March Madness 2025: The Ultimate Bracket Showdown Begins – Cities, Dates & How to Watch
Get ready, basketball fanatics! The madness is about to begin as Selection Sunday kicks off the official countdown to the 2025 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Tournaments. With 68 teams, Cinderella stories, buzzer-beaters, and heartbreaks waiting to unfold, March Madness promises another unforgettable ride.
Selection Sunday: The Big Reveal
The Selection Sunday show airs on March 16 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS, revealing the men’s tournament bracket—followed by the women’s bracket at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. This is the moment when dreams come true or get crushed as teams learn their fates.
📺 How to Watch Selection Sunday:
- Date: Sunday, March 16
- Time: 6 p.m. ET (Men’s), 7 p.m. ET (Women’s)
- TV: CBS (Men’s), ESPN (Women’s)
- Streaming: Paramount+, Fubo (free trial)
Tournament Tip-Off: Where the Madness Begins
The First Four games take place March 18-19 in Dayton, Ohio, setting the stage for the Round of 64 in cities across the country. From Seattle to Milwaukee, Cleveland to Denver, the battle for basketball supremacy will rage coast to coast.
🏀 First & Second Round Locations:
- March 20-21: Lexington, Providence, Wichita, Denver, Seattle, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Raleigh
- March 22-23: The survivors fight on in the same arenas for a ticket to the Sweet 16
Sweet 16 & Elite Eight: The Final Cuts
The action moves to the Prudential Center in Newark, Chase Center in San Francisco, State Farm Arena in Atlanta, and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the regional showdowns. By March 30, only four teams will be left standing.
Final Four & Championship – The Alamodome Showdown
The grand finale takes place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, where the Final Four (April 5) will set the stage for the National Championship on April 7. The last two teams standing will battle for basketball immortality.
Bracketology & Bold Predictions: Who’s Ready for the Madness?
With Selection Sunday just hours away, speculation is running wild. Will powerhouses dominate, or will we witness another Cinderella miracle? Get ready to fill out those brackets—$1 million is on the line in USA TODAY’s Bracket Challenge!
