Ayrton Oneill
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness, is a single-elimination tournament played in the United States to determine the men's college basketball national champion. The tournament, which was first held in 1939, has seen 35 different champions and has become one of the greatest annual sporting events in the US. The 2026 NCAA Men's Final Four will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, with the National Semifinals taking place on April 4 and the National Championship game on April 6.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament |
| Nicknames | March Madness, The Big Dance |
| Number of Teams | 68 |
| Format | Single-elimination tournament |
| Regions | Four (East, West, and two others with unique names) |
| Teams per Region | 16-18 |
| Host Cities | Vary annually |
| Duration | Three weekends |
| First Weekend | First and second rounds |
| Second Weekend | Regional semifinals and regional finals |
| Third Weekend | National semifinals and championship game |
| Stadium for 2026 Tournament | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN |
| Dates for 2026 Tournament | April 4 (National Semifinals) and April 6 (National Championship) |
| Attendance | Over 150,000 |
| Past Champions | 35 different champions, including UCLA Bruins and Holy Cross Crusaders |
| Past Notable Players | Lew Alcindor (won Most Outstanding Player award three times) |
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What You'll Learn
- The 2026 NCAA Men's Final Four will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
- The tournament has been known by names such as 'March Madness' and 'The Big Dance'
- The 68-team format was adopted in 2011, previously peaking at 64 teams in 1985
- The 2025 Men's Final Four Security Policies are available to view and download
- The tournament is divided into four regions, with each region having 16-18 teams
The 2026 NCAA Men's Final Four will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, also known as 'March Madness', is an annual college basketball competition that has taken place since 1939. The 2026 NCAA Men's Final Four will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Lucas Oil Stadium is the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL team. The stadium has a seating capacity of 63,000 and covers approximately 1.8 million square feet (170,000 square metres). It features a retractable roof, which can open or close in about 11 minutes, and a retractable north window that offers a view of downtown Indianapolis. The stadium also boasts two 53-foot-tall HD video boards, 139 suites, two club lounges, two exhibit halls, 12 meeting rooms, and an underground walkway connecting it to the Indiana Convention Centre.
The stadium was constructed at a total cost of $720 million, financed with funds raised by the State of Indiana and the City of Indianapolis, with an additional $100 million provided by the Indianapolis Colts. The naming rights for the stadium were secured by Lucas Oil, a manufacturer and distributor of automotive oil, additives, and lubricants headquartered in Indianapolis, at a cost of $122 million over 20 years.
Lucas Oil Stadium has previously hosted the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four in 2010, 2015, and 2021. The first games played at the stadium were Indiana high school football games, which took place on August 22, 2008.
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The tournament has been known by names such as 'March Madness' and 'The Big Dance'
The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament has been known by names such as March Madness and The Big Dance. The tournament, which determines the men's college basketball national champion of the Division I level in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), was first conducted in 1939. It is played mostly during March and consists of 68 teams. The 68-team format was adopted in 2011, with the tournament size varying before that, from as little as 8 to as many as 53 teams.
The name "March Madness" is used in the program name under which all tournament games are broadcast by CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. The name is also used for tournament-wide branding, with the NCAA introducing a new "NCAA March Madness" logo in 2016. The name "The Big Dance" is believed to have originated with Marquette men's basketball coach Al McGuire, who, in 1977, was asked if he'd be wearing a lucky blazer while coaching in that year's NCAA Tournament. He replied, "You gotta wear the blue blazer when you go to the big dance." Marquette and McGuire went on to win the national title that year.
The tournament has been characterised by competition with the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The NIT was founded by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association a year before the NCAA tournament and was held entirely in New York City at Madison Square Garden. Due to New York being the press centre of the US, the NIT often received more coverage than the NCAA tournament in its early years. Teams often competed in both tournaments during the first decade, with the City College of New York winning both tournaments in 1950. The NCAA banned teams from participating in both tournaments soon after.
The tournament has become part of American popular culture through bracket contests that award money and other prizes for correctly predicting the outcomes of the most games. In 2023, Sports Illustrated reported that an estimated 60 to 100 million brackets are filled out each year.
