It’s March, and the NCAA tournaments are underway — starting with the First Four play-in games. Below is a concise primer to help you follow both the men’s and women’s 68-team tournaments: how teams get in, what the rounds mean, seeding basics, how to fill a bracket, and key betting and pool formats.
Quick essentials
How are teams chosen? - Each tournament has 68 teams. Thirty-one spots are automatic qualifiers earned by winning conference tournaments. The remaining 37 are at-large bids the selection committee awards to teams with strong résumés.
What is the First Four? - The First Four are four play-in games that reduce the field from 68 to 64. In 2026 the men’s First Four are scheduled for March 17–18; the women’s First Four are March 18–19. Games are broadcast across ESPN networks and ABC.
What is Selection Sunday? - Selection Sunday is when the selection committee reveals the full 68-team fields and regional seedings for each tournament. In 2026 that took place on March 15.
What are Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four and the championship? - After the first two rounds the field narrows to 16 teams (Sweet 16), then eight (Elite Eight), then four (Final Four), and finally the
