championship season in 1985.
Final Four Hosts in 2025
The Men's Final Four of the NCAA Tournament will be held on Saturday, April 5, with the championship game to follow on Monday, April 7. All three games will be played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, the fifth time the historic building will be hosting college basketball's biggest weekend.
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| Saturday, April 5 | (1) Florida vs. (1) Auburn | 6:09 p.m. | CBS |
| Saturday, April 5 | (1) Duke vs. (1) Houston | 8:49 p.m. | CBS |
Women's Final Four Host in 2025
The NCAA Tournament Women's Final Four will be played on Friday, April 4, followed by the championship game on Sunday, April 6. All three games will be played at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, the fourth time the city has hosted the tournament's final weekend.
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| Friday, April 4 | (1) South Carolina vs. (1) Texas | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Friday, April 4 | (1) UCLA vs. (2) UConn | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
FAQs on March Madness
A. The March Madness tournament begins in mid-March and concludes in early April.
A. The March Madness tournament progresses through the First Four, Round of 64, Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, and the National Championship.
A. 68 teams compete in the NCAA March Madness tournament.
A. Selection Sunday is the day when the March Madness tournament bracket is revealed.
