An upset is a victory by an underdog team. In the context of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, a single-elimination tournament, this generally constitutes a lower seeded team defeating a higher-seeded (i.e., higher-ranked) team; a widely recognized upset is one performed by a team ranked substantially lower than its opponent.
This is the list of victories by teams seeded 10 or lower in the first round and second rounds of the tournament, as well as those by teams seeded 8 or 9 against 1 seeds in the second round, since it expanded to 64 teams in 1985; as these low-seeded teams were automatically paired against higher-seeded teams at the start of the tournament, their opening victories are almost always considered upsets (to date only three teams seeded 10 or lower in the first round won as betting favorites, and only one such team won in the first round as a pick 'em). Most victories by these teams in later rounds were usually against better seeded opponents as well. The list also includes victories by teams seeded 8 or lower in the Sweet 16 (the four regional semifinals), teams seeded 7 or lower in the Elite Eight (the four regional finals), and teams seeded 6 or lower in the Final Four. All teams are listed by athletic brand names they used at the time of their wins, which do not always match those in use today.
The NCAA defines a tournament "upset" as a victory by a team seeded 5 or more lines below its defeated opponent. [1]
On March 16, 2018, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers became the first 16-seed to upset a 1-seed when they defeated the Virginia Cavaliers 74–54 in the first round; [2] this was followed by the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 63–58 on March 17, 2023. [3]
This round was called the first round until 2011, when the introduction of the First Four caused the round to be renamed the second round. Starting with the 2016 tournament, it returned to being called the first round. There were ten wins by double-digit seeds in 2016, which was the most in tournament history. In 2001, 2012, and 2021, there were nine double-digit seed upsets during First Round play. [4]
Detail between each pair of seeds in this section has been updated as of completion of the 2024 Round of 64, representing 156 games played between each pair.
There have been two games where a 16-seed has defeated a 1-seed (1.28%) since 1985:
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
2018 | UMBC | Virginia | 74–54 [5] |
2023 | Fairleigh Dickinson | Purdue | 63–58 [6] |
There have been 11 games where a 15-seed has defeated a 2-seed (7.05%), in the round of 64, since 1985: [7]
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1991 | Richmond | Syracuse | 73–69 |
1993 | Santa Clara | Arizona | 64–61 |
1997 | Coppin State | South Carolina | 78–65 |
2001 | Hampton | Iowa State | 58–57 |
2012 | Lehigh | Duke | 75–70 |
Norfolk State | Missouri | 86–84 | |
2013 | Florida Gulf Coast | Georgetown | 78–68 |
2016 | Middle Tennessee | Michigan State | 90–81 |
2021 | Oral Roberts | Ohio State | 75–72OT |
2022 | Saint Peter's | Kentucky | 85–79OT |
2023 | Princeton | Arizona | 59–55 |
There have been 23 games where a 14-seed has defeated a 3-seed (14.74%), in the round of 64, since 1985:
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1986 | Cleveland State | Indiana | 83–79 |
Arkansas–Little Rock [lower-alpha 1] | Notre Dame | 90–83 | |
1987 | Austin Peay | Illinois | 68–67 |
1988 | Murray State | NC State | 78–75 |
1989 | Siena | Stanford | 80–78 |
1990 | Northern Iowa | Missouri | 74–71 |
1991 | Xavier | Nebraska | 89–84 |
1992 | East Tennessee State | Arizona | 87–80 |
1995 | Old Dominion | Villanova | 89–813 OT |
Weber State | Michigan State | 79–72 | |
1997 | Chattanooga | Georgia | 73–70 |
1998 | Richmond | South Carolina | 62–61 |
1999 | Weber State | North Carolina | 76–74 |
2005 | Bucknell | Kansas | 64–63 |
2006 | Northwestern State | Iowa | 64–63 |
2010 | Ohio | Georgetown | 97–83 |
2013 | Harvard | New Mexico | 68–62 |
2014 | Mercer | Duke | 78–71 |
2015 | Georgia State | Baylor | 57–56 |
UAB | Iowa State | 60–59 | |
2016 | Stephen F. Austin | West Virginia | 70–56 |
2021 | Abilene Christian | Texas | 53–52 |
2024 | Oakland | Kentucky | 80–76 |
There have been 33 games where a 13-seed has defeated a 4-seed (21.15%), in the round of 64, since 1985:
There have been 55 games where a 12-seed has defeated a 5-seed (35.26%), in the round of 64, since 1985:
There have been 61 games where an 11-seed has defeated a 6-seed (39.1%), in the round of 64, since 1985:
There have been 60 games where a 10-seed has defeated a 7-seed (38.46%), in the round of 64, since 1985:
This round is called the second round. Occasionally, it is referred to as the regional quarterfinals.
