What Is Selection Sunday?
Selection Sunday is the official start of March Madness. On this day, the NCAA Selection Committee announces:
- All 68 participating teams
- Tournament seeding
- Regional placements
- First-round matchups
The bracket reveal sets the stage for the entire tournament and triggers a surge in fan engagement, media coverage, and betting interest.
How Teams Are Selected, Seeded, and Placed in the Bracket
Teams earn a place in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament through one of two paths:
- Automatic bids, awarded to the 31 conference tournament champions
- At-large bids, selected by the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Committee based on overall performance
Once the full field of 68 teams is finalized on Selection Sunday, the tournament structure is set in stages.
Four teams compete in the opening round, known as the First Four, with the winners advancing to complete the 64-team field for the first round of play.
The remaining teams are then:
- Seeded from No. 1 to No. 16 within each region
- Placed into four regions, each containing 16 teams
Seeding is designed to reward stronger regular-season and conference tournament performance. Higher-seeded teams are matched against lower-seeded opponents in early rounds, determining each team’s potential path through the bracket and toward the national championship.
How to Watch March Madness
Every March Madness game will be broadcast nationally across CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV. Fans can also stream games through official digital platforms, ensuring consistent nationwide access throughout the tournament.
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