When does March Madness start? 2025 dates & locations
A history of the term March Madness in basketball
The term March Madness got its origins in Illinois surrounding the annual tournament of high school boys basketball teams, according to the Illinois High School Association -- which sponsored the event.
College basketball fans are gearing up for March Madness.
The beloved annual tradition that is the NCAA Tournament will begin later this month. Tens of thousands will fill out those brackets in hopes of winning the office poll or at least a bit of respect after the matchups are set on Selection Sunday.
Who will win it all? Auburn, Duke, Houston and Florida are among the favorites for the men at this point.
When is selection Sunday?
Selection Sunday will be held on March 16, when bracket matchups are unveiled.
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When does March Madness start?
The First Four is in Dayton, Ohio, on March 18-19 and first- and second-round games on March 20-23 stretch from Providence, Rhode Island, to Seattle.
The Sweet 16 weekend will see games March 27-30 in Newark, New Jersey (East Regional), Atlanta (South), Indianapolis (Midwest) and San Francisco (West).
The Final Four is in San Antonio on Saturday, April 5, with the championship game the night of Monday, April 7.
Who is playing?
There are 32 automatic bids that will be filled via league tournaments and they will be combined with 36 at-large picks by the NCAA selection committee.
How can I watch?
Every game of the men’s tournament will be aired — here is a schedule that will be updated with matchups — either on CBS, TBS, TNT or TruTV and their digital platforms, including Paramount+. CBS will handle the Final Four and national title game this year.
The NCAA will also stream games via its March Madness Live option.
Who are the favorites?
The top three betting favorites as March approaches (in order) are Auburn, Duke and Houston, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report.