How Many Big Ten Teams Made the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament 2025?
The NCAA Tournament bracket is set, so let's take a look at how the Big Ten fared.
March Madness is officially here! This week, 68 men's basketball teams from around the United States will begin competition to determine the 2024-2025 national champion in what's become one of the biggest TV events of the year for sports fans. The teams range from big schools to small, basketball icons to upstart Cinderella stories, and of course, the Big Ten Conference is well-represented.
RELATED: Which Teams are in the Big Ten for Men's College Basketball?
After a hard-fought season (much of it unfolding live on NBC and Peacock) and a Big Ten Tournament that saw the Michigan Wolverines emerge as conference champions, eight Big Ten teams are headed to the Big Dance this season. It's a number that doesn't touch the record-setting 14 teams sent from the SEC, but it still leaves plenty of room for Big Ten schools to show out, and a couple of them just might make a run to the Final Four in April.
So, to get set for March Madness, let's take a look at the Big Ten schools who made the cut, and when you can catch their games (all times Eastern).
How many Big Ten schools made the NCAA Basketball Tournament?
A total of eight Big Ten teams made the cut in the March college basketball tournament this year.
Big Ten schools in the 2024-2025 March Madness bracket
Michigan State Spartans - 2 Seed, South Division
Though they didn't win the Big Ten Tournament, the Spartans still emerged from the regular season with the best record in the conference, and finished in the top 10 in the nation overall. That means they're the highest-seeded Big Ten school in the tournament, and they'll kick off competition March 21 at 10 p.m. Eastern with a game against 15-seed Bryant.
Wisconsin Badgers - 3 Seed, East Division
The Big Ten Tournament runners-up also took a high seed this March, as the Badgers head into the tournament with a very good chance of moving beyond the first round. They'll face 14-seed Montana at 1:30 p.m. on March 20.
Maryland Terrapins - 4 Seed, West Division
Tied for the second-best conference record in the regular season overall, the Terps head into March Madness with a very respectable 4-seed position in the West, which pits them against the 13 seed Grand Canyon University. You can catch their First Round game at 4:35 p.m. on March 21.
Purdue Boilermakers - 4 Seed, Midwest Division
A mainstay of recent tournaments, the Boilermakers are back again in 2025 as a 4-seed in the Midwest, where they'll face the 13-seed High Point at 12:40 p.m. on March 20.
Michigan Wolverines - 5 Seed, South Division
The Big Ten Tournament champions definitely improved their standing in March Madness with that win, and now they'll enter the field as a 5-seed in the South. The Wolverines begin their tournament March 20 at 10 p.m. against 12-seed UC San Diego.
Oregon Ducks - 5 Seed, East Division
The Ducks finished near the middle of the Big Ten path in terms of conference play, but their overall record was quite solid throughout the season, good enough to earn them a 5 seed alongside Michigan. They'll tip off March 21 at 10:10 p.m. against 12-seed Liberty.
Illinois Fighting Illini - 6 Seed, Midwest Division
Illinois tied with Oregon in their final Big Ten standings, but lost more games overall, putting them one seed back from the Ducks. As the 6-seed in the Midwest, they're one of four schools in the tournament who'll have to wait and see who their opponent is based on the results of the "First Four" play-in games. The Illini are set to start tournament play at 9:45 p.m. on March 21, and they'll face the winner of the March 19 game between 11-seeds Texas and Xavier.
UCLA Bruins - 7 Seed, Midwest Division
One of two PAC-12-turned-Big Ten schools (along with Oregon) to make the tourney this year, the Bruins finished the season just ahead of Oregon in the Big Ten standings, but behind them in overall wins and losses. That puts them two seeds down from the Ducks and one down from the Illini in one of the most competitive spots to open the tournament. They'll face the 10-seed Utah State on March 20 at 9:25 p.m.
To keep up with all the latest NCAA Tournament news, head over to NBC Sports. Looking ahead to next season? NBC and Peacock will be home to plenty more exclusive Big Ten basketball action in the 2025-2026 season!
