The madness has begun! The 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is officially underway, bringing heart-stopping upsets, buzzer-beaters, and Cinderella stories to fans across the country. With 64 teams battling for the championship, the road to the Final Four in San Antonio promises to be unforgettable.
First Four Recap
The First Four matchups set the stage for what’s shaping up to be an incredible tournament:
-
(16) Alabama State edged out (16) Saint Francis (PA) in a thrilling 70-68 showdown.
-
(11) North Carolina cruised past (11) San Diego State with a dominant 95-68 victory.
-
(16) Mount St. Mary's pulled off a clutch win over (16) American University, setting up a matchup with top-seeded Duke.
-
(11) Xavier took down (11) Texas, keeping their March Madness dreams alive.
First Round: Must-Watch Games
With March 20-21 marking the official first round, here are the biggest games to keep an eye on:
-
(1) Auburn vs. (16) Alabama State – Will Auburn avoid the historic 16-seed upset?
-
(6) Mississippi vs. (11) North Carolina – A dangerous North Carolina squad looks for another big win.
-
(1) Duke vs. (16) Mount St. Mary’s – A true David vs. Goliath matchup.
-
(3) Illinois vs. (11) Xavier – Can Xavier keep its momentum going?
Tournament Schedule
-
First Round: March 20-21
-
Second Round: March 22-23
-
Sweet 16: March 27-28
-
Elite Eight: March 29-30
-
Final Four: April 5 (Alamodome, San Antonio, TX)
-
National Championship: April 7 (Alamodome, San Antonio, TX)
Biggest Storylines of 2025
-
Defending Champs on a Mission: UConn Huskies are aiming for a historic three-peat after taking down Purdue in last year’s final.
-
Top Contenders: Duke, Auburn, and Houston are the favorites to go deep, but March Madness is never predictable.
-
Cinderella Watch: Keep an eye on Liberty and Akron, two lower-seeded teams with the potential to shock the nation.
Where to Watch
Fans can catch all the action live on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. Streaming options include NCAA March Madness Live, DIRECTV Stream, and Hulu + Live TV.
The madness is just getting started, and if history tells us anything, expect the unexpected! Stay tuned for daily updates as the tournament unfolds.