How to watch Selection Sunday
How to watch Selection Sunday

On Sunday, March 16, the NCAA Selection Committee will reveal the full 68-team brackets for both the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Division I Basketball Tournaments. This is the moment when fans, analysts, and teams learn who made the cut and what the road to the Final Four looks like.

Read more: 2025 Selection Sunday: Key Date, Schedule, TV Times, and Top Storylines

Selection Sunday Schedule

  • Men’s Tournament Selection Show

    • Time: 6 p.m. ET

    • TV Channel: CBS

    • Streaming: Paramount+ (with Showtime), CBS Sports app

  • Women’s Tournament Selection Show

    • Time: 8 p.m. ET

    • TV Channel: ESPN

    • Streaming: ESPN app, FuboTV (offers free trial)

Where to Watch Selection Sunday

Selection Sunday will be broadcast live on CBS for the men’s bracket and ESPN for the women’s bracket. If you don’t have access to cable TV, here are the best streaming options:

• Paramount+ – Offers a live stream of CBS and can be accessed via a subscription.

• ESPN App – Allows users to watch ESPN’s Selection Sunday coverage on mobile devices, smart TVs, or streaming devices.

• FuboTV – Provides ESPN channels and CBS for streaming Selection Sunday live (free trial available for new subscribers).

• YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and DirecTV Stream – All these services include CBS and ESPN in their streaming packages.

• NCAA March Madness Live – The NCAA’s official streaming platform will offer coverage for fans with a valid cable or streaming provider login.

What Happens on Selection Sunday?

Selection Sunday is when the NCAA announces:

• The full 68-team field for both men’s and women’s tournaments.

• The seeding and matchups for each team.

• The bubble teams that made the cut or were left out.

• The regions and paths to the Final Four.

• Analysis and expert predictions on key matchups and upset potential.

Key Terms to Know

• Bracketology: The process of predicting the NCAA Tournament field.

• Bubble Teams: Teams that are on the edge of making or missing the tournament.

• Seed: A team’s ranking within its region (No. 1 seeds are the highest-ranked teams in each region).

• First Four: The opening games played by the last four at-large teams and four lowest-seeded teams.

Men’s and Women’s March Madness Schedules

Once the brackets are revealed, March Madness officially begins. Here’s a look at the tournament schedules:

Men’s Tournament

  • First Four: March 18-19 (Dayton, OH)

  • First Round: March 20-21

  • Second Round: March 22-23

  • Sweet 16: March 27-28

  • Elite Eight: March 29-30

  • Final Four: April 5 (Alamodome, San Antonio, TX)

  • NCAA Championship: April 7 (Alamodome, San Antonio, TX)

Women’s Tournament

  • First Four: March 19-20

  • First Round: March 21-22

  • Second Round: March 23-24

  • Sweet 16: March 28-29

  • Elite Eight: March 30-31

  • Final Four: April 4 (Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL)

  • NCAA Championship: April 6 (Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL)

Top Teams to Watch in 2025

Men’s Tournament Favorites

  • UConn Huskies – Defending national champions looking for a repeat.

  • Purdue Boilermakers – Led by dominant big man Zach Edey.

  • Kansas Jayhawks – A perennial contender under Bill Self.

  • Arizona Wildcats – Strong defense and deep roster.

  • Duke Blue Devils – Talented young squad aiming for a deep run.

Women’s Tournament Favorites

  • South Carolina Gamecocks – Consistently one of the top teams in the nation.

  • LSU Tigers – Star-studded roster with championship aspirations.

  • UConn Huskies – A historic powerhouse always in the mix.

  • Iowa Hawkeyes – Led by superstar Caitlin Clark.

  • Stanford Cardinal – Experienced team with championship pedigree.

Conclusion

Selection Sunday is the official start of the madness that captivates basketball fans every March. Whether you’re tuning in via CBS, ESPN, or a streaming service, make sure you don’t miss the moment when the brackets drop and the tournament dreams begin. Get your brackets ready, your predictions locked in, and prepare for one of the most exciting sports events of the year!

Stay tuned for full coverage as the tournament unfolds!

2025 March Madness - Men 2025 March Madness - Men's NCAA Tournament: Full Schedule, Dates, Locations, and Viewing

The 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament—better known as March Madness—is set to begin, bringing the excitement of college basketball to millions of fans ...
How to Watch Selection Sunday March 16 – 2025 March Madness How to Watch Selection Sunday March 16 – 2025 March Madness

Selection Sunday, the highly anticipated kickoff event for March Madness 2025, is just around the corner. For those eager to tune in, here’s everything you ...