The 2025 NCAA men's tournament March Madness bracket has been released: Prior to Duke, Auburn was declared the top overall seed.
Auburn was named the top seed in the South division of the NCAA men's tournament bracket, which was unveiled on Sunday.
After defeating Tennessee in the SEC championship game, Florida is the top seed in the West, Houston is the top seed in the Midwest, and Duke is the top seed in the East. The No. 2 seeds went to Tennessee, Michigan State, Alabama, and St. John's.
Texas and North Carolina made it through their wait on the bubble. Indiana didn't.
Auburn's journey to this point
After dominating the SEC regular season and recording a 28-5 record despite facing the second-hardest schedule in the country, Auburn was able to claim the No. 1 overall seed.
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Tennessee defeated the Tigers in the semifinal of the SEC tournament, and they have now dropped three of their previous four games. Despite Auburn's late-season difficulties, the NCAA tournament committee chose to award an overall resume that included the greatest regular season in an SEC that produced a record 14 NCAA tournament teams.
Historically dominant in a 19-1 conference run to the ACC regular-season title, Auburn defeated a 31-3 Duke team full of anticipated NBA talent in December. Duke then won the ACC tournament to cap off their regular season, and they have the greatest 20.8-point average margin of victory in the country going into the NCAA tournament.
Many people believe that Duke will win the title if Cooper Flagg recovers from his sprained ankle. However, the committee penalized it for playing in a down ACC and having a weak schedule (57th).
Conversely, Auburn defeated those opponents 16–5, producing the most Quad 1 victories in the country. Auburn's five losses—to Duke, Tennessee, Florida, Texas A&M, and Alabama—all occurred against highly ranked NCAA tournament opponents. Auburn will try to turn the No. 1 overall seed into the program's first NCAA title under the leadership of Johni Broome, a candidate for National Player of the Year.
South region
No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 16 Alabama State/Saint Francis (Lexington, Thursday, 2:50 p.m. ET, CBS)
No. 8 Louisville vs. No. 9 Creighton (Lexington, Thursday, 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS)
No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 12 UC San Diego (Denver, Thursday, 10 p.m. ET, TBS)
No. 4 Texas A&M vs No. 13 Yale (Denver, Thursday, 7:25 p.m. ET, TBS)
No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 San Diego State/No. 11 North Carolina (Milwaukee, Friday, 4:05 p.m. ET, TNT)
No. 3 Iowa State vs. No. 14 Lipscomb (Milwaukee, Friday, 1:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 10 New Mexico (Cleveland, Friday, 7:25 p.m. ET, TBS)
No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Bryant (Cleveland, Friday, 10 p.m. ET, TBS)
East region
No. 1 Duke vs. American/No. 16 Mount St. Mary's (Raleigh, Friday, 2:50 p.m. ET, CBS)
No. 8 Mississippi State vs. No. 9 Baylor (Raleigh, Friday, 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS)
No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 Liberty (Seattle, Friday, 10:10 p.m. ET, TruTV)
No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 13 Akron (Seattle, Friday, 7:35 p.m. ET, TruTV)
No. 6 BYU vs. VCU (Denver, Thursday, 4:05 p.m. ET, TNT)
No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 14 Montana (Denver, Thursday, 1:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
No. 7 Saint Mary's vs. No. 10 Vanderbilt (Cleveland, Friday, 3:15 p.m. ET, TruTV)
No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 15 Robert Morris (Cleveland, Friday, 12:40 p.m. ET, TruTV)
Midwest region
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 SIU Edwardsville (Wichita, Thursday, 2 p.m. ET, TBS)
No. 8 Gonzaga vs. No. 9 Georgia, (Wichita, Thursday, 4:35 p.m. ET, TBS)
No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 12 McNeese (Providence, Thursday, 3:15 p.m. ET, TruTV)
No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 13 High Point (Providence, Thursday, 12:40 p.m. ET, TruTV)
No. 6 Illinois vs. No. 11 Texas/Xavier (Milwaukee, Friday, 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS)
No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Troy (Milwaukee, Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS)
No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Utah State (Lexington, Thursday, 9:25 p.m. ET, TNT)
No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Wofford (Lexington, Thursday, 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT)
West region
No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Norfolk State (Raleigh, Friday, 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT)
No. 8 UConn vs. No. 9 Oklahoma (Raleigh, Friday, 9:25 p.m. ET, TNT)
No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 12 Colorado State (Seattle, Friday, 2 p.m. ET, TBS)
No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Grand Canyon (Seattle, Friday, 4:35 p.m. ET, TBS)
No. 6 Missouri vs. No. 11 Drake (Wichita, Thursday, 7:35 p.m. ET, TruTV)
No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 14 UNC Wilmington (Wichita, Thursday, 10:10 p.m. ET, TruTV)
No. 7 Kansas vs. No. 10 Arkansas (Providence, Thursday, 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS)
No. 2 St. John's vs. No. 15 Omaha (Providence, Thursday, 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS)
