The 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament bracket has been unveiled, with Auburn securing the coveted No. 1 overall seed, edging out Duke in a surprising turn of events. The Selection Sunday reveal on March 16 set the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating March Madness, with 68 teams vying for college basketball’s ultimate prize. Despite Auburn losing three of its last four games, the selection committee rewarded Bruce Pearl’s Tigers (30-4) with the top seed in the South Regional. This decision came as a shock to many, considering Duke’s impressive 31-3 record and its top ranking in various polls and metrics, including the Associated Press, USA Today coaches poll, and the NCAA’s NET rankings.

The other No. 1 seeds went to Duke (East Regional), Houston (Midwest Regional), and Florida (West Regional), completing a powerful quartet at the top of the bracket. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) made a strong showing, with three teams among the top seeds, potentially becoming only the second conference in history to achieve this feat after the ACC in 2019. Auburn’s fifth consecutive week as the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 poll, despite a recent loss to Florida, likely played a role in their selection as the top overall seed. The tournament’s 86th edition is set to begin on March 18 with the First Four games in Dayton, Ohio, and will culminate with the championship game on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

The bracket reveal also brought exciting news for several teams making their tournament debuts or returning after long absences. High Point (Big South champion), SIU Edwardsville (Ohio Valley champion), and Omaha (Summit League champion) will all be making their first-ever appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, Lipscomb (ASUN champion) will make its second appearance and first since 2018, while Saint Francis (Northeast Conference champion) returns for the first time since 1991. Troy (Sun Belt champion) will make its third appearance but first since 2017, adding to the diverse mix of teams in this year’s tournament.

The road to the Final Four will take teams through various venues across the country. After the First Four in Dayton, the first and second rounds will be held in cities including Providence, Lexington, Seattle, and Wichita. The regional semifinals and finals (Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight) will take place in Newark (East), San Francisco (West), Atlanta (South), and Indianapolis (Midwest). As teams battle through each round, they’ll aim to reach the Final Four in San Antonio, where the Alamodome will host the national semifinals on April 5 and the championship game on April 7. This marks the fifth time San Antonio has hosted the Final Four, with the last occurrence in 2018. With the stage set and the brackets filled, college basketball fans eagerly anticipate the thrilling games, potential upsets, and unforgettable moments that define March Madness.