This shows all Round of 32 upset victories by teams seeded 10 or lower, continuing their upset victories from the round of 64. This section introduces additional "meeting criteria of team seeded 5 or more lines below its defeated opponent", being all Round of 32 upset victories by teams seeded 8 or 9 against 1 seeds.
No 16 seed has won a second-round game. The only 16 seeds to ever reach the second round are the UMBC Retrievers in 2018, who lost to 9 seed Kansas State 50–43, and the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in 2023, who lost to 9 seed Florida Atlantic 78–70.
Four of the eleven 15 seeds (36.36%) who advanced from the round of 64 also achieved an upset victory in the round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses. Due to these results, 15 seeds have a winning record (4-2) against 7 seeds, but have never beaten a 10 seed (0-5).
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
2013 | Florida Gulf Coast | (7) San Diego State | 81–71 [11] |
2021 | Oral Roberts | (7) Florida | 81–78 [12] |
2022 | Saint Peter's | (7) Murray State | 70–60 [13] |
2023 | Princeton | (7) Missouri | 78–63 [14] |
Two of the twenty-three 14 seeds (9.09%) who advanced from the round of 64 also achieved an upset victory in the round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.
Seven of the 14 seeds who advanced from the round of 64 lost to 11 seeds in the round of 32. Two of the sixteen 14 seeds who faced 6 seeds advanced to the Sweet Sixteen (12.5%).
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1986 | Cleveland State | (6) Saint Joseph's | 75–69 |
1997 | Chattanooga | (6) Illinois | 75–63 |
Six of the thirty-three 13 seeds (18.18%) who advanced from the round of 64 also achieved a victory in the round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.
Twelve of the 13 seeds who advanced from the round of 64 faced a 12 seed that had also advanced from the round of 64 due to an upset. Against 12 seeds, 13 seeds are 3-9 (25%). Three of the twenty-one 13 seeds who have faced 5 seeds have advanced to the Sweet Sixteen (14.29%).
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1988 | Richmond | (5) Georgia Tech | 59–55 |
1998 | Valparaiso‡ | (12) Florida State | 83–77OT |
1999 | Oklahoma | (5) UNC Charlotte [lower-alpha 10] | 85–72 |
2006 | Bradley | (5) Pittsburgh | 72–66 |
2012 | Ohio‡ | (12) South Florida | 62–56 |
2013 | La Salle‡ | (12) Ole Miss | 76–74 |
‡ Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by only 1 seed line.
Twenty-two (22) of the fifty-five 12 seeds (40%) who advanced from the round of 64 also won in the round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.
Nine of these victories were against lower seeded teams that had also advanced from the round of 64 due to upsets; thus, these nine victories do not count as upsets, and have been grouped here in a table separate from the thirteen upset wins by 12 seeds in the second round. Thirteen of the forty-three 12 seeds who have faced 4 seeds have advanced to the Sweet Sixteen (30.23%).
