Image Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

How does the First Four work in March Madness?

First Four team selection and format explained.

Image Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

With 68 teams making the March Madness selection, eight teams must compete for the last four spots. This round gives underdogs and bubble teams a fair playing field which also helps the lower ranked conferences and basketball programs.

The 2025 First Four matchup are as follows:

Alabama State (16) vs Saint Francis (16), March 18
San Diego State (11) vs North Carolina (11), March 18
American University (16) vs Mount St. Mary’s (16), March 19
Texas (11) vs Xavier (11)

Expansion of the First Four tournament

The field expanded from 65 to 68 teams in 2011 to give bubble teams and lower-seeded conference champions a fairer chance to compete. One key reason for the expansion was to avoid forcing smaller conference champions to face a number one seed immediately.

Additionally, First Four winners receive a financial payout for advancing to the main tournament, benefitting both the teams and their conferences.

How are teams selected for the First Four tournament?

The First Four tournament is organized between the four lowest automatic bids and four lowest ranked at-large selections by the NCAA committee.

The four lowest ranked conference champions play each other in the First Four to get the 16 seed. If they win, they face the number one seed in the March Madness tournament.

The “Last Four In” are the four lowest-seeded at-large teams in the NCAA Tournament. They barely make the cut but still rank above many automatic qualifiers from smaller conferences. A win in the First Four game secures their spot in the main bracket as a No. 10 to No. 12 seed in March Madness.

The Selection Committee's Last Four In 🙌#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/kq9on3UsR9
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2025

Format of the First Four

Let’s take a look at the format of the First Four format by understanding from the 2024 March Madness tournament.

In 2024, the four lowest ranked conference tournament winners that participated in the First Four were:

Team	Conference
Howard Bison	Mid-Eastern Athletic
Wagner Seahawks	Northeast
Montana State Bobcats	Big Sky
Grambling State Tigers	Southwestern Athletic

The Seahawks defeated the Bison in their First Four matchup. Entering as a 16th seed and playing a first-round matchup against the number one seed, North Carolina. The Tigers defeated the Bobcats in their First Four matchup. Entering as a 16th seed and playing a first-round matchup against the number one seed, Purdue.

In 2024, the “Last Four in” selections made by the NCAA committe were:

Team	Conference
Virginia Cavaliers	Atlantic Coast
Colorado State	Mountain West
Boise State	Mountain West
Colorado Buffaloes	BIG 12

The Colorado State defeated the Virginia Cavaliers in their First Four matchup. Entering as a 10th seed and playing a first-round matchup against the number seven seed, Texas. Colorado Buffaloes defeated the Boise State in their First Four matchup. Entering as a 10th seed and playing a first-round matchup against the number seven seed, Florida. The Buffaloes caused an upset and defeated the seven seeded Gators by 102-100 and moved to the second-round. Eventually losing to Marquette in the second-round by 81-77.

March Madness

NCAAM

Suryansh Kumar

NBA/WNBA Writer

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Hello, my name is Suryansh, and I write NBA/WNBA content for ThePlayoffs. I love sports, which is why I write and I love the NBA because of the stats. My aim is to find unique stats and perspectives to provide my readers with another angle on sports.