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The 68-team format was adopted in 2011, previously peaking at 64 teams in 1985
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, often referred to as March Madness, has a long history of format changes. The tournament first began in 1939, and since then, the format has evolved several times to accommodate a growing number of teams.
In 1985, the tournament underwent a significant expansion, increasing the number of teams from a previous maximum of 53 to 64. This change eliminated byes and play-ins, requiring all teams to win six games to become champions. The expansion also led to increased media coverage and popularity for the tournament, firmly establishing it as a beloved aspect of American culture.
However, the quest for the ideal format continued, and in 2011, another expansion occurred, this time to 68 teams. This change was brought about by a new television contract with CBS/Turner, adding three play-in games known as the First Four. The First Four consists of games between 16 seeds and games between the last at-large bids, with seeding determined by a selection committee.
The 68-team format introduced a new naming system, with the round of 64 renamed the Second Round and the round of 32 becoming the Third Round. This format has been largely maintained, with only minor adjustments made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
The evolution of the tournament format over the years reflects the ongoing efforts to enhance the competition, create exciting matchups, and accommodate the growing number of participating teams in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
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The 2025 Men's Final Four Security Policies are available to view and download
The full schedule can be found on the Official NCAA Men's Final Four App, presented by AT&T. The security policies for the event are also available to view and download. These policies outline the measures that will be in place to ensure the safety of attendees, participants, and staff during the tournament. It is important to be aware of these policies before attending the event, as they may include information on prohibited items, bag checks, and other security protocols.
The 2025 tournament had a total of four upsets, with three in the first round and one in the second. No top-four seeds lost in the first round, and the Elite Eight featured four #1 seeds, three #2 seeds, and one #3 seed. The Final Four teams were the four #1 seeds: Florida, Duke, Houston, and Auburn. Florida defeated Houston 65–63 in the championship game to claim its third title.
The Men's Final Four is a highly anticipated event, with a rich history dating back to the first tournament in 1939. The tournament has grown and evolved over the years, with 95 schools having appeared in the Final Four since its inception. Today, the NCAA March Madness tournament begins with 68 teams and concludes with the Final Four over an 18-day period.
By making the security policies easily accessible, the organizers aim to ensure that attendees are well-informed and prepared for the event. It is recommended that anyone planning to attend the 2025 Men's Final Four reviews these policies in advance to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience during the tournament.
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The tournament is divided into four regions, with each region having 16-18 teams
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness or The Big Dance, is divided into four regions, with each region comprising 16 to 18 teams. This format has been in place since 2011, with the tournament expanding from 64 to 68 teams. The regions are named after the U.S. geographic area of the city hosting each regional semifinal and final, with host cities varying annually.
The tournament committee ranks the 68 teams from 1 to 68, referred to as their true seed, and then divides them among the four regions. Each region contains teams seeded from No. 1 to No. 16, with the top four overall seeds placed as No. 1 seeds in their respective regions. The regions are paired to ensure that the top seeds do not meet before the Final Four. For example, the No. 1 overall seed would play the No. 4 overall seed in the national semifinal if both teams advance that far.
To avoid rematches, teams from the same conference are placed in different regions if they have played each other three or more times in the season, or twice in the regular season or previous year's tournament. The committee also tries to prevent a team from being moved out of their preferred geographical region too frequently. Eight teams compete in the First Four to advance to the first round, with the lowest-ranked conference champions and at-large qualifiers facing off.
The tournament is played over three weekends, with two rounds taking place on each set of days. The first and second rounds are held on the first weekend, the regional semifinals and finals on the second, and the national semifinals and championship game on the third. The regional rounds are known as the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, while the final weekend is branded as the Final Four, reflecting the number of teams remaining.
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Frequently asked questions
The Final Four basketball tournament is played in April. The National Semifinals take place on the first Friday of the month, and the National Championship game takes place on the first Sunday.
The next Final Four basketball tournament will take place in 2026.
The 2026 Final Four basketball tournament will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Final Four basketball tournament was first conducted in 1939.
