The NCAA March Madness tournament of 2025 has once again captivated basketball fans across the globe, blending the thrill of competition with the allure of astronomical rewards. Kicking off on March 20, the tournament saw millions of fans eagerly filling out their brackets, hoping to achieve the near-impossible: a perfect prediction of all 63 games. Yet, as history has shown, March Madness is synonymous with unpredictability, and this year has been no exception.

The first day of play delivered a series of jaw-dropping upsets, shattering the dreams of countless bracket enthusiasts. Over 34 million brackets were submitted at the start, but by the end of Day 1, only 36,000 remained flawless. The opening game set the tone, with Creighton University defeating the University of Louisville 89-75, a result that busted more than half of all submitted brackets. From there, the chaos only intensified.

One of the most shocking upsets came when McNeese State University, a No. 12 seed, narrowly defeated No. 5 seed Clemson University 69-67. This single game reduced the number of perfect brackets from 11 million to under 2 million. Later, Arkansas (No. 10 seed) toppled Kansas (No. 7 seed) 79-72, further decimating the pool of perfect brackets to less than 1%. Drake University (No. 11 seed) added to the madness by defeating Missouri (No. 6 seed) 67-57, cutting the number of perfect brackets by more than half yet again.

The odds of predicting a perfect bracket are staggeringly low. Randomly guessing yields a 1 in 9.22 quintillion chance, while even with expert knowledge, the odds improve only slightly to 1 in 120.2 billion. Despite these daunting statistics, millions of fans continue to participate, drawn by the promise of life-changing rewards.

This year, X (formerly Twitter) has raised the stakes by offering a trip to Mars or $250,000 for anyone who achieves a perfect bracket. The prize also includes a SpaceX astronaut training experience and a front-row seat to a Starship launch. Other platforms like ESPN, USA Today Sports, and the NCAA Bracket Challenge Sweepstakes are offering cash prizes, trips to next year’s Final Four, and other exciting rewards.

Historically, no one has ever submitted a verifiably perfect March Madness bracket. The closest anyone came was in 2019, when an Ohio man correctly predicted 49 out of 63 games, only to see his streak end during the Elite Eight round.

As the tournament progresses, Duke University remains the favorite to win, with +320 odds on DraftKings. Other top contenders include the University of Florida (+380), Aston University (+450), and the University of Houston (+600).

March Madness is more than just a basketball tournament; it’s a cultural phenomenon that unites people, sparks friendly competition, and keeps fans on the edge of their seats. Whether you’re a die-hard basketball fan or just filling out a bracket for fun, the thrill of the unexpected is what makes this event so special.

So, as the games continue, keep an eye on your bracket—you never know, you might just be one of the lucky few still in the running for that trip to Mars.