Defeated a lower seed | |||
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1991 | Eastern Michigan | (13) Penn State | 71–68OT |
1992 | New Mexico State | (13) Southwestern Louisiana [lower-alpha 2] | 81–73 |
1993 | George Washington | (13) Southern | 90–80 |
2001 | Gonzaga | (13) Indiana State | 85–68 |
2008 | Western Kentucky | (13) San Diego | 72–63 |
Villanova | (13) Siena | 84–72 | |
2009 | Arizona | (13) Cleveland State | 71–57 |
2011 | Richmond | (13) Morehead State | 65–48 |
2019 | Oregon | (13) UC Irvine | 73–54 |
Second Round upsets | |||
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1985 | Kentucky | (4) UNLV | 64–61 |
1986 | DePaul | (4) Oklahoma | 74–69 |
1987 | Wyoming | (4) UCLA | 78–68 |
1990 | Ball State | (4) Louisville | 62–60 |
1994 | Tulsa | (4) Oklahoma State | 82–80 |
1996 | Arkansas | (4) Marquette | 65–56 |
1999 | Southwest Missouri State [lower-alpha 11] | (4) Tennessee | 81–51 |
2002 | Missouri | (4) Ohio State | 83–64 |
2003 | Butler | (4) Louisville | 79–71 |
2005 | Milwaukee | (4) Boston College | 83–75 |
2010 | Cornell | (4) Wisconsin | 87–69 |
2013 | Oregon | (4) Saint Louis | 74–57 |
2021 | Oregon State | (4) Oklahoma State | 80–70 |
Twenty-seven (27) of the sixty-one 11 seeds (44.26%) who advanced from the round of 64 also won in the round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.
Seven of these victories were against lower seeded teams that had also advanced from the round of 64 due to upsets; thus, these seven victories do not count as upsets, and have been grouped here in a table separate from the twenty upset wins by 11 seeds in the second round. Twenty of the fifty-four 11 seeds who have faced 3 seeds advanced to the Sweet Sixteen (37.04%).
Defeated a lower seed | |||
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1989 | Minnesota | (14) Siena | 80–67 |
1991 | Connecticut [lower-alpha 3] | (14) Xavier | 66–50 |
1998 | Washington | (14) Richmond | 81–66 |
2014 | Tennessee | (14) Mercer | 83–63 |
2015 | UCLA | (14) UAB | 92–75 |
2021 | UCLA | (14) Abilene Christian | 67–47 |
2024 | NC State | (14) Oakland | 79–73OT |
Second Round upsets | |||
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1985 | Auburn | (3) Kansas | 66–64 |
Boston College | (3) Duke | 74–73 | |
1986 | LSU | (3) Memphis State [lower-alpha 4] | 83–81 |
1988 | Rhode Island | (3) Syracuse | 97–94 |
1990 | Loyola Marymount | (3) Michigan | 149–115 |
2001 | Temple | (3) Florida | 75–54 |
2002 | Southern Illinois | (3) Georgia | 77–75 |
2006 | George Mason | (3) North Carolina | 65–60 |
2010 | Washington | (3) New Mexico | 82–64 |
2011 | Marquette | (3) Syracuse | 66–62 |
VCU | (3) Purdue | 94–76 | |
2012 | NC State | (3) Georgetown | 66–63 |
2014 | Dayton | (3) Syracuse | 55–53 |
2016 | Gonzaga | (3) Utah | 82–59 |
2017 | Xavier | (3) Florida State | 91–66 |
2018 | Loyola Chicago | (3) Tennessee | 63–62 |
Syracuse | (3) Michigan State | 55–53 | |
2021 | Syracuse | (3) West Virginia | 75–72 |
2022 | Iowa State | (3) Wisconsin | 54–49 |
Michigan | (3) Tennessee | 76–68 |
Twenty-four (24) of the sixty 10 seeds who advanced from the round of 64 (40%) also won in the round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.
Five of these victories were against lower seeded teams that had also advanced from the round of 64 due to upsets; thus, these six victories do not count as upsets, and have been grouped here in a table separate from the nineteen upset wins by 10 seeds in the second round. Nineteen of the fifty-five 10 seeds who faced 2 seeds advanced to the Sweet Sixteen (34.55%).
