March Madness Kicks Off with the First Four in Dayton

Dayton, Ohio, is set to be the center stage for college basketball as the NCAA’s March Madness officially kicks off. This week, the First Four games are underway, marking the beginning of the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. Fans across the nation are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting series of matchups.

The format of this event has evolved over the years. Since the introduction of the First Four in 2011, the tournament has expanded to include 68 teams. This means that the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams have a shot to advance. These games are crucial as they help to trim the field down from 68 to the traditional 64 for the first round.

In 1999, the Mountain West Conference joined Division I, leading to the first automatic bid in 2001 and setting the total number of qualifiers at 31. Fast forward to 2025, and there are still 31 automatic bids along with 37 selections made at-large. This year, the teams making their debut in the First Four include No. 16 seeds Howard, Incarnate Word, Longwood, and Mount St. Mary’s, along with No. 11 seeds Dayton, DePaul, Missouri State, and Florida State.

Historically, the First Four has been a stepping stone for teams making a deep run in the tournament. Notably, the 2011 VCU team and the 2021 UCLA team both started in the First Four and reached the Final Four. Though there have been instances where at-large teams failed to win a game after the First Four, such as in 2019 and 2025, the overall trend shows that these early games can pave the way for success.

The First Four continues to be consistently hosted in Dayton, despite the pandemic forcing some changes. The charm of this Ohio city and its basketball history makes it a fitting venue for such a significant event in sports.

As fans tune in for the outcomes of these opening matchups, excitement is palpable. March Madness has begun, and for many teams, the journey to glory is just starting!