Conference tournaments mark the unofficial start of March Madness, but it won't be long until the bracket is released and you can begin to fill in your picks.
For anyone who filled out a bracket last year, the result was chaos. No. 1 Purdue and No. 2 Arizona went down in the first round, followed by No. 1 Kansas and blue bloods Duke and Kentucky in the second round. No. 4 UConn was the highest seed to reach the Final Four, though that's where the upsets came to a halt as the Huskies rolled to a national title.
MORE: Watch select NCAA Tournament games with Sling TV
Will 2024 bring the same madness? March always brings an element of unpredictability, but it might not be fair to say the field is as wide open as it was in 2023. UConn again looks like a powerhouse, while Houston and Purdue have consistently looked a step above the rest along with the Huskies.
This is March, though. The regular season records can be thrown out and conference championships tossed aside if the right Cinderella team comes along.
Here's all you need to know about the 2024 NCAA Tournament, including key dates, the complete schedule and championship odds.
SN's MARCH MADNESS HQ
Live NCAA bracket news | TV schedule | Field of 68 projections
March Madness bracket 2024
The March Madness bracket will be set on March 17 during the Selection Sunday showing on CBS.
Automatic bids will go to 32 conference champions, and 36 others will receive an at-large bid to fill out the remainder of the field.
PRINTABLE: Get your 2024 March Madness bracket here
NCAA Tournament schedule 2024
- Start date: Tuesday, March 19 (First Four)
- End date: Monday, April 8 (national championship)
The 2024 NCAA Tournament consists of the First Four, first round, second round, Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four and national championship game.
The tournament begins on Tuesday, March 19, with the first round starting on Thursday, March 21. The madness will conclude with the national championship on Monday, April 8.
Here is the full schedule for March Madness 2024:
| Round | Date |
| First Four | March 19-20 |
| Round 1 | March 21-22 |
| Round 2 | March 23-24 |
| Sweet 16 | March 28-29 |
| Elite Eight | March 30-31 |
| Final Four | April 6 |
| National championship | April 8 |
When is the First Four?
- Date: March 19-20
- Time: 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET
- TV channel: TruTV
- Live stream: NCAA March Madness Live, Sling TV
The First Four will take place on Tuesday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 20.
Eight teams will take the floor in the First Four: the four lowest-seeded at-large teams selected and the four lowest-seeded automatic bids. That means four teams will see their hopes dashed before the start of the first round.
Teams who land in the First Four have reason for hope. Two (VCU in 2011 and UCLA in 2021) have reached the Final Four after playing in the First Four. A First Four team has also advanced past the first round in each of the last three tournaments, including both No. 11 Pittsburgh and No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson last year.
When is the Final Four?
The 2024 NCAA Tournament ends in Phoenix, where the Final Four on Saturday, April 6 sets up the national championship game between the nation's two finalists on Monday, April 8.