Defeated a lower seed | |||
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1991 | Temple | (15) Richmond | 77–64 |
1997 | Texas | (15) Coppin State | 82–81 |
2001 | Georgetown | (15) Hampton | 76–57 |
2012 | Xavier | (15) Lehigh | 70–58 |
2016 | Syracuse | (15) Middle Tennessee | 75–50 |
Second Round upsets | |||
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1987 | LSU | (2) Temple | 72–62 |
1990 | Texas | (2) Purdue | 73–72 |
1994 | Maryland | (2) UMass | 95–87 |
1997 | Providence | (2) Duke | 98–87 |
1998 | West Virginia | (2) Cincinnati | 75–74 |
1999 | Purdue | (2) Miami (FL) | 73–63 |
Miami (OH) | (2) Utah | 66–58 | |
Gonzaga | (2) Stanford | 82–74 | |
2000 | Seton Hall | (2) Temple | 67–65OT |
Gonzaga | (2) St. John's | 82–76 | |
2002 | Kent State | (2) Alabama | 71–58 |
2003 | Auburn | (2) Wake Forest | 68–62 |
2004 | Nevada | (2) Gonzaga | 91–72 |
2005 | NC State | (2) Connecticut [lower-alpha 3] | 65–62 |
2008 | Davidson | (2) Georgetown | 74–70 |
2010 | St. Mary's | (2) Villanova | 75–68 |
2011 | Florida State | (2) Notre Dame | 71–58 |
2014 | Stanford | (2) Kansas | 60–57 |
2022 | Miami (FL) | (2) Auburn | 79–61 |
Eight of the eighty-one 9 seeds (9.88%) who advanced from the round of 64 also won in the round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.
Two of these victories was against a lower seeded team that had also advanced from the round of 64 due to upset; thus, these second-round victories do not count as upsets, and has been shown here in a table separate from the six upset wins by 9 seeds in the second round. Six of the seventy-nine 9 seeds who have faced a 1 seed advanced to the Sweet Sixteen (7.59%).
Defeated a lower seed | |||
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
2018 | Kansas State | (16) UMBC | 50–43 |
2023 | Florida Atlantic | (16) Fairleigh Dickinson | 78–70 |
Second Round upsets | |||
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1992 | UTEP | (1) Kansas | 66–60 |
1994 | Boston College | (1) North Carolina | 75–72 |
2004 | UAB | (1) Kentucky | 76–75 |
2010 | Northern Iowa | (1) Kansas | 69–67 |
2013 | Wichita State | (1) Gonzaga | 76–70 |
2018 | Florida State | (1) Xavier | 75–70 |
Sixteen (16) of the seventy-five 8 seeds (21.33%) who advanced from the round of 64 also achieved an upset victory in the round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1985 | Villanova | (1) Michigan | 59–55 |
1986 | Auburn | (1) St. John's | 81–65 |
1990 | North Carolina | (1) Oklahoma | 79–77 |
1996 | Georgia | (1) Purdue | 76–69 |
1998 | Rhode Island | (1) Kansas | 80–75 |
2000 | North Carolina | (1) Stanford | 60–53 |
Wisconsin | (1) Arizona | 66–59 | |
2002 | UCLA | (1) Cincinnati | 105–1012OT |
2004 | Alabama | (1) Stanford | 70–67 |
2011 | Butler | (1) Pittsburgh | 71–70 |
2014 | Kentucky | (1) Wichita State | 78–76 |
2015 | NC State | (1) Villanova | 71–68 |
2017 | Wisconsin | (1) Villanova | 65–62 |
2021 | Loyola Chicago | (1) Illinois | 71–58 |
2022 | North Carolina | (1) Baylor | 93–86OT |
2023 | Arkansas | (1) Kansas | 72–71 |
Twenty-nine (29) of the ninety-six 7 seeds who advanced from the round of 64 (30.21%) also won in the round of 32.
