The First Four is a play-in round in both the NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments. It involves two sets of games: one between the four lowest-ranked teams overall, and another between the four lowest-seeded 'at-large' teams. These games determine the final four teams that will advance to the main 64-team bracket of the tournament.
The early rounds of the 1989 tournament were the last time that ESPN had broadcast NCAA Tournament games before 2002.
In 1991, there was an actual "play-in" round with six teams playing each other before the tournament bracket was announced; these games are not considered part of the 1991 tournament.
In 1999, the Mountain West Conference was formed following the split of the Western Athletic Conference, eventually leading to an automatic bid for its champion and the creation of the First Four.
On March 13, 2001, the first Opening Round game was played, proving to be a success despite initial skepticism.
In 2001, Northwestern State became the first No. 16 seeded team to win a game in the men's NCAA tournament by virtue of their opening round victory.
In 2001, Winthrop made one of their two appearances in the opening round game.
In 2001, the Mountain West Conference champion began receiving an automatic bid to the men's tournament. To avoid reducing at-large teams, the field expanded to 65 teams, with an Opening Round game between the two lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers to preserve a 64-team bracket.
In 2001, the first Opening Round Game was broadcast on TNN, with Tim Brando and Rick Pitino commentating.
In 2002, ESPN signed a deal to broadcast the Opening Round game, marking their return to NCAA Tournament coverage.
In 2002, Maryland beat the opening game winner, who were seeded 16th, and eventually won the national championship.
In 2002, an HBCU team participated in the opening round game.
In 2003, the opening round game was the only one to end in overtime.
In 2004, Florida A&M made one of their two appearances in the opening round game.
In 2005, North Carolina beat the opening game winner, who were seeded 16th, and eventually won the national championship.
In 2007, Florida A&M made one of their two appearances in the opening round game.
In 2008, North Carolina was matched against the opening round winner.
Starting with the 2008 tournament, both teams participating in the opening round received credit for playing for purposes of conference revenue sharing.
On April 22, 2010, the NCAA announced that the men's tournament would expand to 68 teams, introducing four "play-in games" starting in 2011.
In 2010, Duke beat the opening game winner, who were seeded 16th, and eventually won the national championship.
In 2010, ESPN covered the opening round game and continued to cover this game through 2010.
In 2010, Winthrop made one of their two appearances in the opening round game.
In 2011, VCU was one of two First Four teams to reach either the Elite Eight or the Final Four.
In 2011, the NCAA tournament introduced four play-in games as part of the expansion to 68 teams.
In 2011, the broadcast media began calling the opening round games "The First Four." The terms "first-round games" and "opening-round games" were used interchangeably.
In 2011, the men's tournament expanded to 68 teams, increasing the opening round to four games. The opening round games were called "first round games" and the round of 64 was called "second round".
In 2011, with the new CBS/Turner contract and the new First Four format, the round was broadcast exclusively by TruTV.
In 2015, the Dayton Flyers played in the First Four on their home court, marking the first time in 28 years a team played a tournament game at home.
Through the 2015 tournament, the opening round games were known as "second-round games," which caused confusion for many.
Effective with the 2016 tournament, the NCAA reverted to the traditional usage of "First Round" and began officially using "First Four" to refer to the opening round games.
In 2016, the NCAA officially rebranded the opening round games as the "First Four," reverting to calling the round of 64 the "first round" after previously referring to it as the "second round".
As of 2017, two First Four games are played on the Tuesday following Selection Sunday, and the remaining two are played on Wednesday.
In 2018, two HBCU teams participated in the opening round game.
In 2019, none of the First Four winners advanced past the next round, which was an exception.
In 2019, two HBCU teams participated in the opening round game.
In November 2021, the NCAA announced that the women's tournament would expand to 68 teams in 2022, adopting the same format as the men's event, following recommendations to address inequalities.
In 2021, TBS joined TruTV in broadcasting the First Four due to the games being played in a single day.
In 2021, UCLA was one of two First Four teams to reach either the Elite Eight or the Final Four.
In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all First Four games were held within the state of Indiana, a departure from the usual location at the University of Dayton Arena.
In 2021, the entire tournament was moved to the state of Indiana due to COVID-19 concerns, including the First Four games.
In 2021, two HBCU teams participated in the opening round game.
Beginning in 2022, First Four games are also contested in the women's tournament.
In 2022, all winners in the inaugural women's First Four lost their First Round games.
In 2022, the women's tournament expanded to 68 teams, adopting the same First Four format as the men's event.
In 2023, Mississippi State became the first women's First Four team to advance past the first round, defeating Creighton before losing to Notre Dame.
In 2024, two HBCU teams participated in the opening round game.