Round 1, there were upsets and comebacks on the first day, but what will happen on the second day?
Jordan Mendoza looks back at the wildest comebacks and upsets from Day 1 of the first round of the men’s NCAA Tournament and looks ahead to Day 2.
March Madness is underway, and to celebrate the fanfare-filled tournament, several food and beverage chains are offering special menus and deals for fans.
The NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments run through April 6, and chains like Wendy’s, Dairy Queen, and Pizza Hut, and even meal delivery platforms like Grubhub, are offering limited-time sales, specials, and March Madness-inspired products.
Are you hungry? Here are some of the food-centric meals and deals available during March Madness.
apple bees
Applebee’s is offering boneless wings for 50 cents each when you order online through Sunday, March 22nd.
checkers and rallies
Checkers and Rally’s are offering $5 meal combos for March Madness. The Spicy Chicken Flatbread Combo and Bacon Burger Flatbread Combo are both $5 and include a sandwich, side, drink and apple pie, according to a news release. The meal sale is available until May 2nd.
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen has partnered with New Orleans Pelicans center Derrick Queen to launch the DQ Bracket Buster Deal. Available at participating locations until April 12, customers who order a Dairy Queen Chicken Strip Party Platter through the DQ mobile app will receive a free box of Buster Bars, according to a Dairy Queen news release.
dave & busters
On March 20, March 21 and April 7, Dave & Buster’s will offer 20 wings for $20 and all draft beers for $5, according to the Dave & Buster’s website.
domino pizza
Domino’s Pizza will be offering pizzas with any topping for $10 each until the March Madness finale on April 6, according to the pizza chain’s website.
fire department submarine
Through Sunday, March 29th, Firehouse Subs is offering a Full Court Feast meal deal for Firehouse Loyalty members. According to the Firehouse Subs website, the meal includes two medium-sized subs, two bags of potato chips, and two small drinks for $16. The Full Court lineup includes customer favorites Hook & Ladder, Italian, Smoked Turkey and Provolone, and Meatballs.
grab hub
Distribution platform Grubhub is offering several deals from various chains throughout March Madness. This is shown below.
- Little Caesars: Free ExtraMostBest Pizza on orders over $50 (available through April 30th)
- Wendy’s: Free Junior Bacon Cheeseburger Biggie Bag with orders over $20 (available through March 23rd), Free Dave’s Single with orders over $20 (available through March 4th-6th)
- Taco Bell: Free Chalupa Supreme on orders over $30 (available through March 21), Free Chicken or Cheese Quesadilla on orders over $22 (available March 27-29), Free 5-Layer Beef Burrito on orders over $22 (available March 4), Free Regular Nacho Fries with any taco purchase on orders over $20 (available April 6).
- Kentucky Fried Chicken: $5 off orders of $15 or more (available March 26-31) and $5 off orders of $15 or more (available April 3-7)
- Buffalo Wild Wings: $15 off orders over $50 (available March 24th – April 6th)
Additionally, Grubhub is waiving shipping and service fees for orders over $50, according to a Grubhub news release.
insomnia cookies
Insomnia Cookies will be hosting a March Madness sweepstakes on April 4th that will send groups of two to Indianapolis for the final weekend of the tournament. As set forth in the Sweepstakes Official Rules, the prize package includes:
- A $750 travel allowance will be provided in the form of a check or electronic payment.
- The two fan experience packages include a four-night stay at a downtown Indianapolis hotel, two tickets to the April 4 NCAA Men’s Final Four game, and two tickets to the April 6 NCAA Men’s Championship game.
- Two Swag Kits from Insomnia Cookies. Includes branded accessories and apparel.
- Two $100 Insomnia Cookie Gift Cards.
To participate, customers must sign up for Insomnia Rewards and fill out the entry form on the Insomnia Cookies Bracket website by March 20th. Entry forms require a valid email address. Two potential winners will be selected on or about March 30th.
krispy kreme
Krispy Kreme has created two new donuts for March Madness. The players are as follows.
- basketball donut: Unglazed shell donuts filled with fluffy white cream are dipped in bright orange vanilla-flavored icing and finished with basketball lines of chocolate icing.
- Basketball net donut: An original glazed donut is dipped in chocolate icing and finished off with vanilla-flavored icing sprinkled along the lines of a basketball net.
pizza hut
To commemorate the tournament, Pizza Hut is collaborating with Space Jam to release the Space Jam x Triple Treat Box. The meal includes two medium-sized one-topping pizzas, breadsticks and cinnamon sticks for $22 and is served in a signature “Space Jam” box. Treat boxes can be ordered through the Pizza Hut website or the Pizza Hut mobile app.
Pizza Hut Rewards members will also have exclusive free access to Space Jam-themed merchandise, including letterman jackets, warm-up jackets and jerseys, according to a Pizza Hut news release.
Through Pizza Hut’s mobile app, Rewards members can also play a Space Jam-inspired digital game and enter to win a year’s worth of pizzas. This time, 10 members will receive a Pizza Hut gift card.
wendy’s
Wendy’s is incorporating the “OG” Dunk combination, a classic Frosty and fries side, into its official Dunk Menu. The menu also includes 6 pieces of nuggets (crispy or spicy) and 3 pieces of tendi, available individually.
According to a Wendy’s news release, the fast food chain is holding a “Dunk Stakes” during March Madness, with one grand prize up for grabs, including $100,000 in cash, as well as other prizes such as custom Dunk-inspired sneakers and Wendy’s gift cards. Customers who make purchases through the Wendy’s mobile app can enter the sweepstakes through April 6, according to a Wendy’s news release.
And on April 7th, participating Wendy’s restaurants will offer free small fries and a small chocolate or vanilla frosty. This benefit is only available on restaurant orders.
Greta Cross is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Story ideas? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
