When does March Madness start? Full schedule for First Four, Round 1 games in 2021 NCAA Tournament

The monstrosity that is the NCAA Tournament is back.

In terms of sheer size and scope, nothing in the American sports lexicon can begin to approach March Madness, which in 2021 ranges 23 days from Selection Sunday on March 14 through the national title game on Monday, April 5.

Add in a plethora of TV networks and several streaming options for the 67-game tournament, and it can be a dizzying affair to keep up with — if Sporting News hadn’t gone through the trouble of noting every major date for the entire tournament.

Here’s everything you need to know for March Madness in 2021, including dates, times and TV information:

When does March Madness start?

That depends on who you’re asking; it could be the NCAA Tournament selection show, which reveals the initial 68-team NCAA Tournament field. Or it could be the First Four, which helps set the final 64-team field. Or it could be the first round, which marks the start of the tournament proper. Or, for those casual fans who care only about the national championship, you could argue it starts with the Final Four.

Regardless, below is the full tournament schedule, from Selection Sunday to the national championship game:

NCAA Tournament schedule 2021

Selection Sunday

Sunday, March 14

First Four

Thursday, March 18

Round 1

Friday, March 19

Saturday, March 20

Round 2

Sunday, March 21

Sunday’s second-round tip times will be announced after Friday’s games.

Monday, March 22

Monday’s second-round tip times will be announced after Saturday’s games.

Sweet 16

Saturday, March 27

Sunday, March 28

Elite Eight

Monday, March 29

Tuesday, March 30

Final Four

Saturday, April 3

NCAA Tournament national championship game

Monday, April 5

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