NCAA March Madness 2025: Only 3% of NCAA Brackets Still Perfect After Opening Games

Each year, countless basketball fans attempt to craft the ultimate NCAA March Madness bracket, yet the likelihood of success is nearly impossible. If someone were to make their selections by mere guesswork or coin flips, the odds of accurately predicting all 63 games stand at an astonishing one in 9.22 quintillion. Even for those well-versed in NCAA basketball and the teams involved, the odds only marginally improve to one in 120.2 billion, as reported by the NCAA. Nevertheless, the allure of achieving a flawless bracket continues to enchant fans.

This year, X (previously known as Twitter) is elevating the excitement by introducing an extraordinary grand prize. Anyone who submits a perfect bracket will win a trip to Mars! For those who prefer to remain on Earth, there’s an option for a $250,000 cash prize, a SpaceX astronaut training experience, and a front-row seat at a Starship launch. Additionally, the creator of the best bracket—regardless of its perfection—will receive a $100,000 reward.

Other prominent platforms are also rolling out attractive prizes. ESPN is offering 20 grand prizes of $5,000 to participants who accurately predict the national champion. USA Today Sports has raised the stakes with a $1 million reward for anyone who submits a perfect bracket. Meanwhile, the NCAA’s Bracket Challenge Sweepstakes will treat the top contestant to an unforgettable experience, including two tickets to next year’s men’s Final Four, a four-night hotel stay, $1,500 for airfare, and an additional $750 for spending.

No one has ever officially made a perfect NCAA March Madness bracket, despite decades of predictions; the closest attempt was in 2019, when an Ohio man correctly predicted the first 49 games before his streak ended in the Elite Eight round. As for this year’s tournament, the oddsmakers have their favorites: Duke University is currently leading the betting charts with a +320 line, meaning that a $100 wager could yield a $320 payout; the University of Florida (+380), Auburn University (+450), and the University of Houston (+600) are not far behind. With March madness quickly approaching, fans are anxious to see if history will be made.