NCAA March Madness is a college basketball tournament that showcases budding basketball players. 68 colleges qualify for the tournament and with elimination games through 5 rounds, fans have their “final four” for the tournament. Two steps away from the national championship, these teams are regarded as the best of their class and tend to provide top talent in the NBA draft.
Final Four history
The event started in 1939 with just 8 teams playing the first-ever Division I tournament. It has now grown to 68 teams qualifying for the title run.
The final four matches generally played in the third and the last week of the tournament, hold major prestige as they represent elite-level players who could soon be at the top of the draft selection.
Following are the top-performing teams over the years with the final four, final two, and championship records:
| School | Final Four appearances | Final Two appearances | Champships |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 21 | 12 | 6 |
| UCLA | 19 | 13 | 11 |
| Duke | 18 | 11 | 5 |
| Kentucky | 17 | 12 | 8 |
| Kansas | 16 | 10 | 4 |
| Michigan | 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Ohio State | 10 | 5 | 1 |
The teams include 32 divisional champions, and the selection committee chooses the remaining 36 teams. UCLA holds the record for most championships and the top seeding ending. The team was undefeated in four seasons (1964, 1967, 1972, and 1973).
What is the March Madness Final Four?
The Final Four of March Madness is the fifth round of the event and is the semifinal, where only the last four teams (regional winners) compete to reach the NCAA championship game.
When is the 2025 March Madness Final Four?
The 2025 March Madness Final Four event for men's will take place on April 5, 2025 and for women's on April 4, 2025, as per the NCAA.
2025 March Madness Final Four: Dates and Venues
The Final Four (daily schedule) dates and venues are given below as per the NCAA:
| FRIDAY, APRIL 4 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time (CT) | Event | Location |
| 10:00 a.m. | Reese's Men's Final Four Friday
| Alamodome |
| Noon - 6:00 p.m. | Men's Final Four Fan Fest Presented by Capital One | Henry B. González Convention Center |
| 3:00 - 11:00 p.m. | Tip-Off Tailgate Presented by Nissan | Civic Park |
| 4:30 - 10:00 p.m. | March Madness Music Festival: AT&T Block Party | Tower Park at Hemisfair |
| SATURDAY, APRIL 5 | ||
| Time (CT) | Event | Location |
| 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Men's Final Four Fan Fest Presented by Capital One | Henry B. González Convention Center |
| 11:00 a.m. | Men's Final Four River Rally | Rivercenter Lagoon at River Walk |
| 1:30 - 11:00 p.m. | Tip-Off Tailgate Presented by Nissan | Civic Park |
| 3:00 - 8:30 p.m. | March Madness Music Festival: Coca-Cola Live! | Tower Park at Hemisfair |
| 3:00 p.m. | Gates open for Semifinal Games | Alamodome |
| 5:09 p.m. | Semifinal Game 1 | Alamodome |
| 7:49 p.m. | Semifinal Game 2 | Alamodome |
| SUNDAY, APRIL 6 | ||
| Time (CT) | Event | Location |
8:00 a.m. | Men's Final Four Dribble presented by Buick
| Travis Park |
| 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Men's Final Four Fan Fest Presented by Capital One | Henry B. González Convention Center |
| Noon - 5:00 p.m. | Tip-Off Tailgate Presented by Nissan | Civic Park |
| 2:30 - 10:30 p.m. | March Madness Music Festival: Capital One JamFest | Tower Park at Hemisfair |
| MONDAY, APRIL 7 | ||
| Time (CT) | Event | Location |
| Noon - 6:00 p.m. | Men's Final Four Fan Fest Presented by Capital One | Henry B. González Convention Center |
| 3:00 - 9:00 p.m. | Tip-Off Tailgate Presented by Nissan | Civic Park |
| 5:30 p.m. | Gates open for National Championship Game | Alamodome |
| 7:50 p.m. | National Championship Tip-Off | Alamodome |
| Postgame | Championship River Parade | Arneson River Theatre at River Walk |
FAQs on March Madness
A. The Final Four is the semifinal round where the last four teams compete to reach the NCAA championship game.
A. The 2025 March Madness Final Four will be held from on April 5, with the championship match in Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
A. The Final Four events will take place at Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
A. Gates opens for the semifinal games on Saturday, April 5, at 1:00 p.m. MST (AZ).
A. A March Madness Bracket is a prediction sheet where participants forecast the outcomes of games in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
