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March Madness Schedule & Key Dates 2025: When Does the NCAA Tournament Start?

Gabe Henderson

Last Updated: March 11, 2025 2:52 PM EDT • 3 min 44 sec read.

March Madness Schedule & Key Dates: When is Selection Sunday, NCAA Tournament?
Pictured: Connecticut celebrates after the NCAA men's basketball tournament championship against Purdue. Photo by Grace Hollars / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Conference tournaments are tipping off across college basketball, which means the madness is nearly upon us. We're looking ahead to the March Madness schedule and key dates for the upcoming weeks, including Selection Sunday and the Final Four.

The 2025 NCAA Tournament is expected to be one of the most competitive fields in recent memory. Four teams are trading at shorter than 10/1 odds by our March Madness odds, so when does the fun begin? Read on for more information on Selection Sunday and important dates to note ahead of the men's tournament.

🗓️ When is Selection Sunday?

Selection Sunday falls on Sunday, March 16. The March Madness selection show will reveal the entire 68-team NCAA Tournament field at 6 p.m. ET (CBS).

The bracket reveal will begin just after the conclusion of the college basketball conference tournament schedule, which extends all the way through Selection Sunday.

March Madness Schedule & Key Dates: When is Selection Sunday, NCAA Tournament?
Pictured: Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) controls the ball in front of Auburn Tigers center Johni Broome (4). Photo by Rob Kinnan via Imagn Images.

🏀 March Madness key dates

Here's an overview of the NCAA Tournament key dates and events:

  • March 16: Selection Sunday
  • March 18-19: First Four
  • March 20-21: First Round
  • March 22-23: Second round
  • March 27-28: Sweet 16
  • March 29-30: Elite Eight
  • April 5: Final Four in San Antonio
  • April 7: National championship

🔢 When is the First Four?

The First Four sees two pairs of teams compete in play-in games to confirm their spots in the 64-team March Madness field.

This year, the First Four will be played on Tuesday, March 18, and Wednesday, March 19, from UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. There will be two back-to-back games each night with the winners playing their first round matchups the following Thursday and Friday.

1️⃣ When are March Madness 1st-round games?

Sixty-four teams will begin their 2025 NCAA Tournament journey with first-round games on March 20 and 21. Games begin late morning and run concurrently throughout the evening, with 16 matchups each day.

First round sites for March Madness include:

  • Amica Mutual Pavilion (Providence, R.I.)
  • Ball Arena (Denver)
  • Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle)
  • Fiserv Forum (Milwaukee)
  • Intrust Bank Arena (Wichita, Kan.)
  • PNC Arena (Raleigh, N.C.)
  • Rocket Arena (Cleveland)
  • Rupp Arena (Lexington, Ky.)
A custom graphic of our March Tourney Survivor contest with $1,000 cash to the winner!
A custom graphic of our March Tourney Survivor contest with $1,000 cash to the winner!

2️⃣ When are March Madness 2nd-round games?

The second round - often referred to as the Round of 32 - will be played on Saturday, March 22, and Sunday, March 23. These games will pit the winners of first-round games against each other based on their regional locations. All second-round matchups will be played at the same locations as the first round.

👉 Check out Rob Paul's SBR Bracketology to see the latest regional projections for the entire NCAA Tournament field.

🍬 When is the Sweet 16?

The Sweet 16 kicks off on Thursday, March 27, and concludes on Friday, March 28. The second weekend of the NCAA Tournament will be played at the following final regional destinations:

  • East Regional: Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.)
  • West Regional: Chase Center (San Francisco)
  • South Regional: State Farm Arena (Atlanta)
  • Midwest Regional: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
March Madness Schedule & Key Dates: When is Selection Sunday, NCAA Tournament?
Pictured: Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Elijah Hawkins (3) looks to pass the ball against Houston Cougars forward J’Wan Roberts (13) and guard LJ Cryer (4). Photo by Michael C. Johnson via Imagn Images.

🎱 When is the Elite Eight?

Each of the four regionals will be determined in the Elite Eight, which will be played across two days: Saturday, March 29, and Sunday, March 30.

4️⃣ When is the Final Four?

The focus of the NCAA Tournament will shift to San Antonio for the Final Four. The national semifinals will be played on April 5 from the Alamodome to determine the two national finalists.

Our Final Four odds highlight the betting favorites to reach San Antonio.

🏆When is the NCAA basketball national championship?

The 2025 NCAA championship game is on April 7, 2025, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. We don't know which two teams will be there yet, but our best sports betting sites list Duke (+340) as the favorite to win its first title since 2015.

📺 How to watch March Madness national championship

📅 Date: Monday, April 7
🕗 Time: 8:50 p.m. ET
📍 Location: Alamodome (San Antonio)
📺 TV: CBS
💻 Streaming: Paramount+

❓March Madness FAQs

Who is the March Madness 2025 favorite?

The Duke Blue Devils are the favorites to win the 2025 NCAA Tournament with +340 odds. Those odds imply a win probability of 22.73%.

Who won March Madness last year?

UConn defeated Purdue, 75-60, to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament. That marked back-to-back victories for the Huskies in the national championship game.

When does March Madness start?

Selection Sunday is set for Sunday, March 16, with the first four games being played on March 18 and 19. The first round of the NCAA Tournament will then be played March 20 and 21, followed by the second round on March 22 and 23.

The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight are the following week between March 27 and 30. The Final Four is on April 5 with the championship on April 7. 

When will March Madness be decided?

The 2025 national championship game will take place on Monday, April 7.

Where will March Madness be played?

The Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament will be played at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

⛹️ Best college basketball betting sites

Looking to bet on college basketball? Here are our best March Madness betting sites as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review, along with our best March Madness betting promos ahead of the NCAA Tournament.

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission

Written By:
Gabe Henderson
Gabe Henderson is a sports betting writer from Houston, Texas. He graduated from Louisiana State University in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication. Gabe developed an interest in sports betting while in college due to its legalization in Louisiana. He turned his passion into a career shortly after, joining The Advocate/NOLA.com as a Sports Betting Content Coordinator, where he spent two years. Gabe wore many hats before graduating as he led FanSided's coverage of Chelsea FC as a Site Expert with "The Pride of London." He was also the Editor-in-Chief of the LSU Gumbo Yearbook for two years. Gabe became a part of the SportsbookReview.com team in late 2024. He brings with him an extensive knowledge of many sports, including — but not limited to — NFL, NCAA, MLB, NBA, soccer, and UFC.