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Final Four

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Article Genealogy
Parent: National Collegiate Athletic Association Hop 3
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Final Four
NameFinal Four
Current season2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
SportCollege basketball
Founded1939
ChampionUConn
Most championsUCLA (11)

Final Four. The term refers to the last four teams remaining in the single-elimination tournaments of both the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. It represents the national semifinal round, where the winners of the four regional brackets compete for a spot in the national championship game. The event is a central spectacle in American sports, drawing massive television audiences and dominating the cultural conversation every spring.

Overview

The culmination of March Madness, the event is organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and determines the national champion in NCAA Division I basketball. While the men's tournament, first held in 1939, popularized the concept, the women's tournament, formally established in 1982, has grown to feature its own equally prestigious counterpart. The semifinals are typically played on a Saturday, with the championship game following on Monday, in a pre-selected host city. Iconic programs like the UCLA Bruins, Kentucky Wildcats, and North Carolina Tar Heels have made frequent appearances, cementing their legacies.

History

The phrase was coined in 1975 by Cleveland Plain Dealer sportswriter Ed Chay, describing the final stage of the 1975 tournament in San Diego. The NCAA later trademarked the term. The men's event has been held annually since 1939, interrupted only by World War II. The women's tournament, though younger, has seen its profile skyrocket since the 1990s, fueled by stars like Cheryl Miller, Diana Taurasi, and Caitlin Clark. Historic milestones include UCLA's record 11 championships under John Wooden and UConn's unparalleled dynasty under Geno Auriemma.

Format and selection

Teams reach this stage by winning their respective regional finals in the men's or women's tournaments. The field of 68 teams is selected by the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee, with at-large bids and automatic qualifiers from conference tournaments. The bracket is split into four regions (e.g., East, West), each seeded from 1 to 16. The winners of the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds advance to the national semifinals. Since 2023, the women's tournament has also used the "Final Four" branding for its semifinal round.

Venues and hosts

Games are held in large NFL stadiums or major indoor arenas, with sites selected years in advance through a bidding process. Recent and future hosts include State Farm Stadium in Glendale, NRG Stadium in Houston, and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The 2026 men's event is scheduled for U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Neutral-site hosting ensures no team has a home-court advantage, although locations like Kentucky playing in Louisville have occasionally created a partisan atmosphere.

Notable games and moments

Many contests have become legendary, such as the 1983 upset where NC State defeated Houston on a last-second dunk by Lorenzo Charles. Christian Laettner's turnaround jumper for Duke to beat Kentucky in the 1992 East Regional final is often replayed. On the women's side, UConn's perfect season in 2010 and Baylor's victory over Notre Dame in 2019 are iconic. The 1979 championship between Michigan State and Indiana State, featuring Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, revolutionized the sport's popularity.

Cultural impact

The event is a major television phenomenon, with CBS and Turner broadcasting the men's games and ESPN airing the women's. It drives widespread office bracket pools, with millions participating in contests run by companies like Yahoo! and ESPN. The weekend dominates sports media, with extensive coverage from outlets like Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report. It serves as a primary showcase for future NBA and WNBA stars, significantly impacting professional drafts. The associated concerts, fan festivals, and NABC events transform host cities into national sports capitals for several days.

Category:NCAA men's basketball tournaments Category:NCAA women's basketball tournaments Category:College basketball competitions in the United States