March Madness 2025 LIVE: Dates, times, confirmed matchups, full schedule and venues for iconic NCAA tournament

March Madness is one of the most highly anticipated tournaments in basketball, and it finally gets underway this week.

Excitement is building amongst fans ahead of the iconic annual event that will see 68 teams compete to become NCAA Champions.

Getty

In the 85th edition of the tournament last year, UConn won their second consecutive title after beating Purdue 75-60 in the Championship Game. 

They’re now aiming to become only the second team ever to achieve a March Madness three-peat after UCLA’s seven wins from 1967 to 1973. 

March Madness: Dates and start times

March Madness began on Sunday, March 16 when fans found out the full brackets for the men’s and women’s tournaments.

Games will start on Tuesday, March 18 and the schedule will run through all the way until Monday, April 7. 

Start times will vary from midday to evening tip-offs in the USA, while in the UK, start times are set to be between 4pm and 2am.

April 6 and 7 is when the Championship games will take place.

There has still yet to be confirmation of where the tournament will be available to watch in the UK.

talkSPORT and talkSPORT.com will also be on hand with all the latest. 

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. 

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Getty

March Madness: Full schedule and matchups

The bracket and matchups have now been officially confirmed.

Each number next to the teams represents their seed.

First Four: March 18-19

• (16) Alabama State vs (16) Saint Francis
• (11) San Diego State vs (11) North Carolina
• (16) American University vs. (16) Mount St. Mary’s
• (11)) Texas vs (11) Xavier

First round: March 20-21

• (8) Louisville vs. (9) Creighton
• (4) Purdue vs. (13) High Point
• (3) Wisconsin vs. (14) Montana
• (1) Houston vs. (16) SIU Edwardsville
• (1) Auburn vs. (16) Saint Francis/Alabama St.
• (5) Clemson vs. (12) McNeese
• (6) BYU vs. (11) VCU
• (8) Gonzaga vs. (9) Georgia
• (2) Tennessee vs. (15) Wofford
• (7) Kansas vs. (10) Arkansas
• (4) Texas A&M vs. (13) Yale
• (6) Missouri vs. (11) Drake
• (7) UCLA vs. (10) Utah State
• (2) St. John’s vs. (15) Omaha
• (5) Michigan vs. (12) UC San Diego
• (3) Texas Tech vs. (14) UNC Wilmington
• (8) Mississippi State vs. (9) Baylor
• (2) Alabama vs. (15) Robert Morris
• (3) Iowa State vs. (14) Lipscomb
• (5) Memphis vs. (12) Colorado State
• (1) Duke vs. (16) Mount St. Mary’s/American
• (7) Saint Mary’s vs. (10) Vanderbilt
• (6) Ole Miss vs. (11) North Carolina/San Diego State
• (4) Maryland vs. (13) Grand Canyon
• (1) Florida vs. (16) Norfolk State
• (3) Kentucky vs. (14) Troy
• (7) Marquette vs. (10) New Mexico
• (4) Arizona vs. (13) Akron
• (8) UConn vs. (9) Oklahoma
• (6) Illinois vs. (11) Xavier/Texas
• (2) Michigan State vs. (15) Bryant
• (5) Oregon vs. (12) Liberty

Second round: March 22-23

Sweet 16: March 27-28

Elite Eight: March 29-30

Final Four: April 5

Championship game: April 7

@MarchMadnessMBB

And here’s the schedule for the women’s tournament. 

First Four: March 19-20

• (11) Iowa State vs. (11) Princeton
• (16) UC San Diego vs. (16) Southern U.
• (11) Columbia vs. (11) Washington
• (16) High Point vs. (16) William & Mary

First round: March 21-22

• (6) Michigan vs. (11) Iowa State/Princeton
• (4) Kentucky vs. (13) Liberty
• (8) Utah vs. (9) Indiana
• (3) Notre Dame vs. (14) Stephen F. Austin
• (5) Kansas State vs. (12) Fairfield
• (4) Baylor vs. (13) Grand Canyon
• (2) TCU vs. (15) FDU
• (1) South Carolina vs. (16) Tennessee Tech
• (7) Vanderbilt vs. (10) Oregon
• (4) Ohio State vs. (13) Montana State
• (5) Ole Miss vs. (12) Ball State
• (7) Louisville vs. (10) Nebraska
• (8) Richmond vs. (9) Georgia Tech
• (2) Duke vs. (15) Lehigh
• (5) Tennessee vs. (12) South Florida
• (1) UCLA vs. (16) UC San Diego/Southern U.
• (6) Iowa vs. (11) Murray State
• (2) UConn vs. (15) Arkansas State
• (5) Alabama vs. (12) Green Bay
• (2) NC State vs. (15) Vermont
• (6) West Virginia vs. (11) Columbia/Washington
• (3) Oklahoma vs. (14) FGCU
• (1) Southern California vs. (16) UNC Greensboro
• (7) Oklahoma State vs. (10) South Dakota State
• (4) Maryland vs. (13) Norfolk State
• (3) North Carolina vs. (14) Oregon State
• (7) Michigan State vs. (10) Harvard
• (8) California vs. (9) Mississippi State
• (8) Illinois vs. (9) Creighton
• (6) Florida State vs. (11) George Mason
• (1) Texas vs. (16) High Point/William & Mary
• (3) LSU vs. (14) San Diego State

Second round: March 23-24

Sweet 16: March 28-29

Elite Eight: March 30-31

Final Four: April 4

Championship game: April 6

@MarchMadnessWBB

March Madness: Venues and locations

The tournament will be played at a variety of venues across the USA, with games being played all over the country. 

The men’s Final Four and NCAA Championship game are going to be played at the same place – the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. 

Here’s every venue where men’s March Madness games will be held: 

First Four 

• UD Arena – Dayton, Ohio

First/Second Round 

• Rupp Arena – Lexington, Kentucky 
• Amica Mutual Pavilion – Providence, Rhode Island 
• Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle, Washington State
• Intrust Bank Arena – Wichita, Kansas 
• Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse – Cleveland, Ohio 
• Ball Arena – Denver, Colorado
• Fiserv Forum – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Lenovo Center – Raleigh, North Carolina

Sweet 16 and Elite Eight

• East: Prudential Center – Newark, New Jersey
• West: Chase Center – San Francisco, California
• South: State Farm Arena – Atlanta, Georgia
• Midwest: Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana

Final Four and Championship Game 

• Alamodome – San Antonio, Texas

And here are the venues for each women’s March Madness game, with the final set to be hosted at the Amalie Arena in Florida.

First Four 

• TBD

First/Second Round 

• TBD

Sweet 16 and Elite Eight

• Legacy Arena – Birmingham, Alabama
• Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena – Spokane, Washington

Final Four and Championship Game 

• Amalie Arena – Tampa, Florida

March Madness: Betting

NCAA Championship Winner:

Duke Blue Devils +333

Florida Gators +400

Auburn Tigers +450

Houston Cougars +600

Alabama Crimson Tide +1600

Get full March Madness betting odds over at talkSPORT BET

NCAA Finals betting guide – Tips and strategies for the 2025 bracket