Two of these 7 seeds (Temple in 1993 and Florida in 2012) advanced to the Sweet Sixteen after playing against 15 seeds that also advanced from the round of 64 due to upsets, while four 7 seeds have lost to 15 seeds, meaning that 7 seeds have a losing record against 15 seeds (2-4). Twenty-seven of the ninety 7 seeds who faced 2 seeds advanced to the Sweet Sixteen (30%). This means that 7 seeds have a lower winning percentage in the round of 32 than 10 seeds do.
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1985 | Alabama | (2) VCU | 63-59 |
1986 | Navy | (2) Syracuse | 97-85 |
Iowa State | (2) Michigan | 72-69 | |
1988 | Vanderbilt | (2) Pittsburgh | 80-74 |
1990 | UCLA | (2) Kansas | 71-70 |
Alabama | (2) Arizona | 77-55 | |
1992 | Georgia Tech | (2) USC | 79-78 |
1993 | Western Kentucky | (2) Seton Hall | 72-68 |
2000 | Tulsa | (2) Cincinnati | 69-61 |
2001 | Penn State | (2) North Carolina | 82-74 |
2003 | Michigan State | (2) Florida | 68-46 |
2004 | Xavier | (2) Mississippi State | 89-74 |
2005 | West Virginia | (2) Wake Forest | 111-1052OT |
2006 | Georgetown | (2) Ohio State | 70-52 |
Wichita State | (2) Tennessee | 80-73 | |
2007 | UNLV | (2) Wisconsin | 74-68 |
2008 | West Virginia | (2) Duke | 73-67 |
2014 | UConn | (2) Villanova | 77-65 |
2015 | Wichita State | (2) Kansas | 78-65 |
Michigan State | (2) Virgnia | 60-54 | |
2016 | Wisconsin | (2) Xavier | 66-63 |
2017 | South Carolina | (2) Duke | 88-81 |
Michigan | (2) Louisville | 73-69 | |
2018 | Nevada | (2) Cincinnati | 75-73 |
Texas A&M | (2) North Carolina | 86-65 | |
2021 | Oregon | (2) Iowa | 95-80 |
2023 | Michigan State | (2) Marquette | 69-60 |
The Sweet Sixteen are the eight pairs of teams that meet in the Regional semifinals.
One of the four 15 seeds (25%) who advanced from the round of 32 also achieved an upset victory in the Sweet Sixteen, that being Saint Peter’s in 2022. Seed of the team they defeated is in parentheses.
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
2022 | Saint Peter's | (3) Purdue | 67–64 [15] |
Although two 14 seeds made it to the Sweet Sixteen, neither of them won their games in this round. In 1986, Cleveland State lost to 7 seed Navy by only a single point.
Although six 13 seeds made it to the Sweet Sixteen, none of them won their games in this round. The closest margin of defeat happened in 1998, when Valparaiso lost to 8 seed Rhode Island by 6 points.
Two of the twenty-two 12 seeds (9.09%) who advanced from the round of 32 also won in the Sweet Sixteen. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.
Interestingly, with these two victories, a 12 seed has never lost against an 8 seed. [16]
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
2002 | Missouri‡ | (8) UCLA | 82–73 |
2021 | Oregon State‡ | (8) Loyola Chicago | 65–58 |
‡ Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by fewer than 5 seed lines.
Nine of the twenty-seven 11 seeds (33.33%) who advanced from the round of 32 also won in the Sweet Sixteen. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses, showing that three of these were upset victories (separated by more than 4 seed lines).
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1986 | LSU | (2) Georgia Tech | 70–64 |
1990 | Loyola Marymount‡ | (7) Alabama | 62–60 |
2001 | Temple‡ | (7) Penn State | 84–72 |
2006 | George Mason‡ | (7) Wichita State | 63–55 |
2011 | VCU‡ | (10) Florida State | 72–71OT |
2014 | Dayton‡ | (10) Stanford | 82–72 |
2017 | Xavier | (2) Arizona | 73–71 |
2018 | Loyola Chicago‡ | (7) Nevada | 69–68 |
2021 | UCLA | (2) Alabama | 88–78OT |
‡ Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by fewer than 5 seed lines.
