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NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament upsets

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 team defeating an opponent with a substantially higher seed. The NCAA defines a tournament upset as a victory by a team seeded five or more lines below the opponent that it defeats.

This is a list of victories since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Teams with victories listed won games seeded No. 11 or lower in the Round of 64, seeded No. 7 or lower in the Round of 32 or the Sweet Sixteen, or seeded No. 6 or lower in the Elite Eight, Final Four, or national championship. 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.

Most successful low seeds

The table below lists the best outcomes for low-seeded teams since the tournament's expansion in 1985, sorted by the round in which that team was eliminated.

Lowest-seeded pairings by round

  • The lowest-seeded combination in the national championship game is the 2014 pairing of No. 7 seed UConn and No. 8 seed Kentucky. UConn won and became the second-lowest-seeded team to win the tournament.
  • The pairing of No. 8 seed Butler and No. 11 seed VCU in the 2011 National semifinals game was the lowest seeded combination to play in a National semifinals game.
  • The pairing of No. 8 seed North Carolina and No. 15 seed Saint Peter's in the 2022 East Regional final was the lowest-seeded combination to play in a regional final.
  • The pairing of No. 10 seed Providence and No. 14 seed Chattanooga in the 1997 Southeast Regional semifinal was the lowest-seeded combination to play in a regional semifinal.
  • There have been twenty-five Round of 32 matchups between two seeds who had won as the underdogs in the Round of 64: twelve 12-13 matchups, six 11-14 matchups, five 10-15 matchups, and two 9-16 matchups. The seeds add to 25 in each case, which is the lowest possible total for the Second Round.

Additional low-seed stats

  • Villanova in 1985, a No. 8 seed, was the lowest seeded team to win the tournament.
  • Penn's 1979 Final Four appearance as a No. 9 seed—out of 10 teams in their region—made them the lowest seed to make the Final Four in the pre-64-team era.
  • Butler is the only team to make consecutive Final Fours (let alone Championship Games) while not being a No. 1 or No. 2 seed either time (No. 5 in 2010, No. 8 in 2011).
  • In 1989, the four 11-seeds swept the First Round against their 6-seed opponents. As of 2023 this is the only time that 11-seeds have achieved this feat, and no lower seed ever has. Three out of four 12-seeds have advanced five times, in 2002, 2009, 2013, 2014, and 2019. The 10-seeds also swept the 7-seeds once, in 1999.
  • Richmond is the only team to win first-round games ranked as a No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, and No. 12 seed.
  • The most Round of 64 upsets over top-3 seeds occurring in a single tournament has been two, which has occurred ten times:
  • 1986, 1995, 2015: Two No. 14 seeds over No. 3 seeds
  • 1991, 1997, 2013, 2016, 2021: One No. 15 seed over a No. 2 seed and one No. 14 seed over a No. 3 seed
  • In 1991, 2013, 2016, and 2021, at least one team of every seed between No. 1 and No. 15 advanced to the Round of 32.
  • 2012: Two No. 15 seeds over No. 2 seeds
  • 2023: One No. 16 seed over a No. 1 seed and one No. 15 seed over a No. 2 seed
  • 2014 produced the highest total seed differential in an NCAA Tournament, with 128 across all the rounds of play. That is, the sum of seed differences among the 19 games won by lower-seeded teams was 128. This surpassed the previous mark of 111 in 2014, in which 22 games were won by lower seeded teams.
  • 2013 was the only tournament to have three teams seeded No. 12 or lower in the Sweet Sixteen: No. 12 Oregon, No. 13 La Salle, and No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast.
  • The 2018 South Region was the first region since seeding began in 1979 in which no top-4 seed advanced to the Sweet Sixteen (No. 5 Kentucky, No. 7 Nevada, No. 9 Kansas State, No. 11 Loyola–Chicago).
  • Georgetown is the only team to lose in five consecutive tournament appearances against a team seeded at least five spots lower:
  • 2008 (Round of 32): No. 10 Davidson 74, No. 2 Georgetown 70.
  • 2010 (Round of 64): No. 14 Ohio 97, No. 3 Georgetown 83.
  • 2011 (Round of 64): No. 11 VCU 74, No. 6 Georgetown 56.
  • 2012 (Round of 32): No. 11 NC State 66, No. 3 Georgetown 63.
  • 2013 (Round of 64): No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast 78, No. 2 Georgetown 68.
  • In 2021, Houston, a 2 seed, was the first team ever to reach the Final Four by defeating only double-digit seeds—in order, Cleveland State (15), Rutgers (10), Syracuse (11), and Oregon State (12).
  • 2021 featured 14 upsets, the most upsets in a single tournament. NCAA defines an upset as 5 seed lines or more between teams.

