Who’s in First Four for Men's March Madness? Game times, dates, where to watch
The First Four has been set.
In the next few hours, eight Division I college basketball teams will hop on a plane and travel to Dayton, Ohio to play in a one-of-a-kind play-in tournament in hopes of living out a childhood dream of dancing in the much larger NCAA Tournament.
Those making the trip to UD Arena this year are: American, Mount St. Mary's, Alabama State, Saint Francis, San Diego State, North Carolina, Texas, and Xavier. Games will start on Tuesday, March 18 and run through Wednesday, March 19 at UD Arena.
Watch the First Four live with Sling TV
Over the last few years, the First Four has seen perhaps an uptick in viewership as college basketball fans put the final touches on their bracket challenge, with some even joining the bandwagon of picking these teams to stir up some madness in the following rounds — just look at Fairleigh Dickinson in 2023.
The winner of No. 16 Alabama State and Saint Francis (PA) will take on No. 1 Auburn in Atlanta, while No. 11 North Carolina vs San Diego State's winner will play No. 6 Ole Miss.
In the other First Four games, No. 16 American and Mount St. Mary's will play for a chance to take on No. 1 Duke in the East Region in Newark, and No. 11 Texas and Xavier will vie for a spot against No. 6 Illinois in the Midwest Region (Indianapolis).
Here's what you need to know on who is competing in the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament, including TV channel, tip off time information and more:
March Madness bracket for First Four games
The eight teams that are going to Dayton for the First Four include No. 11 North Carolina, No. 11 San Diego State, No. 11 Texas, No. 11 Xavier, No. 16 Alabama State, No. 16 Saint Francis (PA), No. 16 American and No. 16 Mount St. Mary's.
North Carolina and Texas snuck into the field despite being considered in the "first four out" category of several bracket projections heading into Selection Sunday. Xavier also snuck into the field but experienced an earlier exit from its conference tournament, as it lost 89-87 to Marquette in the first-round of the Big East tournament.
San Diego State appeared to be a lock for the NCAA Tournament, but saw its spot come into some question on Thursday after the Aztecs lost to Boise State in the Mountain West tournament. San Diego State made the field of 68 compared to Boise State, who lost in the Mountain West championship game.
Alabama State is dancing for the first time since 2011 by way of winning the SWAC. Saint Francis (PA) is also another feel-good story for the 2025 NCAA Tournament, as the Red Flash are making just their second ever appearance and first since 1991.
American is making its first trip to the First Four and third overall NCAA Tournament appearance thanks to beating Navy for the automatic bid out of the Patriot League. Facing the Eagles is Mount St. Mary's, a mid-major that is familiar with the First Four. The 2025 First Four will be the third First Four appearance for Mount St. Mary's, and the first since 2021.
Where to watch March Madness games for First Four
- TV channel: truTV
- Streaming options: March Madness Live app | Sling TV
The entirety of the First Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament will be broadcast nationally on truTV with Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Jim Spanarkel (analyst) and Jon Rothstein (sideline reporter) on the call. Streaming options for the First Four include the March Madness Live app (with a TV login) and Sling TV.
When does March Madness start? First Four dates
- Men's NCAA Tournament First Four Dates: Tuesday, March 18 through Wednesday, March 19
The First Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament will take place across Tuesday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 19. There will be two games each day of the First Four at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
Here's a breakdown of the First Four schedule for the 2025 NCAA Tournament:
* - All times ET
Tuesday, March 18
- Time: Game 1: 6:40 p.m. (No. 16 Alabama St. vs No. 16 Saint Francis) | Game 2: 9:10 p.m. (No. 11 North Carolina vs No. 11 San Diego State)
- TV channel: truTV
- Live stream: March Madness Live app, Sling TV
Wednesday, March 19
- Time: Game 1: 6:40 p.m. (No. 16 Mount St. Mary's vs No. 16 American) | Game 2: 9:10 p.m. (No. 11 Xavier vs No. 11 Texas)
- TV channel: truTV
- Live stream: March Madness Live app, Sling TV
Where is the First Four for men's March Madness?
- Location: UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio)
The First Four will be once again played on the campus of the University of Dayton at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
The 2025 NCAA Tournament is the 13th time that the First Four will take place at UD Arena since the play-in tournament was added to the overall NCAA Tournament in 2011.
First Four history
Here's a full list how past First Four games have gone since it began in 2011:
2011
- (11) UTSA 70, Alabama State 61
- (12) Clemson 70, UAB 52
- (16) UNC-Asheville 81, Arkansas-Little Rock 77
- (16) VCU 59, USC 46
2012
- (12) South Florida 65, Cal 54
- (14) Vermont 71, Lamar 59
- (16) BYU 78, Iona 54
- (16) Western Kentucky 59, Mississippi Valley State
2013
- (11) Saint Mary's 67, Middle Tennessee 54
- (13) La Salle 80, Boise State 71
- (16) North Carolina A&T 73, Liberty 72
- (16) James Madison 67, LIU-Brooklyn 55
2014
- (11) Tennessee 78, Iowa 65
- (12) NC State 74, Xavier 59
- (16) Albany 71, Mount St. Mary's 64
- (16) Cal Poly 81, Texas Southern 69
2015
- (11) Dayton 56, Boise State 55
- (11) Ole Miss 94, BYU 90
- (16) Hampton 74, Manhattan 64
- (16) Robert Morris 81, North Florida 77
2016
- (11) Michigan 67, Tulsa 62
- (11) Wichita State 70, Vanderbilt 50
- (16) Florida Gulf Coast 96, Fairleigh Dickinson 65
- (16) Holy Cross 59, Southern 55
2017
- (11) Kansas State 95, Wake Forest 88
- (11) USC 75, Providence 71
- (16) UC Davis 67, North Carolina Central 63
- (16) Mount St. Mary's 67, New Orleans 66
2018
- (11) St. Bonaventure 65, UCLA 58
- (11) Syracuse 60, Arizona State 56
- (16) Radford 71, LIU-Brooklyn 61
- (16) Texas Southern 64, North Carolina Central 46
2019
- (11) Arizona State 74, St. John's 65
- (11) Belmont 81, Temple 70
- (16) North Dakota State 78, North Carolina Central 74
- (16) Fairleigh Dickinson 82, Prairie View A&M 76
2021
- (11) UCLA 86, Michigan State 80
- (11) Drake 53, Wichita State 52
- (16) Norfolk State 54, Appalachian State 53
- (16) Texas Southern 60, Mount St. Mary's 52
2022
- (11) Notre Dame 89, Rutgers 87
- (12) Indiana 66, Wyoming 58
- (16) Texas Southern 76, Texas A&M Corpus Christi 67
- (16) Wright State 93, Bryant 82
2023
- (11) Pitt 60, Mississippi State 59
- (11) Arizona State 98, Nevada 73
- (16) Texas A&M Corpus Christi 75, SE Missouri State 71
- (16) Fairleigh Dickinson 84, Texas Southern 61
2024
- (16) Grambling State 88, (16) Montana State 81 (OT)
- (10) Colorado State 67, (10) Virginia 42
- (10) Colorado 60, (10) Boise State 53
- (16) Wagner 71, (16) Howard 68
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