Here are the first round matchups for the Big Ten teams in the 2025 men’s NCAA basketball tournament.
Penn State is not participating in any of the March Madness this year, but the Big Ten is well represented in the men’s NCAA basketball tournament. A total of eight teams were invited to this year’s postseason tournament.
All eight first round matchups involving a Big Ten teams will see the Big Ten team as the higher seed. Although no Big Ten received a no. 1 seed this season, four schools did get a top four seed. Big Ten tournament champion Michigan climbed to a 5-seed.
Penn State opted not to receive any potential invitations to the NIT or College Basketball Crown, bringing the season to an official end for the Nittany Lions.
Here is where each Big Ten in the NCAA tournament landed in this year’s bracket.
Get your Brackets for 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament
South Region: No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 12 UC San Diego
After winning the Big Ten championship earlier in the day, Michigan wrapped up the fifth seed in the South region and will take on UC San Diego in the first round. A win would set up a matchup with No. 4 seed Texas A&M or Ivy League champion Yale. Michigan is in the same half of the region as No. 1 seed Auburn, but they are not the only Big Ten team in the South region.
South Region: No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Bryant
Joining Michigan in the South Region is No. 2 seed Michigan State. The Spartans will take on No. 15 Bryant in the first round, setting up a possible matchup with either No. 7 Marquette or No. 10 New Mexico in the Round of 32. Michigan State’s half of the South Region also includes No. 3 Iowa State and No. 6 Ole Miss.
Could we get an all-Big Ten South Regional championship down the line?
West Region: No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Grand Canyon
Maryland is the only Big Ten making an appearance in the West Region this year. The Terrapins received the No. 4 Seed in the West and will take on No. 13 seed Grand Canyon in the first round.
Maryland is in the half of the West region that includes No. 1 seed Florida, No. 5 Memphis, a possible second-round opponent, and No. 8 UConn.
East Region: No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 Liberty
Big Ten newcomer Oregon will represent the conference as the No. 5 seed in the East region. First up for the Ducks will be No. 12 seed Liberty, which could set up a matchup with former Pac-12 foe Arizona in the second round. Also in Orgeon’s half of the East region is No. 1 seed Duke and No. 9 seed Baylor.
East Region: No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 14 Montana
After coming up short in the Big Ten championship game, Wisconsin still locked up a No. 3 seed in the East and will face No. 14 Montana in the first round. A win could line up a second-round matchup with BYU. Wisconsin is also in the same half of the East bracket as No. 2 seed Alabama.
Midwest Region: No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 13 High Point
The Midwest will have a bit more of a Big Ten flavor this year, starting with No. 4 seed Purdue. The Boilermakers will face No. 13 seed High Point in the first round, and could see a matchup with No. 5 seed Clemson in the second round. Purdue could also cross paths with No. 8 seed Gonzaga or No. 1 seed Houston in the top half of the Midwest bracket.
Midwest Region: No. 6 Illinois vs. No. 11 Texas or No. 11 Xavier
The Fighting Illini received a No. 6 seed in this year’s bracket but will have to wait a bit longer before finding out who they will play in the first round. Illinois will play the winner of the First Four game between Texas and Xavier.
If Illinois manages to get past the Longhorns or Musketeers, they could potentially face No. 3 seed Kentucky in the second round.
Midwest Region: No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Utah State
UCLA has a storied history in the NCAA tournament but makes its first appearance in the Big Dance representing the Big Ten. The Bruins received the No. 7 seed and will face No. 10 seed Utah State in the first round. A win could pair UCLA with No. 2 seed Tennessee in the second round.
A possible UCLA-Illinois matchup in the Sweet 16 is on the table, and an all-Big Ten regional final in the Midwest is also possible.
