March Madness is one of the biggest sporting events in the U.S. When every sports fan from coast to coast is talking about brackets, upsets, and Cinderella runs, you know it’s that time of year again. But to the outsider looking in, it can seem confusing and complicated. So, here’s everything you need to know about “The Big Dance.”

The men’s college basketball tournament takes place every year from March and April. 68 colleges from all over the country gather in a single-elimination playoff competition to determine the national champion. To make it even, the teams are split into four regions: North, South, West, and East. Each region has 16 teams that get seeded one to 16 based on their performance during the regular season. 

But what does that mean for teams that are ranked 65 to 68? Well, they play in what’s called the “First Four,” where they play against each other and four other low-ranked squads before everybody else to determine who ends with the final two spots in the first round. 

The first round (The Round of 64) is when the pressure is on. If you lose, you’re going home. Win, and you move on to the second round where’s now only 32 teams left. The winners of this round then go on to play in the “Sweet 16.”

Thought the first two rounds were intense? Think again. The Sweet 16 is where the last 16 teams left really buckle down and fight with everything they’ve got. They all get divided into four regions again but with four teams each this time. The winners of these matches advance to the “Elite Eight” and after that, it’s down to the legendary “Final Four.”

The Final Four is without a doubt the pinnacle of March Madness. Having the honor of being one of the four remaining teams is not something to take lightly. Now with the games moving from various arenas across the country to one of the biggest stadiums in America, the pressure is on and the lights are bright. 

With glory so close, yet so far, colleges will turn it up even more. The two winners of this round get to play in the championship game. Win that and you are national champions. Release the confetti, flood the court, and raise the banner because it’s time to celebrate.

Thanks to its unique format, March Madness is an often unpredictable event. Unlike the NBA, where in a 7-game playoff series the superior team usually wins, in March Madness, anyone at any time can win.

For example, in 2018, Virginia (the first-ranked seed) lost to UMBC 74-54 in the first round, a squad that had gotten blown out by 60 points earlier that season.

Upsets like this have become a common occurrence with powerhouse universities often losing early on to significantly smaller schools. So when a small team wins a string of games, they’re called a Cinderella (since she achieved more success than everyone expected in the fairytale). 

Nonetheless, March Madness is the most wonderful time of the year for college basketball fans because everyone gets to watch the craziness together. Win or lose, there’s always something to enjoy, and thanks to the brilliant work of the NCAA, this joy will last for decades to come. 

The excitement and energy are always unmatched because no matter who your school is up against, you always have a chance. That’s why it’s called March Madness.

The excitement and energy are always unmatched because no matter who your school is up against, you always have a chance.