The biggest tournament of the year has officially begun. Here are the top three teams from each region of Selection Sunday for the 2025 men’s NCAA tournament.
Let the madness begin!
The bracket for the men's 2025 NCAA Tournament was announced Sunday, unveiling the 68 teams that secured a spot in the March Madness competition.
Earning the four top seeds on Selection Sunday were Auburn, Florida, Duke and Houston.
THE BRACKET 🙌#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/fo6lA8hJ7g
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2025
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Auburn, which lost to Tennessee in the SEC Tournament semifinal on Saturday, took the top seed in the South Region and will play the First Four winner of Alabama St. and Saint Francis.
Florida, the SEC champion, takes the top spot in the West Region and will play No. 16 Norfolk St.
Duke, which is expected to have Cooper Flag back after the star forward missed the Blue Devils' ACC semifinal and final victories with an ankle injury, will play the First Four winner of American and Mount St. Mary's in the East Region.
Houston, the Big 12 Tournament champions who were also a top-seed last year when they lost to Duke in the Elite Eight, will play No. 16 SIU Edwardsville in its NCAA Tournament debut.
Elsewhere, back-to-back champion UConn, which is looking to become the first team to three-peat in the men's NCAA Tournament since UCLA in the 1970s, enters as a No. 8 seed and will play No. 9 Oklahoma in the first round.
Some quality bubble teams did not make the field — which features 31 automatic bids from conference tournaments. The first four teams out of the tournament were West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio St. and Boise St.
The SEC had 14 teams qualify, setting an NCAA Tournament record.
The action begins with the First Four matchups on Tuesday and Wednesday at the University of Dayton's UD Arena.
The 32 first-round games will then be played on Thursday and Friday. Games for the first and second round of the men's tournament will be played at University of Kentucky; Providence College; University of Washington; Wichita State University; Rocket Arena in Cleveland; Ball Arena in Denver; Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee; Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
What are the matchups for March Madness 2025?
Here are the matchups for the first round of the men's 2025 NCAA Tournament:
EAST REGION
No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 American/Mount St. Mary's
No. 8 Mississippi St. vs. No. 9 Baylor
No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 Liberty
No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 13 Akron
No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 VCU
No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 14 Montana
No. 7 Saint Mary's vs. No. 10 Vanderbilt
No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 15 Robert Morris
SOUTH REGION
No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 16 Alabama St./Saint Francis
No. 8 Louisville vs. No. 9 Creighton
No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 12 UC San Diego
No. 4 Texas A&M vs. No. 13 Yale
No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 San Diego St./North Carolina
No. 3 Iowa St. vs. No. 14 Lipscomb
No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 10 New Mexico
No. 2 Michigan St. vs. No. 15 Bryant
MIDWEST REGION
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 SIU Edwardsville
No. 8 Gonzaga vs. No. 9 Georgia
No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 12 McNeese
No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 13 High Point
No. 6 Illinois vs. No. 11 Texas/Xavier
No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Troy
No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Utah St.
No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Wofford
WEST REGION
No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Norfolk St.
No. 8 UConn vs. No. 9 Oklahoma
No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 12 Colorado St.
No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Grand Canyon
No. 6 Missouri vs. No. 11 Drake
No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 14 UNCW
No. 7 Kansas vs. No. 10 Arkansas
No. 2 St. John's vs. No. 15 Omaha
When does March Madness start?
The men's NCAA Tournament begins with the First Four on Tuesday, March 18, at the University of Dayton's UD Arena.
What is the March Madness schedule?
Here is the full schedule for the men's 2025 NCAA Tournament:
First Four: March 18-19
First round: March 20-21
Second round: March 22-23
Sweet 16: March 27-28
Elite Eight: March 29-30
Final Four: April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
Championship game: April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas