2025 March Madness: NCAA tournament dates, star players, format and how to watch on Sky Sports

March Madness is here - and you can follow the 2025 NCAA college basketball tournament live on Sky Sports!

What is 'March Madness'?

At the end of the NCAA College basketball regular season, two 68-team tournaments - one each for men and women - take place to crown the 2025 NCAA champions.

The men's tournament began in 1939 followed by the women's competition in 1982, with both offering a stage to some of basketball's greatest future players. Superstars like Steph Curry, Anthony Davis, Derrick Rose and Michael Jordan all took part before their NBA careers and helped change the tournament standards forever.

Caitin Clark, the story of the year in 2024, dominated last year's headlines with her record-breaking performances as she brought more eyes onto women's basketball than ever before.

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Where can I watch March Madness?

Sky Sports will show every available game live on the Sky Sports+ streaming service. We are also bringing many of the best game selections to our front channels and for the early rounds the 12-hour long 'whiparound' coverage to keep you up to date with all the madness in one place.

There will be 93 games across both tournaments, with primary coverage on Sky Sports+ (and streams), Main Event, Action and Mix throughout the tournament.

Star players?

Where might the next NBA or WNBA superstar emerge from? The NCAA tournaments develop the best of the next generation and March Madness is their time to prove their worth before the eyes of pro scouts.

Caitlin Clark dominated last year to earn her place as the No 1 pick at the WNBA Draft, but who next? Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo is the NPOY (Naismith College Player of the Year) frontrunner alongside JuJu Watkins of USC - both top scorers and leading their franchises as strong contenders for the national championship. Also in the mix to shine could be LSU's Flau'jae Johnson and UConn's Paige Bueckers.

Meanwhile in the men's tournament, Chaz Lanier of Tennessee and Keshon Gilbert from Iowa State have each been in superb form as two of the strongest guards and rebound machines in the NCAA. However, for the first time in a number of seasons, the college basketball player of the year race is not a foregone conclusion.

Johni Broome of Auburn has been exceptional after joining the Tigers three seasons ago to help turn them into one of the dominant forces of college basketball. His main rival for the John R. Wooden Award, however, is Duke's Cooper Flagg, who is hotly tipped to be the next No 1 Draft pick.

Hall of Fame Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim notably compared Flagg to the great Larry Bird: "I think he's almost Bird-like.

"He's the best all-around player in terms of doing all the things in college basketball that I've seen'."

While an NCAA Championship does not guarantee player-of-the-year status or a No 1 draft pick, it would come as a surprise were Flagg to finish his record-breaking year without either of the above.

Who are favourites to win?

March Madness can be prone to unpredictability, with twists and turns guaranteed. Each round is a one-off, meaning no finals series and no rematches - so every win is essential.

Based on regular-season performances, the Southeastern Conference has been of the highest quality for the men's side, with Florida Gators winning with a thrilling display against Tennessee.

Over in the Big 12, the Houston Cougars are not to be underestimated with a near-perfect conference season and a victory over Arizona. So far, the team has made six appearances in the Final Four, which is the most of any team who has never won a national championship.

Many eyes are on North Carolina's Duke Blue Devils and their generational talent Flagg to dominate both on and off the court.

In the women's tournament, UConn Huskies made it as far as the Final Four last year in a huge upset but have returned in strong form, especially with defending champions South Carolina also looking dominant this year.

A rematch is possible but with other strong teams in the field (notably Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Texas Longhorns) it is going to be tough to single out a clear favourite to win, especially with the quality of basketball having never been greater on the women's side.

