NCAA Announces Important Update Ahead of March Madness Tournament

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Jan 28, 2025 12:37 PM ET

One of the greatest times of the year arrives in late March and early April when the iconic NCAA Tournament tips off. Fans from around the world tune in to watch the 68-team bracket unfold over several weeks in a single-elimination format. The tournament is filled with upsets, thrilling moments, and unexpected twists, which is why it’s known as March Madness.

While the tournament is still a little over a month away, college basketball season is heating up. Ahead of the tournament, which will be broadcast on CBS, the NCAA and the network announced a key update on Tuesday regarding the national championship game.

The game will now be played 30 minutes earlier than usual, moving from 9:20 p.m. EST to 8:50 p.m. EST. This change seems to be well-received by most fans, as the game is played on a Monday night, and there have been concerns about its late start.

National Championship tip-off time!

The 2025 National Championship will tip off at 8:50pm ET - 30 minutes earlier than the typical start time. pic.twitter.com/h39KTt16Q0
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 28, 2025

Every year in the tournament, drama unfolds, whether there’s a clear favorite or not. However, the last two seasons, the Connecticut Huskies have dominated the bracket, claiming back-to-back national championships under head coach Dan Hurley.

This season, with UConn taking a step back due to having a much younger team, the tournament is as wide open as it’s been in a long time, with the No. 1 Auburn Tigers and No. 2 Duke Blue Devils currently ranked as the top two teams in the nation.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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