What is March Madness?

The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, commonly known as "March Madness," is one of the most popular sporting events in the United States. The tournament features 68 college basketball teams competing in a single-elimination format to determine the national champion.

Tournament Structure

The tournament begins with the "First Four" games, where eight teams compete for the final spots in the main 64-team bracket. The remaining tournament follows a traditional single-elimination format across six rounds:

• First Four: 8 teams → 4 teams
• First Round: 64 teams → 32 teams
• Second Round: 32 teams → 16 teams (Sweet 16)
• Regional Semifinals: 16 teams → 8 teams (Elite Eight)
• Regional Finals: 8 teams → 4 teams (Final Four)
• National Championship: 4 teams → 1 champion