The calendar has flipped to March, which means it’s time for some madness.
College basketball is entering the spotlight as it does every year at this time. It all starts with conference championships, followed by Selection Sunday and then the NCAA Tournament.
The top men’s and women’s teams from across the country have been working all season to get to this point, and suddenly a tournament berth is within reach. The only way to officially lock yourself in, though, is by winning your conference.
So, when are the conference title games? And which teams have already punched their tickets? Here’s a running list of the 31 automatic bids for men and women.
When is Selection Sunday for March Madness?
The men’s and women’s brackets will be revealed on Selection Sunday, which is March 15. There are 31 automatic bids for both men and women, going to the conference tournament winners. The remaining at-large bids will go to the remaining top teams, filling out the field of 68 with 37 non-conference-tournament winners.
The men’s tournament then begins Tuesday, March 17, and the women’s tournament starts Wednesday, March 18.
What’s the record for the most points scored in a March Madness game? Here’s a look at the best individual scoring performances in NCAA Tournament history.
Men’s NCAA Tournament automatic bids, conference champions
American East
Tournament starts: March 7
Championship game: March 14
American
Tournament starts: March 11
Championship game: March 15
Atlantic 10
Tournament starts: March 11
Championship game: March 15
ACC
Tournament starts: March 10
Championship game: March 14
ASUN
Tournament starts: March 4
Championship game: March 8
Big 12
Tournament starts: March 10
Championship game: March 14
Big East
Tournament starts: March 11
Championship game: March 14
Big Sky
Tournament starts: March 7
Championship game: March 11
Big South
Tournament starts: March 4
Championship game: March 8
Big Ten
Tournament starts: March 10
Championship game: March 15
Big West
Tournament starts: March 11
Championship game: March 14
CAA
Tournament starts: March 6
Championship game: March 10
Conference USA
Tournament starts: March 10
Championship game: March 14
Horizon League
Tournament starts: March 2
Championship game: March 10
Ivy League
Tournament starts: March 14
Championship game: March 15
MAAC
Tournament starts: March 5
Championship game: March 10
MAC
Tournament starts: March 12
Championship game: March 14
MEAC
Tournament starts: March 11
Championship game: March 14
Missouri Valley
Tournament starts: March 5
Championship game: March 8
Mountain West
Tournament starts: March 11
Championship game: March 14
Northeast (NEC)
Tournament starts: March 4
Championship game: March 7
Ohio Valley
Tournament starts: March 4
Championship game: March 7
Patriot League
Tournament starts: March 3
Championship game: March 11
SEC
Tournament starts: March 11
Championship game: March 15
SoCon
Tournament starts: March 6
Championship game: March 9
Southland
Tournament starts: March 8
Championship game: March 11
SWAC
Tournament starts: March 9
Championship game: March 14
Summit League
Tournament starts: March 4
Championship game: March 8
Sun Belt
Tournament starts: March 3
Championship game: March 9
West Coast
Tournament starts: March 5
Championship game: March 10
WAC
Tournament starts: March 11
Championship game: March 14
Women’s NCAA Tournament automatic bids, conference champions
American East
Tournament starts: March 5
Championship game: March 13
American
Tournament starts: March 10
Championship game: March 14
Atlantic 10
Tournament starts: March 4
Championship game: March 8
ACC
Tournament starts: March 4
Championship game: March 8
ASUN
Tournament starts: March 3
Championship game: March 9
Big 12
Tournament starts: March 4
Championship game: March 8
Big East
Tournament starts: March 6
Championship game: March 9
Big Sky
Tournament starts: March 7
Championship game: March 11
Big South
Tournament starts: March 4
Championship game: March 8
Big Ten
Tournament starts: March 4
Championship game: March 8
Big West
Tournament starts: March 11
Championship game: March 14
CAA
Tournament starts: March 11
Championship game: March 15
Conference USA
Tournament starts: March 10
Championship game: March 14
Horizon League
Tournament starts: March 2
Championship game: March 10
Ivy League
Tournament starts: March 13
Championship game: March 14
MAAC
Tournament starts: March 5
Championship game: March 9
MAC
Tournament starts: March 11
Championship game: March 14
MEAC
Tournament starts: March 11
Championship game: March 14
Missouri Valley
Tournament starts: March 12
Championship game: March 15
Mountain West
Tournament starts: March 7
Championship game: March 10
Northeast (NEC)
Tournament starts: March 9
Championship game: March 15
Ohio Valley
Tournament starts: March 4
Championship game: March 7
Patriot League
Tournament starts: March 7
Championship game: March 15
SEC
Tournament starts: March 4
Championship game: March 8
SoCon
Tournament starts: March 5
Championship game: March 8
Southland
Tournament starts: March 9
Championship game: March 12
SWAC
Tournament starts: March 9
Championship game: March 14
Summit League
Tournament starts: March 4
Championship game: March 8
Sun Belt
Tournament starts: March 3
Championship game: March 9
West Coast
Tournament starts: March 5
Championship game: March 10
WAC
Tournament starts: March 11
Championship game: March 14