2025 March Madness: Men's NCAA tournament schedule, women's storylines, and TV guide

the 2025 NCAA Tournament has college basketball fans electrified worldwide. The men's March Madness Round of 64 is underway while the excitement of the women's tournament tip-off builds for March 21. From the men's schedule and dates to the women's Cinderella stories and where to watch on TruTV — here's your real-time guide to March Madness 2025, optimized for all bracket-picking needs.

where can i watch march madness
march madness tv schedule

2025 Men's NCAA Tournament Schedule and Dates

The journey to men's March Madness began on Selection Sunday (March 16) and is now in full swing. Here's the full schedule, updated with today's results as of 10:38 p.m. PDT:

• First Four: March 18-19 (Dayton, Ohio) - Alabama State and North Carolina qualified, among others.

• Round of 64: March 20-21 - Day 1 saw No. 9 Creighton beat No. 8 Louisville 89-75, No. 8 Gonzaga crush No. 9 Georgia 60-38, and No. 12 McNeese upset No. 5 Clemson 68-65. Day 2 tip-off is Friday at 9:15 a.m. PDT.

• Round of 32: March 22-23 - Locations include Lexington, Wichita and Raleigh.

• Sweet 16: March 27-28 – Held in Boston, Los Angeles, Dallas and Detroit.

• Elite Eight: March 29-30 – Same regional venues.

• Final Four: April 5 – Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas.

• National Championship: April 7 - Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, 6:20 p.m. PDT, on CBS.

Today's best games come on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV, with live scores available on NCAA.com. Visit NCAA.com for a printable bracket or ESPN's Tournament Challenge for real-time updates.

Women's March Madness 2025: Fairytale and Cinderella

The women's NCAA Tournament begins Friday, March 21, with the First Four games. Selection Sunday was March 16 at 5 p.m. PDT on ESPN. Here are the top storylines and potential Cinderella teams, based on ESPN analysis and posts from Axe (formerly Twitter) as of March 20:

Main Storyline:

• Is a South Carolina repeat possible? The undefeated Gamecocks, under coach Dawn Staley, are the No. 1 overall seed. After a 38-0 title run in 2024, their depth stacked on the field will pose new challenges.

• Caitlin Clark's legacy will continue: Iowa, a No. 2 seed, is looking to make a difference in Clark's final college season. A rematch with LSU in the Sweet 16 could be a big clash.

• USC's JuJu Watkins Rising Star: The Trojans are another No. 1 seed that will rely on freshman phenom Watkins to challenge South Carolina.

Cinderella's Choice:

• No. 12 Columbia: After Washington won the First Four (68-64), the Ivy League champions can upset No. 5 Notre Dame with their balanced attack.

• No. 13 UC San Diego: In its NCAA debut, the Tritons' high-octane offense defeated Southern in the First Four (70-65), and will now face No. 4 Kansas State.

• No. 11 Drake: The Missouri Valley champs, who have a stout defense, could be a major bracket-buster against No. 6 Louisville.

The women's Final Four will take place on April 4 in Tampa, FL, and the championship will air on ABC on April 6 at 12pm PDT. Check NCAA.com for the latest women's bracket and scores.

NCAA Tournament 2025 TV schedule: What channel is TruTV on?

March Madness 2025 is airing on multiple networks. Here's your TV and streaming guide, including truTV:

Men's Tournament Channels:

• CBS: Big games like Purdue vs. High Point (score: 75-63). Depends on local affiliate (for example, DirecTV Channel 2 in LA).

• TBS: Hosted Gonzaga vs. Georgia (60-38 final) today. DirecTV equals channel 247, Dish equals 139.

• TNT: Tennessee vs. Wofford tonight at 6:50 PM PDT. DirecTV: 245, Dish: 138.

• TruTV: Covers Robert Morris vs. Alabama (Thursday 12:40 p.m. PDT). DirecTV: 246, Dish: 242 - Yours will vary by provider.

Women's Tournament Channels:

• ESPN: First Four - March 21-22, and Rounds 1-2. DirecTV equals channel 206, Dish equals 140.

• ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews: For early round coverage.

• ABC: Final Four and Championship.

How to watch March Madness 2025?

• Live streaming: NCAA March Madness Live (free for CBS games, requires cable login for rest), Paramount+ (CBS), Max (TBS/TNT/truTV with B/R Sports add-on, free for ad-free subscribers through March 30).

• Cable alternatives: YouTube TV ($73/month), Hulu + Live TV ($77/month), Sling Orange + Blue ($45/month, no CBS), DirecTV Stream ($80/month) – All except Sling carry CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV.

• FREE OPTION: Use a digital antenna for a local broadcast of CBS.

Today's men's First Four match is Louisville vs. Creighton at 9:15 a.m. PDT on CBS; the women's First Four begins Friday, March 21 at 4:00 p.m. PDT on ESPN2. Keep checking the schedule at NCAA.com Yahoo Bracket.

Where to watch and what will happen next?

• Men's scores today: Live updates on NCAA.com and CBS Sports; McNeese's upset makes headlines.

• Women's Kickoff: First Four game on March 21, with Columbia vs. Notre Dame at 6:30 PM PDT on ESPN2.

• Best Bracket: Compete on ESPN's Tournament Challenge and NCAA Bracket Challenge - add McNeese and Columbia for upset flair.

When does March Madness start the next day?

The Men's Round of 64, Day 2 will air on CBS at 9:15 a.m. PDT with Duke vs. Mount St. Mary's. The women’s first match is High Point vs. Southern at 4:00 pm PDT on ESPN2. Keep getting updates on every buzzer-beater on CBS Live, NCAA Tournament Live, or MarchMadness.com.