History of First Four in Timeline
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.
1989: ESPN Last Showed NCAA Tournament Games
The early rounds of the 1989 tournament were the last time that ESPN had broadcast NCAA Tournament games before 2002.
1991: Actual "Play-In" Round
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.
1999: Mountain West Conference Formed
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.
March 13, 2001: First Opening Round Game
On March 13, 2001, the first Opening Round game was played, proving to be a success despite initial skepticism.
2001: Northwestern State First No. 16 Seed to Win
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.
2001: Winthrop Appears in Opening Round Game
In 2001, Winthrop made one of their two appearances in the opening round game.
2001: Mountain West Conference Receives Automatic Bid and Expansion to 65 Teams
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.
2001: First Opening Round Game Broadcast
In 2001, the first Opening Round Game was broadcast on TNN, with Tim Brando and Rick Pitino commentating.
2002: ESPN Begins Showing Opening Round Game
In 2002, ESPN signed a deal to broadcast the Opening Round game, marking their return to NCAA Tournament coverage.
2002: Maryland Beat Opening Game Winner and Won National Championship
In 2002, Maryland beat the opening game winner, who were seeded 16th, and eventually won the national championship.
2002: HBCU Team in Opening Round Game
In 2002, an HBCU team participated in the opening round game.
2003: Only Overtime Game
In 2003, the opening round game was the only one to end in overtime.
2004: Florida A&M Appears in Opening Round Game
In 2004, Florida A&M made one of their two appearances in the opening round game.
2005: North Carolina Beat Opening Game Winner and Won National Championship
In 2005, North Carolina beat the opening game winner, who were seeded 16th, and eventually won the national championship.
2007: Florida A&M Appears in Opening Round Game
In 2007, Florida A&M made one of their two appearances in the opening round game.
2008: North Carolina Matched Against Opening Round Winner
In 2008, North Carolina was matched against the opening round winner.
2008: Both Teams Receive Credit
Starting with the 2008 tournament, both teams participating in the opening round received credit for playing for purposes of conference revenue sharing.
April 22, 2010: NCAA Announces Expansion to 68 Teams
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.
2010: Duke Beat Opening Game Winner and Won National Championship
In 2010, Duke beat the opening game winner, who were seeded 16th, and eventually won the national championship.
2010: ESPN Covers Opening Round Game
In 2010, ESPN covered the opening round game and continued to cover this game through 2010.
2010: Winthrop Appears in Opening Round Game
In 2010, Winthrop made one of their two appearances in the opening round game.
2011: VCU Reached the Final Four
In 2011, VCU was one of two First Four teams to reach either the Elite Eight or the Final Four.
2011: Introduction of Play-In Games
In 2011, the NCAA tournament introduced four play-in games as part of the expansion to 68 teams.
2011: "The First Four" Name Origin
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.
2011: Men's Tournament Expands to 68 Teams
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".
2011: TruTV Broadcasts First Four Exclusively
In 2011, with the new CBS/Turner contract and the new First Four format, the round was broadcast exclusively by TruTV.
2015: Dayton Flyers Play on Home Court
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.
2015: "Second-Round Games" Confusion
Through the 2015 tournament, the opening round games were known as "second-round games," which caused confusion for many.
2016: NCAA Reverts to Traditional Usage
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.
2016: NCAA Rebrands Opening Round as "First Four"
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".
2017: First Four Game Schedule
As of 2017, two First Four games are played on the Tuesday following Selection Sunday, and the remaining two are played on Wednesday.
2018: Two HBCU Teams in Opening Round Game
In 2018, two HBCU teams participated in the opening round game.
2019: None of the First Four Winners Advanced Past Next Round
In 2019, none of the First Four winners advanced past the next round, which was an exception.
2019: Two HBCU Teams in Opening Round Game
In 2019, two HBCU teams participated in the opening round game.
November 2021: NCAA Announces Expansion of Women's Tournament
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.
2021: TBS Joins TruTV in Broadcasting First Four
In 2021, TBS joined TruTV in broadcasting the First Four due to the games being played in a single day.
2021: UCLA Reached the Final Four
In 2021, UCLA was one of two First Four teams to reach either the Elite Eight or the Final Four.
2021: First Four Held Entirely in Indiana
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.
2021: Tournament Moved to Indiana
In 2021, the entire tournament was moved to the state of Indiana due to COVID-19 concerns, including the First Four games.
2021: Two HBCU Teams in Opening Round Game
In 2021, two HBCU teams participated in the opening round game.
2022: First Four Games in Women's Tournament
Beginning in 2022, First Four games are also contested in the women's tournament.
2022: All Women's First Four Winners Lost First Round Games
In 2022, all winners in the inaugural women's First Four lost their First Round games.
2022: Women's Tournament Expands to 68 Teams
In 2022, the women's tournament expanded to 68 teams, adopting the same First Four format as the men's event.
2023: Mississippi State Advances Past First Round
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.
2024: Two HBCU Teams in Opening Round Game
In 2024, two HBCU teams participated in the opening round game.
