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First Four location: Where are the play-in games for March Madness?

By Cody Williams

DAYTON, OHIO - MARCH 15: The First Four logo is seen during the first half of a game between the Texas Southern Tigers and the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the First Four game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 15, 2022 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OHIO - MARCH 15: The First Four logo is seen during the first half of a game between the Texas Southern Tigers and the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the First Four game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 15, 2022 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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March Madness officially begins with the First Four of the NCAA Tournament. But where are the play in games played with these eight teams?

Once upon a time, March Madness wasn’t quite as mad as it is in its current iteration. But as college basketball has grown, so too has the NCAA Tournament. The field expanded to 64 teams in 1985 but has only continued to grow since then as well. Now we sit at 68 teams and that means we also get the First Four games as part of the bracket.

The First Four is traditionally held on the Tuesday and Wednesday before the first weekend of March Madness that features the First and Second Rounds. There are four games, two between the lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers/conference champions and two between the Last Four In, or the final four at-large bids awarded by the selection committee.

It’s a phenomenal appetizer for the NCAA Tournament, but fans might be wondering — especially if they are new to the sport — where these proverbial play-in games are being played.

Where are the play-in games for March Madness? First Four location

Since its inception more than a decade ago, the First Four of March Madness has been played in Dayton, OH at the University of Dayton Arena. The one exception to this was in 2021 when, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire NCAA Tournament was played in the state of Indiana. For that year, the play-in games were hosted by Mackey Arena and Assembly Hall, the homes of Purdue and Indiana, respectively.

When did the First Four start in March Madness?

The NCAA elected to expand the tournament to 68 teams starting in 2011, the conclusion of the 2010-11 season. That’s when the first edition of the First Four was played. It was preceded from 2001-10 by the Opening Round game, which featured the two lowest-seeded teams among the automatic qualifiers playing in a game to get the field to 64 teams.

March Madness: First Four schedule, times and how to watch

Let’s take a look at the First Four slate for the 2023 NCAA Tournament with the matchups, TV info and how you can watch.

  • Tuesday, March 14 – 16 SE Missouri State vs. 16 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (6:40 p.m. ET, truTV)
  • Tuesday, March 14 – 11 Pitt vs. 11 Mississippi State (9:10 p.m. ET, truTV)
  • Wednesday, March 15 – 16 Fairleigh Dickinson vs. 16 Texas Southern (6:40 p.m. ET, truTV)
  • Wednesday, March 15 – 11 Nevada vs. 11 Arizona State (9:10 p.m. ET, truTV)

Fans can live stream the action on Tuesday and Wednesday through NCAA March Madness Live online or via the app. You have free access to a limited amount of time streaming but can log in with a cable or satellite provider to get unlimited streaming for the entire tournament.

There is also the option for college hoops enthusiasts to sign up for FuboTV, an online streaming cable service that offers the Turner and CBS networks you need. Most importantly, you’ll be able to sign up with a 7-day free trial if you are a new user.

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For more NCAA basketball and March Madness news, analysis, opinion and features, check out more from the FanSided college basketball section to stay on top of the latest action.

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