2025 NCAA Tournament Bracket Unveiled as Auburn Named Top Seed

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket was officially revealed on Sunday, casting a spotlight on Auburn as the No. 1 overall seed. The tournament is set to kick off on March 18 with the First Four games in Dayton, Ohio, concluding with the national championship game on April 7 in San Antonio.

Auburn (28-5) earned top honors in the South Region, following a successful regular season marked by a strong showing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Tigers will face the winner of a First Four matchup between No. 16 seeds Alabama State and Saint Francis (Pa.) as they pursue their first NCAA title.

Florida (30-4) secured its No. 1 seed in the West Region after winning the SEC tournament against Tennessee. This marks the Gators’ third time as a top seed, with their last appearance being in 2014 under coach Billy Donovan. “We’re excited to reclaim our spot as a top seed in the tournament,” said Donovan, now in his second season with the Gators.

In the East Region, Duke (31-3) captured a No. 1 seed for the 15th time, matching Kansas for the second-most in history. Coach Jon Scheyer expressed elation at the team’s placement, noting it had been a challenge to secure the seed following key injuries. “The health of our players, especially Cooper Flagg, will be crucial as we advance,” Scheyer said, referencing Flagg’s recent ankle injury.

Houston (30-4) rounds out the top seeds as the No. 1 in the Midwest Region, having dominated the Big 12 for the third consecutive year. Coach Kelvin Sampson is aiming for the Cougars’ first Final Four appearance since 2021 as they prepare to host SIU Edwardsville in Wichita, Kansas, on Thursday.

The SEC made history this year with a record-breaking 14 teams, surpassing the previous record set by the Big East in 2011. Bubba Cunningham, chair of the selection committee, acknowledged the tough decisions faced in selecting and seeding teams. “This year was particularly competitive, and our discussions were extensive, especially concerning teams on the bubble,” Cunningham noted.

Controversially, North Carolina managed to slip into the field as a No. 11 seed, albeit with a disappointing 1-12 record in Quad 1 games this season. Despite fierce debate over their selection, Cunningham maintained that all protocols were adhered to during the decision-making process.

“The fact is, this year’s seeds reflect a combination of performance metrics and conference strengths,” Cunningham said. “While tough discussions were held, we believe we represented the most deserving programs.”

The First Four games, featuring the last four at-large teams and the lowest-ranked No. 16 seeds, will commence on March 18, with first-round matchups scheduled for March 20 and 21.

The tournament heralds excitement as millions of fans prepare to fill out their brackets for March Madness, a tradition that sparks a nationwide frenzy. “March Madness represents the pinnacle of college basketball, and we can’t wait to see how the tournament unfolds,” Cunningham added.