Nine of the twenty-four 10 seeds (37.5%) who advanced from the round of 32 also won in the Sweet Sixteen. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses, showing that four of these were upset victories (separated by more than 4 seed lines).
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1987 | LSU | (3) DePaul | 63–58 |
1990 | Texas‡ | (6) Xavier | 102–89 |
1991 | Temple | (3) Oklahoma State | 72–63 |
1997 | Providence† | (14) Chattanooga | 71–65 |
1999 | Gonzaga‡ | (6) Florida | 73–72 |
2002 | Kent State | (3) Pittsburgh | 78–73 |
2008 | Davidson | (3) Wisconsin | 73–56 |
2016 | Syracuse† | (11) Gonzaga | 63–60 |
2022 | Miami (FL)† | (11) Iowa State | 70–56 |
† Not an upset victory, as the 10 seed defeated a lower seed.
‡ Not officially an upset, as the teams were separated by fewer than 5 seed lines.
Five of the eight 9 seeds (62.5%) who advanced from the round of 32 also won in the Sweet Sixteen. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses, showing that one of these was an upset victory (separated by more than 4 seed lines).
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1994 | Boston College‡ | (5) Indiana | 77–68 |
2013 | Wichita State† | (13) La Salle | 72–58 |
2018 | Florida State | (4) Gonzaga | 75–60 |
Kansas State‡ | (5) Kentucky | 61–58 | |
2023 | Florida Atlantic | (4) Tennessee | 62–55 |
† Not an upset victory, as the 9 seed defeated a lower seed.
‡ Not officially an upset, as the teams were separated by fewer than 5 seed lines.
Nine of the sixteen 8 seeds (56.25%) who advanced from the round of 32 also achieved upset victories won in the Sweet Sixteen. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses, showing that none of these was an upset victory (separated by more than 4 seed lines).
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1985 | Villanova | (5) Maryland | 46–43 |
1986 | Auburn | (4) UNLV | 70–63 |
1998 | Rhode Island | (13) Valparaiso | 74–68 |
2000 | North Carolina | (4) Tennessee | 74–69 |
Wisconsin | (4) LSU | 61–48 | |
2004 | Alabama | (5) Syracuse | 80–71 |
2011 | Butler | (4) Wisconsin | 61–54 |
2014 | Kentucky | (4) Louisville | 74–69 |
2022 | North Carolina | (4) UCLA | 73–66 |
The Elite Eight are the four pairs of teams that meet in the Regional Finals.
The only 15 seed who advanced from the Sweet Sixteen, Saint Peter's in 2022, was defeated in the Elite Eight by eight-seed North Carolina, 69-49.
Although two 12 seeds have advanced from the Sweet Sixteen, both were defeated in the Elite Eight: Missouri to second-seeded Oklahoma, 81-75 in 2002, and Oregon State to second-seeded Houston, 67-61 in 2021.
Five of the nine 11 seeds who advanced from the Sweet Sixteen also won in the Elite Eight. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses, showing that four of these were upset victories (separated by more than 4 seed lines). None of those teams would go on to win in the Final Four.
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1986 | LSU | (1) Kentucky | 59–57 |
2006 | George Mason | (1) Connecticut [lower-alpha 3] | 86–84OT |
2011 | VCU | (1) Kansas | 71–61 |
2018 | Loyola Chicago‡ | (9) Kansas State | 78–62 |
2021 | UCLA | (1) Michigan | 51–49 |
‡ Not officially an upset, as the teams were separated by fewer than 5 seed lines.
One of the nine 10 seeds who advanced from the Sweet Sixteen also won in the Elite Eight. Seed of the team they defeated is in parentheses, showing that this was an upset victory (separated by more than 4 seed lines). The team did not win in the Final Four.
