The First Four play-in games of the 2025 NCAA Tournament will tip off Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET from UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, as the annual intro to March Madness.
This year’s field will see five different mid-major’s vying for 11th and 16th seeds in the full bracket with a chance at some of the nation’s top-rated programs awaiting on the horizon.
Tournament expansion being a pressing issue within college basketball, it often seems the First Four has fallen by the wayside. However, for teams further down the NCAA’s totem pole, it represents an opportunity at an always converted postseason win amidst a historic campaign.
Programs like Alabama State, American and Saint Francis (PA) will have a quality chance at securing a first-ever win in the NCAA Tournament. In this day and age, it’s what makes the First Four such a unique drawing.
Here’s everything you need to know about the five mid-majors who will be participating in the First Four with a spot in the Round of 64 on the line.
No. 16 Alabama State (12-6 SWAC, 19-15 overall)
Despite finishing tied for fourth in the SWAC and garnering just the No. 5 seed at the conference championship, Alabama State got hot at the right time and won 10 of its last 11 to secure the 2025 SWAC title.
At its core, this is a defensive-minded Hornets unit that held opponents to just 62.5 PPG during that stretch and limited the SWAC’s best offense in Jackson State to 56 points in the title game. However, head coach Tony Madlock has a trio of veteran scorers at his disposal: All-SWAC First Team selection Amarr Knox, senior guard CJ Hines and his son, TJ Madlock.
In the SWAC Championship final, Hines’ 20 points on 8-for-15 shooting helped lift the Hornets to a 60-56 win for the program’s first conference championship since 2011.
Madlock’s 19 wins on the season marks Alabama State’s best record since 2015 with a chance to continue that success and lead the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.
No. 16 Saint Francis (PA) (8-8 NEC, 16-17 overall)
Similar to Alabama State, Saint Francis (PA) finished just fourth in the NEC with a .500 record but picked up steam at the right time and won its last six for the programs first conference title in 34-years.
After early struggles, that late success in conference was sparked by some fiery offensive play that saw the Red Flash score 80+ points five times during the last month of the season. All-NEC First Team selection Riley Parker’s addition was a major catalyst during that run but this is a program led by underclassmen such as NEC Rookie of the Year Juan Cranford Jr.
For all its offensive flash, Saint Francis (PA) isn’t afraid of a defensive rock fight either and ended that six-game stretch by squeaking out a 46-43 win over Central Connecticut State in the NEC Championship Final.
Head coach Rob Krimmel, who’s been with the program as either a player or coach since 1996, now has a chance to continue this historic postseason with SFU’s first ever NCAA Tournament victory.
No. 11 San Diego State (14-6 Mountain West, 21-9 overall)
After advancing all the way to the Sweet 16 as a No. 5 seed at the 2024 NCAA Tournament, San Diego State is back having finished fourth in the ever-competitive Mountain West Conference.
This is an Aztecs team that’s built on defense and ranks 13th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. Behind FAU transfer Nick Boyd and star sophomore Miles Byrd, that SDSU defense held opponents to just 63.6 PPG and only lost to one program that won’t be in the NCAA Tournament field this season.
Head coach Brian Dutcher and Co. will face a tough challenge in the First Four, having to go through No. 11 North Carolina in order to book a spot in the Round of 64 for the fifth straight season.
With multiple ranked wins on the resume for San Diego State including upsets over No. 21 Creighton and No. 6 Houston though, will the Aztecs be able to bounce back after bowing out early at the 2025 MWC Championship?
No. 16 American (13-5 Patriot, 22-12 overall)
For American’s first NCAA Tournament bid in 11 years, the Eagles tied a program record with 13 wins in the Patriot League and grabbed a share of the conference regular-season title. From there, Duane Simpkins’ squad steamrolled the competition on their way to a Patriot League title, handedly defeating Navy in the Championship Final 74-52.
Senior forward Matt Rogers, a three-time all-conference selection, is the centerpiece of American’s rotation as one of the most underrated and efficient players in the country. Averaging 17 PPG and 5.6 RPG, Rogers finished with double-digit points in each of the Eagles games this season except five.
Beside him, guards Elijah Stephens and Colin Smalls as well as forward/wing Greg Jones have each proven capable running mates. Stephens in particular was an All-Patriot League Third Team selection while Jones was selected to the All-Defense team as just a sophomore.
American does not have the makings of your average 16-seed and with Duke awaiting in the Round of 64, a win over Mount St. Mary’s represents the programs first in NCAA Tournament history.
No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s (12-8 MAAC, 22-12 overall)
Despite bringing in a new head coach in Donny Lind, only having joined the MAAC three years ago and being picked to finish 11th (out of 13) in its preseason poll, Mount St. Mary’s is the 2025 MAAC Champions.
After finishing tied for fourth in the conference’s standings, the Mountaineers received just the sixth seed in Atlantic City, N.J., but ran straight to the Championship Final with wins over No. 3 Marist, No. 2 Merrimack and No. 4 Iona.
Undoubtedly, this late season run from Mount St. Mary’s is predicated on all the veteran talent Lind was able to retain and develop when he emerged as the program’s new leader. Dola Adebayo has blossomed into an all-conference player. Dallas Hobbs is having a career season. Jedy Cordilia has become a consistent contributor, and Melo Pacheco is proving a capable shooter.
It’s a group that’s been frustrating for opponents in the MAAC with their unique defense, and if American isn’t careful, these Mountaineers will stall any hopes of advancing in the tournament.
