What Is March Madness
March Madness is the annual NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. It features 68 college teams competing in a single-elimination bracket to decide a national champion. The field includes automatic qualifiers from conferences and at-large teams selected by a committee.
How the Bracket and Rounds Work
The tournament begins with four play-in games that set the final 64-team bracket. Teams are seeded 1 to 16 in four regions. Each round halves the field, with higher seeds generally facing lower seeds. The Final Four semifinals and national championship game are held at a preselected site.
How the Champion Is Decided
Teams must win every game to advance. There are no second chances; a single loss ends a team's season. The last remaining team is crowned champion and receives the NCAA tournament trophy. Official details are available at ncaa.com.