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
2016 | Syracuse | (1) Virginia | 68–62 |
Two of the five 9 seeds who advanced from the Sweet Sixteen also won in the Elite Eight. Seed of the team they defeated is in parentheses, showing that these were upset victories (separated by more than 4 seed lines).
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
2013 | Wichita State | (2) Ohio State | 70–66 [11] |
2023 | Florida Atlantic | (3) Kansas State | 79–76 [17] |
Six of the nine 8 seeds who advanced from the Sweet Sixteen also won in the Elite Eight. Seed of the team they defeated is in parentheses, showing that three of these were upset victories (separated by more than 4 seed lines).
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1985 | Villanova | (2) North Carolina | 56–44 |
2000 | Wisconsin‡ | (6) Purdue | 64–60 |
North Carolina‡ | (7) Tulsa | 59–55 | |
2011 | Butler | (2) Florida | 74–71 |
2014 | Kentucky | (2) Michigan | 75–72 |
2022 | North Carolina† | (15) Saint Peter's | 69–49 |
† Not an upset victory, as the 8 seed defeated a lower seed.
‡ Not officially an upset. as the teams were separated by fewer than 5 seed lines.
Three 7 seeds have advanced to the Final Four. Seed of the team they defeated is in parentheses.
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
2014 | UConn‡ | (4) Michigan State | 60–54 |
2015 | Michigan State‡ | (4) Louisville | 76–70 |
2017 | South Carolina‡ | (4) Florida | 77–70 |
‡ Not officially an upset, as the teams were separated by fewer than 5 seed lines.
The Final Four are the winners of the four Regional Finals.
No team seeded 9 or lower has ever won a game in the Final Four. Notable close losses include a four-point loss by (9) Wichita State in 2013 to top-seed and eventual champions Louisville, while two other teams lost on buzzer-beating shots: (11) UCLA to (1) Gonzaga, 93-90 in overtime in 2021; and (9) Florida Atlantic to (5) San Diego State, 71-70 in 2023.
Four of the six 8 seeds who advanced from the Elite Eight also won in the Final Four. The seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses, showing that three were upset victories (separated by more than 4 seed lines).
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1985 | Villanova | (2) Memphis State | 52–45 |
2011 | Butler† | (11) VCU | 70–62 |
2014 | Kentucky | (2) Wisconsin | 74–73 |
2022 | North Carolina | (2) Duke | 81–77 |
† Not an upset victory, as the 8 seed defeated a lower seed.
One of the three 7 seeds who advanced from the Elite Eight also won in the Final Four. Seed of the team they defeated is in parentheses, showing that this was an upset victory (separated by more than 4 seed lines).
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
2014 | UConn | (1) Florida | 63–53 |
Three 6 seeds have advanced to the national championship game. Seed of the Final Four team they defeated is in parentheses.
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1983 | North Carolina State‡ | (4) Georgia | 67–60 |
1988 | Kansas‡ | (2) Duke | 66–59 |
1992 | Michigan‡ | (4) Cincinnati | 76–72 |
‡ Not officially an upset, as the teams were separated by fewer than 5 seed lines.
Only one of the four 8 seeds who advanced from the Final Four won the national championship, the lowest seed ever to do so. Seed of the team they defeated is in parentheses, showing that this was an upset victory (separated by more than 4 seed lines).
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1985 | Villanova | (1) Georgetown | 66–64 |
The only 7 seed to advance from the Final Four went on to win the national championship. Seed of the team they defeated is in parentheses.
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
2014 | UConn† | (8) Kentucky | 60–54 |
† Not an upset victory, as the 7 seed defeated a lower seed.
Two of the three 6 seeds who advanced from the Final Four won the national championship.
Year | Winner | Loser | Score |
1983 | North Carolina State | (1) Houston | 54–52 |
1988 | Kansas | (1) Oklahoma | 83–79 |
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The 2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2007–08 basketball season. The 70th annual edition of the tournament began on March 18, 2008, and concluded on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
The 1978 NCAA Division I basketball tournament involved 32 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1978, and ended with the championship game on March 27 in St. Louis, Missouri. A total of 32 games were played, including a national third-place game.
