March Madness 2023: Selection Sundays, tournament schedule, support, how to watch and more
March Madness 2023: Selection Sundays, tournament schedule, support, how to watch and more
The calendar has moved to March, which means the madness is coming. The NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament — affectionately (and accurately) known as March Madness — kicks off this week. And for the next three weeks, college basketball fans will be treated to small-school Cinderella runs and buzzer-beaters.
Here’s everything you need to know to prepare for March Madness, from Draft Sunday to the Final Four and the National Championship game.
The University of Kansas is the defending NCAA men’s basketball champion, and the Jayhawks will enter the 2023 tournament as one of the top seeds.
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When does March Madness start?
With 68 teams invited to the big dance, the NCAA holds four playoff games to bring the field down to 64, after which the math gives four regional tournaments of 16 teams each. The winners of the four regional tournaments will then qualify for the Final Four, held this year in Houston.
March Madness begins Tuesday, March 14, with two playoff games followed by two more playoff games the following night. After these First Four matches, the field of 64 is set and the tournament really begins on Thursday, March 16, with a full program of matches that will take place all afternoon and late into the night with at least a few moments of madness virtually guaranteed. .
Which teams play in March Madness?
Support and matchups for March Madness will be revealed this Sunday, March 12. The Sunday selection begins at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT) on CBS.
What is the March Madness program?
Here is the turn-by-turn schedule:
- First four: March 14-15
- First round: March 16-17
- Second turn: March 18-19
- Candy 16: March 23-24
- Elite Eight: March 25-26
- Final square: April 1
- NCAA Championship Game: April 3
How can I watch March Madness?
As in previous years, the tournament will be broadcast on four channels: CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV. Yes, the time has come again to find TruTV on your watch face.
If the last time you watched something from TruTV was last March, you might need some help finding it for this year’s tournament. Here’s a handy guide for cable or satellite TV providers:
Which channel broadcasts the Final Four?
The Final Four and National Championship game will air on CBS and stream on Paramount Plus.
Can I stream March Madness for free?
Go to the NCAA’s March Madness Live site or use its March Madness Live app and you can watch games for free. You can watch March Madness Live on iOS and Android devices with Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and Xbox One. The app also supports AirPlay and Chromecast.
As with most free things, there is a catch. Without proving you’re a pay-TV subscriber, you only get a three-hour preview, after which you’ll need to log in to continue watching.
What are my other streaming options?
You can use a live TV streaming service to watch March Madness. Three of the five live TV streaming services offer the four channels needed to watch every tournament match, but keep in mind that not all services carry all local networks, so check each using the links below for make sure it carries CBS in your area.
You can also use Paramount Plus to watch some, but not all, of March Madness. Only games featured on CBS are available on Paramount Plus.
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YouTube TV costs $65 per month and includes CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV. Plug your zip code into its home page to see what local networks are available in your area. Read our YouTube TV review.
Hulu
Hulu with Live TV costs $70 per month and includes CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV. Click the “See channels in your area” link on its homepage to see which local channels are offered in your postcode. Read our Hulu review with Live TV.
Paramount Plus costs $10 a month for its Premium plan and will show March Madness games aired on CBS, including the Final Four. You cannot, however, watch the rest of the tournament broadcast on TBS, TNT or TruTV with Paramount Plus. Read our Paramount Plus review.
Fubo TV
FuboTV’s basic package costs $75 per month and includes CBS but not TBS, TNT or TruTV. It’s not the best choice for March Madness, but will allow you to watch early game matches, the Final Four, and the Championship Game. Click here to see which local channels you get. Read our FuboTV review.
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Sling TV’s $40 per month blue package includes TBS, TNT and TruTV. None of his plans include CBS, which means you can’t watch the March Madness climax on Sling. Read our Sling TV review.
All of the live TV streaming services above offer free trials, allow you to cancel at any time, and require a strong internet connection. Looking for more information? Discover our guide to live tv streaming services.
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