Kristian Ferrell
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, or March Madness, is an annual college basketball competition. The 2025 edition of the tournament began on March 18, with the First Four round. The women's tournament started on March 19, with the First Four games taking place on March 20. The men's and women's tournaments both culminated in a National Championship Game on April 7, with the women's game taking place in Cleveland, Ohio, and the men's game taking place in San Antonio, Texas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 18-19 March 2025 |
| First Game | First Four |
| Location | UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio |
| Selection Sunday | 6 p.m. ET, 16 March 2025 |
| Channels | CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV |
| Streaming | Paramount+, YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV |
| Championship Game Location | Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas |
| Championship Game Date | 7 April 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
The 2025 tournament began on March 18
The 2025 March Madness tournament tipped off on March 18 with the First Four games at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. The First Four games were played on March 18 and 19, with the First Round game times and matchups announced during the Selection Sunday broadcast on CBS. The Selection Sunday broadcast took place on March 16 at 6 pm ET, kicking off the excitement for the tournament.
The 2025 March Madness tournament featured 68 bids awarded to Division I (D1) men's college basketball teams based on their performance and competitiveness throughout the season. The tournament is single-elimination, with each round narrowing the field until the Final Four and National Championship Game. The First Four and First Round games are the initial steps in the tournament, with the First Four teams having the opportunity to advance to the First Round and beyond.
The start of the 2025 tournament on March 18 marked the beginning of a busy schedule of college basketball games. Fans participating in bracket challenges had to submit their picks before the First Round tipped off, typically around 15 minutes prior. This meant that for the 2025 tournament, bracket predictions needed to be confirmed by noon ET on Thursday, March 20.
The 2025 March Madness tournament included games played across multiple networks and streaming platforms. CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV broadcasted the games, and they were also available for streaming on Paramount+. Fans could catch the action on various streaming services that offered access to the broadcasting networks, such as YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV. Additionally, many March Madness games were broadcast on local network affiliates.
The 2025 March Madness tournament culminated in the National Championship Game, which was held on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Florida Gators and Auburn faced off in the Final Four, with Florida ultimately claiming the title. The tournament showcased the skills and determination of the top college basketball teams in the nation, providing fans with thrilling basketball action throughout the month of March and into early April.
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Selection Sunday: March 16 at 6 pm ET
Selection Sunday, 16 March at 6 pm ET, is when the excitement of March Madness begins. This is when CBS will announce the First Four and First Round game times and matchups. The First Four games will be played on 18-19 March, with the First Round following soon after on 20 March. The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament will end with the National Championship Game on 7 April at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
For fans participating in a March Madness bracket challenge, picks must typically be submitted around 15 minutes before the First Round tips off. That means you should confirm your 2025 bracket at noon ET on Thursday, 20 March.
The Women's NCAA Tournament begins with the First Four on Wednesday, 19 March 2025, and the championship game will be held on 7 April.
March Madness will be broadcast across four cable networks: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. It will also be streamed on Paramount+ and ESPN+. Many games will be broadcast on local CBS and ABC affiliates, and can be watched with a digital antenna without any cable or streaming subscriptions.
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$24.33
The First Four games were played on March 18-19
The First Four games of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament tipped off on March 18 and concluded on March 19 at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. The First Four games mark the beginning of the tournament, with Selection Sunday taking place on March 16 at 6:00 pm ET on CBS, where CBS announced the First Four and First Round game times and matchups.
The First Four games set the stage for the excitement of March Madness, with fans eagerly awaiting the start of the tournament and making their bracket predictions. The games on March 18 and 19 provided a glimpse of the talent and competition to come in the subsequent rounds. With the First Four round, the road to the National Championship began, and fans were treated to an early taste of the action and intensity that March Madness is renowned for.
While the First Four games were played on March 18 and 19, the previous day, March 17, also held significance for fans. On that day, they could finalise their bracket predictions and make last-minute adjustments before the tournament officially kicked off. The anticipation and excitement during this period are palpable, with fans eagerly discussing their predictions, analysing team performances, and strategising their bracket selections.
The First Four games serve as an appetiser for the main course of March Madness, building anticipation and setting the tone for the rest of the tournament. Fans across the country tune in to witness the early-round matchups, and the energy and enthusiasm surrounding these initial games are contagious. As the tournament progresses, the stakes get higher, and fans witness the rise of champions and the heartbreak of defeat. However, it all starts with the First Four, where the journey towards the National Championship begins, and fans are treated to the first displays of skill, strategy, and pure athletic prowess.
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The championship game will be on April 7
The 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, or March Madness, started on March 18 with the First Four games taking place at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. The tournament will culminate with the championship game on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
The road to the championship game began with Selection Sunday on March 16, when CBS announced the First Four and First Round game times and matchups. Fans participating in a March Madness bracket challenge had to submit their picks by noon ET on March 20, just before the First Round tipped off.
With each round of the tournament, broadcasters and the NCAA revealed the upcoming games on air and online, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Now, all eyes are on April 7, when the national champions will be crowned.
The anticipation is building as we get closer to the championship game. Fans are eagerly discussing the odds, analysing the performance of their favourite teams, and making predictions. The excitement is palpable as we count down the days until we witness college basketball history being made.
Mark your calendars, set your reminders, and prepare your game-day snacks because the championship game of the 2025 March Madness tournament is almost here! Don't forget to tune in on April 7 to catch all the action and find out who will be cutting down the nets and taking home the trophy.
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Watch on CBS, Paramount+, Hulu + Live TV, etc
The 2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament began on March 14, 2023, and concluded on April 3, 2023, with the UConn Huskies emerging as champions. The 2025 March Madness tournament schedule is yet to be announced, but the games are expected to start in mid-March, as is tradition.
Watch on CBS
CBS has been a long-time broadcaster of the March Madness tournament and is expected to continue broadcasting the games in 2025. The network will likely air the Selection Sunday show, which will reveal the tournament seeds and brackets, as well as live game coverage. Viewers can watch the games on their local CBS affiliate channel with a digital antenna or through a cable or streaming service subscription.
Paramount+
Paramount+ offers live streaming of CBS's coverage of the March Madness tournament, including the Road to the Final Four. With the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan, subscribers can stream the games live and catch thrilling matchups throughout the winter season.
Hulu + Live TV
For the 2025 Women's March Madness, Hulu + Live TV will provide access to the games streamed on ESPN+. Hulu + Live TV subscribers can also access the games on any streaming service that includes ESPN, such as YouTube TV and Sling TV. A Hulu + Live TV subscription is required to stream the games through this method.
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Frequently asked questions
The 2025 March Madness tournament started on Tuesday, March 18, with the First Four round.
Selection Sunday takes place on March 16 at 6 pm ET.
The championship game will be held on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
