Selection Sunday is just days away, and the 68-team field for March Madness will soon be revealed. The excitement is building as teams begin their quest to be the last one standing, setting the stage for thrilling matchups ahead.
The 12 committee members of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament follow a meticulously thorough process to complete the March Madness bracket: They select 37 of the best at-large teams and seed them alongside 31 automatic qualifying conference champions to ensure competitive balance within each region of the bracket.
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The tournament will tip off with the First Four games in Dayton, Ohio, on Tuesday, March 18. Following this, the first and second rounds will be played over the weekend in six cities across the nation.
Here’s what to know about the Selection Sunday show, and how to watch to ensure you don’t miss any of the action:
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What is Selection Sunday?
Selection Sunday is the name for the day the NCAA Tournament’s bracket for March Madness is revealed. The men’s and women’s Division I tournaments include 68 teams, divided into multiple rounds: the First Four, first round, second round, Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four and national championship game.
When is Selection Sunday? Time, date
The official release date for both the men’s and women’s brackets is Sunday, March 16. The men’s bracket will be announced first, followed by the women’s bracket. Selection Sunday show coverage begins on March 16 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS, then 7 p.m. ET on ESPN for the women’s tournament.
Watch Selection Sunday live with Fubo (free trial)
Streaming options for the Selection Sunday show include Paramount+ and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
March Madness schedule 2025
March 16: Selection Sunday
The Selection Sunday coverage begins on March 16 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.
March 18-19: First Four
- University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio
March 20: First round (Round of 64)
- Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky
- Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island
- Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas
- Ball Arena in Denver
March 21: First round (Round of 64)
- Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle
- Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland
- Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee
- PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina
March 22: Second round (Round of 32)
- Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky
- Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island
- Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas
- Ball Arena in Denver
March 23: Second round (Round of 32)
- Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle
- Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland
- Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee
- PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina
March 27: Sweet 16 (Regional Semifinals)
- East: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
- West: Chase Center in San Francisco
March 28: Sweet 16 (Regional Semifinals)
- South: State Farm Arena in Atlanta
- Midwest: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
March 29: Elite Eight (Regional Finals)
- East: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
- West: Chase Center in San Francisco
March 30: Elite Eight (Regional Finals)
- South: State Farm Arena in Atlanta
- Midwest: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
April 5: Final Four
- Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
April 7: National Championship
- Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
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