- Date: Saturday, April 6, and Monday, April 8
- Time: 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. ET (Final Four), 9 p.m. ET (national championship)
- TV channel: CBS
- Live stream: NCAA March Madness Live, Sling TV
March Madness schedule 2024
First Four
Tuesday, March 19
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| No. 16 Wagner vs. No. 16 Howard | 6:40 p.m. | TruTV, Sling TV |
| No. 10 Colorado State vs. No. 10 Virginia | 9:10 p.m. | TruTV, Sling TV |
Wednesday, March 20
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| No. 16 Grambling State vs. No. 16 Montana State | 6:40 p.m. | TruTV, Sling TV |
| No. 10 Colorado vs. No. 10 Boise State | 9:10 p.m. | TruTV, Sling TV |
Round 1
Thursday, March 21
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| No. 9 Michigan State vs. No. 8 Mississippi State | 12:15 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 11 Duquesne vs. No. 6 BYU | 12:40 p.m. | truTV |
| No. 14 Akron vs. No. 3 Creighton | 1:30 p.m. | TNT |
| No. 15 Long Beach State vs. No. 2 Arizona | 2 p.m. | TBS |
| No. 16 Wagner/Howard vs. No. 1 North Carolina | 2:45 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 14 Morehead State vs. No. 3 Illinois | 3:10 p.m. | truTV |
| No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 6 South Carolina | 4 p.m. | TNT |
| No. 10 Nevada vs. No. 7 Dayton | 4:30 p.m. | TBS |
| No. 10 Colorado State/Virginia vs. No. 7 Texas | 6:50 p.m. | TNT |
| No. 14 Oakland vs. No. 3 Kentucky | 7:10 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 12 McNeese vs. No. 5 Gonzaga | 7:25 p.m. | TBS |
| No. 15 South Dakota State vs. No. 2 Iowa State | 7:35 p.m. | truTV |
| No. 15 Saint Peter's vs. No. 2 Tennessee | 9:20 p.m. | TNT |
| No. 11 NC State vs. No. 6 Texas Tech | 9:40 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 13 Samford vs. No. 4 Kansas | 9:55 p.m. | TBS |
| No. 10 Drake vs. No. 7 Washington State | 10:05 p.m. | truTV |
Friday, March 22
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| No. 9 Northwestern vs. No. 8 Florida Atlantic | 12:15 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 14 Colgate vs. No. 3 Baylor | 12:40 p.m. | truTV |
| No. 12 UAB vs. No. 5 San Diego State | 1:45 p.m. | TNT |
| No. 15 Western Kentucky vs. No. 2 Marquette | 2 p.m. | TBS |
| No. 16 Stetson vs. No. 1 UConn | 2:45 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 11 New Mexico State vs. No. 6 Clemson | 3:10 p.m. | truTV |
| No. 13 Yale vs. No. 4 Auburn | 4:15 p.m. | TNT |
| No. 10 Colorado/Boise State vs. No. 7 Florida | 4:30 p.m. | TBS |
| No. 9 Texas A&M vs. No. 8 Nebraska | 6:50 p.m. | TNT |
| No. 13 Vermont vs. No. 4 Duke | 7:10 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 16 Grambling State/Montana State vs. No. 1 Purdue | 7:25 p.m. | TBS |
| No. 13. Charleston vs. No. 4 Alabama | 7:35 p.m. | truTV |
| No. 16 Longwood vs. No. 1 Houston | 9:20 p.m. | TNT |
| No. 12 James Madison vs. No. 5 Wisconsin | 9:40 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 9 TCU vs. No. 8 Utah State | 9:55 p.m. | TBS |
| No. 12 Grand Canyon vs. No. 5 Saint Mary's | 10:05 p.m. | truTV |
Round 2
Saturday, March 23
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | Noon | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 2:30 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 5 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 6 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7:30 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9:30 p.m. |
Sunday, March 24
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | Noon | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 2:30 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 5 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 6 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7:30 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. | |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9:30 p.m. |
Sweet 16
Thursday, March 28
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7:30 p.m. | CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:45 p.m. | TBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9:30 p.m. | TBS |
Friday, March 29
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | 7:30 p.m. | CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:45 p.m. | TBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | 9:30 p.m. | TBS |
Elite Eight
Saturday, March 30
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 6 p.m. | TBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. | TBS |
Sunday, March 31
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 2 p.m. | CBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | 4:55 p.m. | CBS |
Final Four
Saturday, April 6
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 6 p.m. | TBS |
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. | TBS |
National championship
Monday, April 8
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 9 p.m. | TBS |
How to watch March Madness games in 2024
CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV will split the duty of broadcasting the 2024 NCAA Tournament, as part of a broadcasting deal that will run through 2032.
| Round | TV channel |
| First Four | TruTV |
| Round 1 | CBS, TBS, TNT, TruTV |
| Round 2 | CBS, TBS, TNT, TruTV |
| Sweet 16 | CBS, TBS |
| Elite Eight | CBS, TBS |
| Final Four | TBS |
| National championship | TBS |
Here are the regional weekend broadcast teams.
- Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce (sideline)
- Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn (sideline)
- Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson (sideline)
- Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Andy Katz (sideline)
The rest of the announcer teams, in alphabetical order:
- Lisa Byington, Steve Smith, Robbie Hummel, Lauren Shehadi (sideline)
- Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel, Jon Rothstein (sideline)
- Tom McCarthy, Deb Antonelli, Avery Johnson, AJ Ross (sideline)
- Brad Nessler, Brendan Haywood, Dana Jacobson (sideline)
The 2024 NCAA Tournament can be streamed via NCAA March Madness Live. Other streaming services include Sling TV.
Odds to win March Madness 2024
Below are the teams most likely to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament via BetMGM (as of Wednesday, March 6):
- UConn (+500)
- Houston (+650)
- Purdue (+700)
- Arizona (+1000)
- Tennessee (+1200)
- North Carolina (+1800)
- Auburn (+2000)
- Kansas (+2000)
- Iowa State (+2000)
- Kentucky (+2200)
- Alabama (+2500)
- Duke (+2500)
- Marquette (+2500)
- Creighton (+3000)
- Baylor (+3500)
- Illinois (+3500)
- Michigan State (+5000)
- BYU (+5000)
Future Final Four locations, host sites
Below are the host sites for future Final Fours from 2025-2030:
| Year | City | Final Four host site |
| 2025 | San Antonio | Alamodome |
| 2026 | Indianapolis | Lucas Oil Stadium |
| 2027 | Detroit | Ford Field |
| 2028 | Las Vegas | Allegiant Stadium |
| 2029 | Indianapolis | Lucas Oil Stadium |
| 2030 | North Texas | AT&T Stadium |
NCAA Tournament 2024 tickets
Tickets for the 67 games of the 2024 NCAA Tournament are available on StubHub.
NCAA Tournament winners
UConn won the 2023 NCAA Tournament, securing its fifth national title and first under coach Dan Hurley with a win over San Diego State in the championship game. The victory put UConn among five other programs with at least five men's titles.
UCLA leads the charge with 11 national championships under its belt, followed by the blue bloods: Kentucky (8), North Carolina (6) and Duke (5), with the Blue Devils joined by Indiana (5) and UConn (5).
| School | National titles | Most recent |
| UCLA | 11 | 1995 |
| Kentucky | 8 | 2012 |
| North Carolina | 6 | 2017 |
| Connecticut | 5 | 2023 |
| Duke | 5 | 2015 |
| Indiana | 5 | 1987 |
| Kansas | 4 | 2022 |
| Villanova | 3 | 2018 |
| Cincinnati | 2 | 1962 |
| Florida | 2 | 2007 |
| Louisville | 2 | 1986 |
| Michigan State | 2 | 2000 |
| N.C. State | 2 | 1983 |
| Oklahoma State | 2 | 1946 |
| San Francisco | 2 | 1956 |
| Arizona | 1 | 1997 |
| Arkansas | 1 | 1994 |
| Baylor | 1 | 2021 |
| California | 1 | 1959 |
| City College of New York | 1 | 1950 |
| Georgetown | 1 | 1984 |
| Holy Cross | 1 | 1947 |
| La Salle | 1 | 1954 |
| Loyola Chicago | 1 | 1963 |
| Marquette | 1 | 1977 |
| Maryland | 1 | 2002 |
| Michigan | 1 | 1989 |
| Ohio State | 1 | 1960 |
| Oregon | 1 | 1939 |
| UNLV | 1 | 1990 |
| Stanford | 1 | 1942 |
| Syracuse | 1 | 2003 |
| UTEP | 1 | 1966 |
| Utah | 1 | 1944 |
| Virginia | 1 | 2019 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 1941 |
| Wyoming | 1 | 1943 |
