March Madness is just around the corner, and with it, the anticipation of millions of basketball fans gearing up for the college basketball championship celebrated each March. This year's NCAA tournament promises to be no different, as fans prepare to fill out their brackets and cheer for their favorite teams leading up to March 16, 2025, Selection Sunday.
On Selection Sunday, CBS will reveal the men’s tournament bracket at 5 p.m. CT, which will be closely followed by the women's bracket airing on ESPN at 7 p.m. CT. The excitement reaches its peak as everyone eagerly awaits to see which teams make the cut and secure their spot at the Big Dance.
The First Four games will take place on March 18 and 19, 2025, at the UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, as teams vie for the last free spots within the full 68-team bracket. Following the First Four, the round of 64 kicks off on March 20, starting with games held at various locations, including Rupp Arena in Lexington and Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The first round continues on March 21 at cities like Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle and Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.
On March 22 and 23, the anticipation heightens as teams hope to advance to the second round of play, taking place again at the same arenas. Following those rounds, the Sweet 16 games will occur on March 27 and 28, leading up to the much-awaited Elite Eight being held on March 29 and 30.
The tournament culminates with the final four matches scheduled for April 5 and 7, 2025, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Naturally, with such thrilling events planned, fans are eager to catch all the action, but where can they find the games?
The men’s tournament will be broadcast on CBS, TNT, TBS, and TruTV, providing multiple options for fans who want to follow their teams through every round of the tournament. For fans of the women’s tournament, the games will air on ABC and various ESPN networks such as ESPN2 and ESPNU.
Given the busy sports climate, knowing how to navigate these channels becomes imperative. Depending on your cable provider, TruTV can be located through different local listings. For example, on DirecTV, fans can look up the channel number specific to their area. Similarly, Xfinity, DISH, Cox, and other providers should provide accurate listings to make it easier for viewers to tune in.
For those opting for streaming services to watch the event without traditional cable, there are also many avenues available. Services like Paramount+ and Fubo (currently offering free trials) will facilitate the viewing of March Madness, allowing audience members to catch the action from the comfort of their homes or on the go.
With just weeks until Selection Sunday, the countdown to announcing the 68-team field is on. Don’t forget to check local listings for the exact channel numbers—all part of preparing for one of the most thrilling times of the sports year. From the First Four to the Final Four, 2025 holds the promise of drama and excitement throughout NCAA March Madness.