The 1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1991, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana. A total of 63 games were played.
The 1993 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana. A total of 63 games were played.
The 2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2000, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana at the RCA Dome. A total of 63 games were played.
The Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball team represents the University of Oklahoma (OU) and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I.
The 2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament was a single-elimination tournament involving 68 schools playing to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. The 74th edition of the tournament began on March 13, 2012, and concluded with the championship game on April 2 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
The 2012–13 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team represented Duke University in the 2012–13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Returning as head coach was Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski. The team played its home games at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They won the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas, defeating Louisville in the championship game. The Blue Devils posted four victories against top 5 opponents and were undefeated (16-0) at home. Completing the season with 30 wins, Duke finished in second place in the ACC regular season standings. Duke was ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll all season long, including five weeks at #1. They lost in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament to Maryland and subsequently received a two seed in the 2013 NCAA tournament. They defeated Albany in the Round of 64, #22 Creighton in the Round of 32, and #9 Michigan State in the Sweet Sixteen to reach the Elite Eight. Duke lost to #1 overall seed and eventual NCAA champion Louisville in the Elite Eight in Indianapolis who reversed the game result from the meeting earlier in the season. Louisville later had the title vacated for a violation of NCAA rules. Duke finished #1 in the nation in the final RPI rankings.
The 2015 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 68 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball for 2015. The 77th edition of the tournament began on March 17, 2015, and concluded with the championship game on April 6, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
This is a list of upsets by teams seeded 11 or higher that have occurred in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1994. In 2022 it expanded to 68 teams.
The 2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 68 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the men's National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college basketball national champion for the 2015–16 season. The 78th edition of the Tournament began on March 15, 2016, and concluded with the championship game on April 4 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
The 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 68 teams to determine the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's college basketball national champion for the 2020–21 season. The 82nd edition of the tournament began play on March 18, 2021 in sites around the state of Indiana, and concluded with the championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on April 5, with the Baylor Bears defeating the previously undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs 86–70 to earn the team's first ever title.
The 2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 68 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament that determined the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's college basketball national champion for the 2021–22 season. The 83rd annual edition of the tournament began on March 15, 2022, and concluded with the championship game on April 4 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, with the Kansas Jayhawks defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels, 72–69, overcoming a 16-point first-half deficit, to claim the school's fourth national title.
On March 16, 2018, during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, the University of Virginia Cavaliers played a college basketball game against the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Cavaliers, who were seeded first in the South regional bracket and first overall in the NCAA tournament, faced the Retrievers, who were seeded 16th in the south regional bracket. Virginia and UMBC competed for the right to face ninth-seeded Kansas State, which had already won their first-round game against Creighton earlier in the day.
On March 14, 1998, during the first round of the 1998 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, the Stanford Cardinal of Stanford University played a college basketball game against the Harvard Crimson of Harvard University in Stanford, California. The Cardinal, seeded 1st in the West bracket and 1st overall in the NCAA Tournament, faced Harvard, seeded 16th in the West bracket and ranked 62nd overall.
The 2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 68 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament that determined the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's basketball national champion for the 2022–23 season. The 84th annual edition of the tournament began on March 14, 2023, and concluded with the UConn Huskies defeating the San Diego State Aztecs, 76–59 in the championship game on April 3 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
UMBC (The University of Maryland Baltimore County) scored the biggest upset in the history of the NCAA tournament, beating top overall seed Virginia 74–54 Friday night, and becoming the first 16 seed to win a game in 136 tries.
Five years and one day since UMBC became the first 16-seed to beat a 1-seed, FDU pulled off the unthinkable yet again, knocking off 1-seed Purdue in a 63-58 shock upset on Friday. 16-seeds are now 2-150 all-time since the men's tournament expanded to 64 teams.