The initial games of the NCAA Tournament, known as the First Four, are being conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 18 and 19. These games serve as a prelude to the main event of March Madness, which is one of the most anticipated basketball tournaments annually.
Following the conclusion of Selection Sunday, the NCAA Tournament is set to begin, much to the excitement of basketball fans. While the main Round of 64 is scheduled to commence later in the week, the First Four games offer a prelude beginning tonight.
In these matchups, the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams compete for a place in the official tournament. It is often in these games that unexpected success stories emerge and where high-risk bets might yield large payouts, albeit infrequently.
Outlined below is the schedule for the First Four games and some viewing options.
Schedule for the NCAA Tournament’s First Four Games
Tuesday, March 19
- St. Francis versus Alabama State at 6:40 p.m. ET on TruTV
- UNC versus San Diego State at 9:10 p.m. ET on TruTV
Wednesday, March 20
- Mt. St. Mary’s versus American at 6:40 p.m. ET on TruTV
- Xavier versus Texas at 9:10 p.m. ET on TruTV
Watching the First Four Games
The First Four games will not be broadcast over the air; viewing requires either a cable subscription or access to a streaming service. While many streaming services have phased out their free trials, there are still some that offer limited free viewing opportunities.
Online Viewing Options for the 2025 First Four Games
Max: Previously known as HBO Max, it does not offer a free trial. Subscriptions begin at $9.99 per month.
Disney+: The package, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, does not offer a free trial. The bundle costs $17 per month, or $30 per month for an ad-free version of Hulu. The addition of Live TV raises the total to $77 per month, or $90 without ads.
Hulu with Live TV: Offers a three-day free trial, after which the service costs $77 per month.
YouTubeTV: Provides a free trial, followed by monthly fees of $73.
Sling TV: The Dish Network’s "Orange" plan costs $40 per month, while the more comprehensive "Blue" plan is $55 per month. Their seven-day free trial is no longer available.
DirecTV Stream: Known under various former names, this service offers a free trial, with prices starting at $80 per month thereafter.
Fubo TV: This service is sports-centric and includes broadcast networks in most areas. It offers a seven-day free trial, after which it costs $80 or more per month, depending on selected channels.
Amazon Prime Video Viewing
March Madness games are not available on Amazon Prime Video unless a subscription to a specific streaming service is purchased.
This article was first published on Fortune.com.
