Dana E. Lee and Alonzo Olmedo
Mar 16, 2026, 08:30 AM ET
IT’S MARCH, and the madness begins Tuesday with the First Four men’s games. As we buckle up for college basketball chaos and buzzer-beater glory, here’s everything to prepare for the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments — from where the term “March Madness” originated to how teams are seeded, how to fill out a bracket, and more.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
How are teams selected for the tournaments?
Thirty-one teams automatically qualify by winning their postseason conference tournament. The remaining 37 teams earn at-large bids, chosen by the selection committee.
What is the First Four?
The First Four are four play-in games that trim the field from 68 to 64 for the first round. The men’s First Four air March 17-18; the women’s First Four are March 18-19 across ESPN networks and ABC.
What is Selection Sunday?
Selection Sunday revealed the 68-team fields and seeds for both the men’s and women’s tournaments on March 15.
What are the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four?
After the first two rounds, the field is reduced to 16 (Sweet 16), then eight (Elite Eight), then four (Final Four). Key dates:
– Men’s Sweet 16: March 26-27
– Men’s Elite Eight: March 28-29
– Men’s Final Four: April 4
– Men’s championship: April 6
– Women’s Sweet 16: March 27-28
– Women’s Elite Eight: March 29-30
– Women’s Final Four: April 3
– Women’s championship: April 5
THE BACKSTORY AND FORMAT
What is March Madness?
“March Madness” describes the annual NCAA Division I men’s and women’s single-elimination tournaments. Each tournament features 68 teams playing up to seven rounds for a national title.
Who invented the term “March Madness”?
H.V. Porter first used “March Madness” in a 1939 essay about Illinois high school basketball. The term entered the college lexicon after broadcaster Brent Musburger popularized it during the 1982 NCAA men’s tournament.
When did the tournament start?
The first NCAA Division I men’s tournament was in 1939 (eight teams), won by Oregon. The first NCAA women’s tournament was in 1982, won by Louisiana Tech; prior to that, the AIAW organized women’s championships.
How do the women’s and men’s tournaments differ?
Both tournaments are structured similarly and, since 2022, each features 68 teams and can use the March Madness brand. A key difference: while men’s host locations are predetermined, the women’s first and second round sites are seeded-based — the top 16 seeds host early rounds.
What is “One Shining Moment”?
“One Shining Moment” is the montage and song by David Barrett that has traditionally closed the men’s national championship broadcast since 1987, highlighting memorable tournament moments.
SEEDING
How are March Madness seeds determined?
The selection committee ranks all 68 teams from 1 to 68 using performance metrics and expert evaluation, then places teams into four regions, each with seeds 1–16. The field includes 37 at-large teams and 31 automatic qualifiers.
How does a team become a No. 1 seed?
No. 1 seeds are designated by the committee based on season-long performance measures. There are four No. 1 seeds (one per region) and they are generally viewed as the top title contenders. In the women’s tournament since 1982, No. 1 seeds have won 33 of 43 titles; UConn holds the record for most top-seed appearances. In the men’s tournament since expanding to 64 teams in 1985, a No. 1 seed has won 26 championships, and at least one No. 1 has reached the Final Four in 37 of the past 40 tournaments.
What are “at-large bids”?
At-large bids (37 per tournament) go to teams that did not win their conference tournament but have strong résumés. Selection committees (12 members each, serving five-year terms) vote to determine these bids.
What is a “bubble team”?
A “bubble team” is on the margin of selection — one of the last teams in or out. Media outlets track bubble teams closely in the lead-up to Selection Sunday.
BRACKETS AND ODDS
How do you fill out a March Madness bracket?
1. Go to the Tournament Challenge for men or women on ESPN Fantasy.
2. Click “Create a Bracket.”
3. Dismiss the confirmation panel if needed.
4. Fill out your bracket manually or use autofill options.
Selections may be edited until brackets lock: men’s lock at 12:15 p.m. ET on Thursday; women’s at 11:30 a.m. ET on Friday.
Has anyone had a “perfect” March Madness bracket?
Despite tens of millions of brackets submitted yearly, no verified perfect bracket has ever been recorded. The odds of a perfect bracket are astronomically long — roughly 1 in 9.2 quintillion (or about 1 in 120.2 billion with informed picks). Notable near-misses include brackets that went 43–50 games correct before being busted.
Who coined “Bracketology”?
Joe Lunardi popularized “Bracketology” after referring to himself as a “Bracketologist” in a 1996 Philadelphia Inquirer article. He now releases annual bracketology projections and authored a book on the subject.
What is a “Cinderella” team?
A “Cinderella” is a lower-seeded underdog that wins multiple games against higher-seeded opponents, producing tournament upsets and memorable runs. The term dates back to the 1890s in early basketball descriptions.
BETTING
Is it legal to bet on March Madness everywhere in the U.S.?
No. Sports betting legality varies by state. As of now, online sports betting is illegal in 19 states, though retail betting is allowed in 38 states. Age requirements typically range from 18 to 21, depending on state law.
How do March Madness pools work?
Pools are group contests in which participants submit brackets predicting the tournament. ESPN’s Tournament Challenge (men’s and women’s) is free to play and offers prizes; players can submit up to 25 brackets per tournament. Points increase each round for correct picks.
What is the Eliminator contest?
A survivor-style contest where participants pick one team per day; if the team wins, the participant survives to the next day. Each team may be selected only once.
How do March Madness squares work?
Squares use a 10×10 grid with rows and columns labeled 0–9. Each axis represents one team. After the game, the winner is determined by the final-digit combination of both teams’ scores matching a square.
This guide covers the essentials to understand the tournament format, history, seeding, brackets and betting basics as March Madness gets underway.
