Men's Final Four Dates and Tournament Structure
The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament semifinals, commonly known as the Final Four, typically occur on the first Saturday and Sunday of April. The event moves to a pre-selected host city each year, with the national championship game scheduled for the following Monday. The 2025 tournament began with the First Four play-in round in Dayton, Ohio, followed by the main bracket opening on Thursday, March 20. The Final Four will feature the last four standing teams from the 68-team bracket, competing for a spot in the title game. The semifinal matchups are determined by the results of the preceding rounds, with the four remaining teams seeded one through four based on their regional performance. For the most current bracket and schedule, the official NCAA tournament site provides real-time updates and team standings NCAA Men's Basketball Bracket.
The selection process for the Final Four starts with the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee, which releases the official bracket on Selection Sunday. The committee uses a complex formula that includes the NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) rankings, conference tournament results, and win-loss records to rank and seed the 68 teams. The four No. 1 seeds are placed in separate regions, and their advancement to the Final Four depends on winning three consecutive games in their respective regions. The Final Four format has remained consistent since 1985, when the tournament expanded to 64 teams, and the addition of the First Four in 2011 brought the total to 68. The host city for the Final Four is announced years in advance, with the 2025 event scheduled for State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona 2025 NCAA Final Four.
How to Watch the Men's Final Four and Championship
CBS and TNT Sports hold the exclusive broadcast rights for the NCAA men's basketball tournament, with the Final Four and national championship game airing on CBS. The semifinal games are broadcast live on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, with the championship game following on Monday evening. Viewers can stream the games live on the CBS Sports app, Paramount+, and TNT Sports platforms with a valid cable or streaming subscription. The 2025 Final Four will feature a new broadcast team and expanded studio coverage, including pregame and halftime analysis from the host city. International fans can watch the Final Four through NCAA March Madness Live or local broadcasters that have secured rights for their region NCAA March Madness TV Schedule.
Streaming options have expanded in recent years, with Max (formerly HBO Max) and Paramount+ offering live coverage of the Final Four as part of their sports packages. The NCAA also provides a limited number of free streams for the First Four and early tournament rounds through NCAA March Madness Live. For the Final Four, a cable login or authenticated streaming account is required to access the live broadcast. The championship game is typically the most-watched college basketball event of the year, drawing tens of millions of viewers across the United States. Betting markets also open for the Final Four, with legal sportsbooks offering odds on the semifinal and national championship outcomes NCAA Official Site.
2025 Final Four Teams, Bracket Predictions, and Key Storylines
The 2025 NCAA tournament field includes 68 teams, with the Final Four participants determined through a single