Selection Sunday marks the thrilling precursor to March Madness, unveiling the complete 68-team bracket for the highly awaited NCAA Tournament. This pivotal event allows teams to discover their paths to the coveted Final Four and the national championship game.
As numerous teams secure automatic qualifiers by triumphing in their respective conference championships, others linger on the bubble, eagerly awaiting their fates on this significant day.
With the Big Ten championship still pending and additional automatic qualifiers up for grabs, the suspense surrounding the Selection Sunday outcomes continues to build.
Viewing Details for Selection Sunday 2025
Fans of college basketball will have the opportunity to dive into their brackets as the men’s Selection Sunday show is broadcast live on CBS, with a streaming option available through Paramount Plus.
The women’s selection event will take place on ESPN, and viewers can stream it via ESPN+. Additionally, the NCAA will offer a livestream on NCAA March Madness Live.
The men’s selection show will feature Adam Zucker as the host, accompanied by analysts Clark Kellogg, Jay Wright, and Seth Davis. Bubba Cunningham, chair of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee, will give insights regarding the selection process during a live interview on CBS.
For the women’s selection, Elle Duncan will take the lead, joined by analysts including Andraya Carter, Rebecca Lobo, Carolyn Peck, and reporter Holly Rowe, along with noted bracketologist Charlie Creme.
Schedule for Selection Sunday 2025
The Selection Sunday broadcast for men’s basketball is set to begin at 6 p.m. ET on CBS, while the women’s selection show will air at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Understanding the NCAA Tournament Selection Process
Up to 32 teams will receive automatic qualifier bids after prevailing in their conference tournaments, while the remaining teams will compete for 36 at-large bids. The assessments made on Selection Sunday are grounded in each team’s performance throughout the season.
Criteria for seeding includes the quality of a team’s victories, strength of schedule, and overall performance record. In the women’s tournament, the top 16 teams receive the advantage of hosting the first- and second-round games at home.
The tournament’s First Four games kick off on March 18-19, leading into the first round of March Madness starting on March 20. Mark your calendars, as the women’s national championship game is scheduled for April 6, followed by the men’s championship game on April 7.