Everyone loves March Madness. The upsets, buzzer-beaters and Cinderella stories captivate fans year after year.
But there’s one element of the NCAA tournament that most viewers, particularly those who live on the East Coast, aren’t fans of, and that’s just how absurdly late the national championship game finally tips off. The usual tip-off time for the title matchup is 9:20 p.m. ET, but this year, the NCAA has heard the fans’ complaints and opted to change it.
Now, the championship game will begin at… 8:50 p.m.
Oh, no.
While a start time pushed back 30 minutes is certainly better than what we had previously, it’s still just way too late, especially on a Monday night.
🚨 National Championship tip-off time!
The 2025 National Championship will tip off at 8:50pm ET – 30 minutes earlier than the typical start time. pic.twitter.com/h39KTt16Q0
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 28, 2025
Look, I understand the need to make the game accessible across all time zones. For example, a 7 p.m. ET tip would leave many on the West Coast still at work when the contest began.
But my goodness, NCAA: Would an 8 p.m. start time be too much to ask for when it’s a championship game on a Monday night?
