Published on: March 27, 2026, 01:45h.

Updated on: March 27, 2026, 01:45h.

• Federal court judge intervenes in NCAA’s attempt to limit DraftKings’ use of terms like “March Madness” for advertising
• NCAA claimed that DraftKings’ use of these phrases suggested NCAA support for sports betting
• Full schedule of March Madness games set for this evening

A federal judge has ruled in favor of DraftKings regarding its rights to use terms like “March Madness,” “Final Four,” “Elite Eight,” and “Sweet Sixteen” in its advertising campaigns.

Allegations of Trademark Violation

The NCAA initiated a lawsuit in the Indiana Southern District federal court seeking a temporary restraining order against the sportsbook, alleging trademark infringement and demanding an end to DraftKings’ use of its registered terms.

The organization argued that DraftKings’ usage implied an NCAA endorsement of sports wagering, which contradicts the NCAA’s foundational principle of avoiding any association with gambling, particularly in relation to its championships and participating student-athletes.

DraftKings’ First Amendment Defense

DraftKings contended that any perceived confusion among fans, NCAA staff, and student-athletes regarding NCAA endorsement of sports betting directly undermined the NCAA’s commitment to education, integrity monitoring, and initiatives aimed at curbing hazardous betting practices.

In recent months, the NCAA has faced scandals involving student athletes receiving money from gamblers and compromising their performances.

As reported by ESPN, the court determined that the NCAA failed to convincingly demonstrate that DraftKings’ use of these terms would cause irreparable damage.

Betting Opportunities Tonight

“With further evidence, the NCAA might eventually prove they’re entitled to either a preliminary or permanent injunction, leaving those claims still unresolved,” Pratt commented in the ESPN coverage.

For its part, DraftKings highlighted its five-year history of using these March Madness terms, asserting that its rights are protected under First Amendment principles, as these expressions are widely recognized among fans, sports journalists, and other betting platforms.

Upcoming Elite 8 Matches

Meanwhile, the March Madness NCAA tournament features four Sweet 16 matchups today, including No. 5 St. John’s (+230 at DraftKings) facing No. 1 Duke (-285) at 7:10 p.m. EST at Capital One Arena, No. 4 Alabama (+370) taking on No. 1 Michigan (-485) at 7:35 p.m. EST in Chicago, No. 3 Michigan State (+105) versus No. 2 UConn (-125) at 9:45 p.m. at Capital One Arena, and No. 6 Tennessee (+154) challenging No. 2 Iowa State (-185) at 10:10 p.m. EST at the United Center.

According to theScore, betting patterns for St. John’s at Duke show 69.6% of bets and 63.3% of the handle on St. John’s +6.5, while 26.9% of bets and 28.7% of the handle backed Duke ML -275. For the Over 140.5, 38.9% of bets and 65.2% of the handle have come in.

Women’s Game Odds Tonight

In the women’s tournament, Michigan State at UConn shows that 57.9% of bets and 59.1% of the handle back Michigan State +1.5, 50.9% of bets and 58.9% of the handle favor Michigan State ML +105, and 80.6% of bets and 55.5% of the handle support Over 136.5. For Tennessee at Iowa State, the numbers reflect 59.8% of bets and 58.2% of the handle favor Iowa State -4.5, while 82% of bets and 83.9% of the handle support Iowa State ML -185, with 25.8% of bets and 56.6% of the handle on Under 139.5.

Today’s women’s matchups include No. 6 Notre Dame (+200 at DraftKings) against No. 2 Vanderbilt (-270) at 2:30 p.m. EST at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, No. 4 North Carolina facing No. 1 UConn at 5:00 p.m. EST at the same venue, No. 4 Minnesota (+1500) up against No. 1 UCLA (-3600) at 7:30 p.m. of Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, and No. 3 Duke (+330) competing against No. 2 LSU (-425) at 10:00 p.m. EST, also at the Golden 1 Center.