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What is March Madness?

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

March Madness is an informal term that refers to the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball championship tournaments that begin every March. Each tournament is a single-elimination competition that, beginning in 2027, will feature 76 teams. Teams qualify either by winning their conference title or by being chosen as an at-large entry by the NCAA’s selection committee. March Madness is hugely popular, with millions of people completing brackets and participating in office or online pools.