Upcoming fixtures

Elite Eight

Sunday March 30

• Tennessee vs Houston (Midwest region)
• Michigan St. vs Auburn (South region)

Final four

Saturday April 5

TBC vs TBC
TBC vs TBC

Championship

Monday April 7

TBC vs TBC

Results so far

First round

Tuesday March 18

• No. 16 St. Francis 68-70 No. 16 Alabama State
• No. 11 North Carolina 95-68 No. 11 San Diego State

Wednesday March 19

• No. 16 Mount St. Mary's 83-72 No. 16 American
• No. 11 Xavier 86-80 No. 11 Texas

Thursday March 20

• No. 9 Creighton 89-75. No. 8 Louisville
• No. 13 High Point 63-75 No. 4 Purdue
• No. 14 Montana 66-85 No. 3 Wisconsin
• No. 16 SIU Edwardsville 40-78 No. 1 Houston
• No. 16 Alabama State 63-83 No. 1 Auburn
• No. 12 McNeese 69-67 No. 5 Clemson
• No. 11 VCU 71-80 No. 6 BYU
• No. 9 Georgia 68-89 No. 8 Gonzaga
• No. 15 Wofford 62-77 No. 2 Tennessee
• No. 10 Arkansas 79-72 No. 7 Kansas
• No. 13 Yale 71-80 No. 4 Texas A&M
• No. 11 Drake 67-57 No. 6 Missouri
• No. 10 Utah State 47-72 No. 7 UCLA
• No. 15 Omaha 53-83 No. 2 St. John's
• No. 12 UC San Diego 65-68 No. 5 Michigan
• No. 14 UNC Wilmington 72-82 No. 3 Texas Tech

Friday March 21:

• No. 9 Baylor 75-72 No. 8 Mississippi State
• No. 15 Robert Morris 81-90 No. 2 Alabama
• No. 14 Lipscomb 55-82 No. 3 Iowa State
• No. 12 Colorado State 78-70 No. 5 Memphis
• No. 16 Mount St. Mary's 49-93 No. 1 Duke
• No. 10 Vanderbilt 56-59 No. 7 St. Mary's
• No. 11 North Carolina 64-71 No. 6 Ole Miss
• No. 13 Grand Canyon 49-81 No. 4 Maryland
• No. 16 Norfolk State 69-95 No. 1 Florida
• No. 14 Troy 57-76 No. 3 Kentucky
• No. 10 New Mexico 75-66 No. 7 Marquette
• No. 13 Akron 65-93 No. 4 Arizona
• No. 9 Oklahoma 59-67 No. 8 UConn
• No. 11 Xavier 73-86 No. 6 Illinois
• No. 15 Bryant 62-87 No. 2 Michigan State
• No. 12 Liberty 52-81 No. 5 Oregon

Second round

Saturday March 22

• No. 12 McNeese 62-76 No. 4 Purdue
• No. 10 Arkansas 75-66 No. 2 St John's
• No. 5 Michigan 91-79 No. 4 Texas A&M
• No. 11 Drake 64-77 No. 3 Texas Tech
• No. 9 Creighton 70-82 No. 1 Auburn
• No. 6 BYU 91-89 No. 3 Wisconsin

Sunday March 23

• No. 8 Gonzaga 76-81 No. 1 Houston
• No. 7 UCLA 58-67 No. 2 Tennessee
• No. 8 UConn 75-77 No. 1 Florida
• No. 9 Baylor 66-89 No. 1 Duke
• No. 6 Illinois 75-84 No. 3 Kentucky
• No. 7 St Mary's CA 66-80 No. 2 Alabama
• No. 12 CO State 71 No. 4 Maryland
• No. 6 Ole Miss 91-78 No. 3 Iowa State

Monday March 24

• No. 10 New Mexico 63-71 No. 2 MI State
• No. 5 Oregon 83-87 No. 4 Arizona

Sweet 16

Thursday March 27

• No 6 BYU 88-113 No 2 Alabama (East region)
• No 4 Maryland 71-87 No 1 Florida (West region)
• No 4 Arizona 93-100 No 1 Duke (East region)
• No 10 Arkansas 83-85 No 3 Texas Tech (West region)

Friday March 28

• No 6 Ole Miss 70-73 No 2 Michigan St (South region)
• No 3 Kentucky 65-78 No 2 Tennessee (Midwest region)
• No 5 Michigan 65-78 No 1 Auburn (South region)
• No 4 Purdue 60-62 No 1 Houston (Midwest region)

Saturday March 29

• No 3 Texas Tech 79-84 No 1 Florida (West region)
• No 2 Alabama 65-85 No 1 Duke (East region)