The 2025 NCAA Tournament kicks off on Tuesday with the two-day First Four series, where winners will secure the remaining spots in the 68-team bracket.
The first 64 teams in the tournament are set, and the biggest takeaway from this season’s bracket is that the SEC is no longer just a football conference—it’s the dominant force in men’s basketball as well.
The SEC leads all conferences with 14 teams in the tournament, including two of the four No. 1 seeds — Florida in the West and Auburn in the South. The next closest conferences are the Big Ten with eight teams and the Big 12 with seven.
Predictions
West: St. John’s Goes Deep, But Gets Eaten By Gators
Florida stands in the way of a resurgent St. John’s and its quest for a Final Four berth. The Rick Pitino-led Johnnies, who have captured the hearts of New Yorkers, have a clear path to the Sweet 16 before facing Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders have struggled against ranked teams this season, and the Red Storm’s defense should shut them down, sending St. John’s to the Elite Eight. But Florida, coming off a Sweet 16 victory over Maryland, will prove too much for St. John’s, ending their Cinderella run.
East: Duke Dominates
With the ACC in decline, Duke is now a big fish in a smaller pond. The Blue Devils should cruise to the Elite Eight, where they will face a tough battle against Alabama. However, Duke’s depth of top-tier talent will ultimately carry them to the Final Four.
Midwest: Houston Stays Hot
Houston is as hot as can be. Since November, its only loss was a one-point overtime defeat against Texas Tech. In fact, its three other losses this season were by margins of five points or less, including two in overtime. The Cougars’ resilience and consistency should propel them into the Final Four.
South: Michigan Upsets Auburn But Loses to Michigan State
Michigan’s size and physicality help it pull off the tournament’s biggest upset, taking down Auburn in the Sweet 16. But Michigan State ends the Wolverines’ run in the Elite Eight, advancing to the Final Four.
Final Four: Florida over Michigan State, Duke over Houston
The Gators trounce the Spartans to secure their spot in the championship game. Meanwhile, Houston’s relentless defense forces Duke to adjust, but the Blue Devils’ sheer talent prevails, setting up a showdown with Florida.
National Champion: Florida
While Auburn and Alabama dominated the AP Top 25 rankings for most of the season, an ascendant Florida may be the true favorite to win it all. The Gators haven’t just been winning in March — they’ve been winning big, with an average margin of 14.6 points per game. That includes a 22-point victory over Alabama in the SEC Tournament, their second win over the Crimson Tide this month.
In a hard-fought national championship game, Florida edges out Duke in the final minutes to claim the title.
2025 NCAA Tournament Brackets and Schedules
First Four
First Four Schedule
All times Eastern.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
6:40 PM — (16) Alabama St. vs (16) St. Francis (PA)
Venue: UD Arena, Dayton, OH | Tickets | TV & Streaming: truTV, Sling
9:10 PM — (11) North Carolina vs. (11) San Diego State (11)
Venue: UD Arena, Dayton, OH | Tickets | TV & Streaming: truTV, Sling
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
6:40 PM — (16) American University vs. (16) Mount St. Mary’s
Venue: UD Arena, Dayton, OH | Tickets | TV & Streaming: truTV, Sling
9:10 PM — (11) Texas vs. (11) Xavier
Venue: UD Arena, Dayton, OH | Tickets | TV & Streaming: truTV, Sling
East Regional
East Regional First-Round Schedule
All times Eastern.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
1:30 PM — (3) Wisconsin vs. (14) Montana
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TNT, Sling
4:05 PM — (6) BYU vs. (11) VCU
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TNT, Sling
Friday, March 21, 2025
12:15 PM — (8) Mississippi State vs. (9) Baylor
Venue: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC | Tickets | TV & Streaming: CBS, Paramount+, Sling
12:40 PM — (2) Alabama vs. (15) Robert Morris
Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH | Tickets | TV & Streaming: truTV, Sling
2:50 PM — (1) Duke vs. (16) American/Mount St. Mary’s Winner
Venue: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC | Tickets | TV & Streaming: CBS, Paramount+, Sling
3:15 PM — (7) Saint Mary’s vs. (10) Vanderbilt
Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH | Tickets | TV & Streaming: truTV, Sling
7:35 PM — (4) Arizona vs. (13) Akron
Venue: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA | Tickets | TV & Streaming: truTV, Sling
10:10 PM — (5) Oregon vs. (12) Liberty
Venue: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA | Tickets | TV & Streaming: truTV, Sling
West Regional
West Regional First-Round Schedule
All times Eastern.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
7:10PM — (7) Kansas vs. (10) Arkansas
Venue: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI | Tickets | TV & Streaming: CBS, Paramount+, Sling
7:35 PM — (6) Missouri vs. (11) Drake
Venue: Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita, KS | Tickets | TV & Streaming: truTV, Sling
9:45 PM — (2) St. John’s vs. (15) Omaha
Venue: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI | Tickets | TV & Streaming: CBS, Paramount+, Sling
10:10 PM — (3) Texas Tech vs. (14) UNC Wilmington
Venue: Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita, KS | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TV & Streaming: truTV, Sling
Friday, March 21, 2025
2:00 PM — (8) Memphis vs. (9) Colorado State
Venue: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TBS, Sling
4:35 PM — (4) Maryland vs. (13) Grand Canyon
Venue: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TBS, Sling
6:50 PM — (1) Florida vs. (16) Norfolk State
Venue: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TNT, Sling
9:25 PM — 8) UConn vs. (9) Oklahoma
Venue: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TNT, Sling
Midwest Regional
Midwest Regional First-Round Schedule
All times Eastern.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
12:40 PM — (4) Purdue vs. (13) High Point
Venue: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI | Tickets | TV & Streaming: truTV, Sling
2:00 PM — (1) Houston vs. (16) SIU Edwardsville
Venue: Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita, KS | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TBS, Sling
3:15 PM — (5) Clemson vs. (12) McNeese
Venue: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI | Tickets | TV & Streaming: truTV, Sling
4:35 PM — (8) Gonzaga vs. (9) Georgia
Venue: Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita, KS | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TBS, Sling
6:50 PM — (2) Tennessee vs. (15) Wofford
Venue: Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TNT, Sling
9:25 PM — (7) UCLA vs. (10) Utah State
Venue: Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TNT, Sling
Friday, March 21, 2025
7:10 PM — (3) Kentucky vs. (14) Troy
Venue: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI | Tickets | TV & Streaming: CBS, Paramount+, Sling
9:45 PM — (6) Illinois vs. (11) Texas/Xavier Winner
Venue: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TNT, Sling
South Regional
South Regional First-Round Schedule
Thursday, March 20, 2025
12:15 PM — (8) Louisville vs. (9) Creighton
Venue: Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY | Tickets | TV & Streaming: CBS, Paramount+, Sling
2:50 PM — (1) Auburn vs. (16) Alabama State/Saint Francis (PA) Winner
Venue: Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY | Tickets | TV & Streaming: CBS, Paramount+, Sling
7:25 PM — (4) Texas A&M vs. (13) Yale
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TBS, Sling
10:00 PM — (5) Michigan vs. (12) UC San Diego
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TBS, Sling
Friday, March 21, 2025
1:30 PM — (3) Iowa State vs. (14) Lipscomb
Venue: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TNT, Sling
4:05 PM — (6) Ole Miss vs. (11) San Diego State/North Carolina Winner
Venue: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TNT, Sling
7:25 PM — (7) Marquette vs. (10) New Mexico
Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TBS, Sling
10:00 PM — (2) Michigan State vs. (15) Bryant
Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH | Tickets | TV & Streaming: TBS, Sling
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