Point-spread upsets

Biggest point-spread upsets since 1985

Biggest championship game point-spread upsets

Most upset wins

Most upset losses

Round of 64

This round was called the First Round until 2011, when the introduction of the First Four caused it to be renamed the Second Round. Starting with the 2016 tournament, it returned to being called the First Round. There were eight official First Round upsets in 2016, which was the most in tournament history.

Detail between each pair of seeds in this section has been updated as of completion of the 2026 Round of 64, representing 164 games played between each pair.

16 defeats 1

There have been two games in which a No. 16 seed has defeated a No. 1 seed () since 1985:

15 defeats 2

There have been 11 games in which a No. 15 seed has defeated a No. 2 seed () since 1985:

14 defeats 3

There have been 23 games in which a No. 14 seed has defeated a No. 3 seed () since 1985:

13 defeats 4

There have been 33 games in which a No. 13 seed has defeated a No. 4 seed () since 1985:

12 defeats 5

There have been 58 games in which a No. 12 seed has defeated a No. 5 seed () since 1985:

11 defeats 6

There have been 64 games in which a No. 11 seed has defeated a No. 6 seed () since 1985:

Round of 32

The Round of 32 is also called the Second Round and, occasionally, the regional quarterfinals. This is the first round in which No. 7 seeds, No. 8 seeds, No. 9 seeds, and No. 10 seeds are able to face teams ranked five seed lines higher than them and is therefore the first round in which these teams may record upset victories.

16 seeds

A No. 16 seed has never won a game in the Round of 32. The closest margin of defeat happened in 2018, when UMBC lost to No. 9 seed Kansas State by seven points.

15 seeds

Four of the eleven No. 15 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 64 also won in the Round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

14 seeds

Two of the twenty-three No. 14 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 64 also won in the Round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

13 seeds

Six of the thirty-three No. 13 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 64 also won in the Round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

<sup>‡</sup> Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by fewer than five seed lines.

12 seeds

Twenty-two of the fifty-eight No. 12 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 64 also won in the Round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

11 seeds

Twenty-eight of the sixty-four No. 11 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 64 also won in the Round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

10 seeds

Twenty-five of the sixty-three No. 10 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 64 also won in the Round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

9 seeds

Nine of the eighty-seven No. 9 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 64 also won in the Round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

8 seeds

Sixteen of the seventy-seven No. 8 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 64 also won in the Round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

7 seeds

Twenty-nine of the one hundred and one No. 7 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 64 also won in the Round of 32. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

Sweet Sixteen

The Sweet Sixteen are the eight pairs of teams that meet in the regional semifinals.

15 seeds

One of the four No. 15 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 32 also won in the Sweet Sixteen. The seed of the team they defeated is in parentheses.

14 seeds

A No. 14 seed has never won a game in the Sweet Sixteen. The closest margin of defeat happened in 1986, when Cleveland State lost to No. 7 seed Navy by one point.

13 seeds

A No. 13 seed has never won a game in the Sweet Sixteen. The closest margin of defeat happened in 1998, when Valparaiso lost to No. 8 seed Rhode Island by six points.

12 seeds

Two of the twenty-two No. 12 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 32 also won in the Sweet Sixteen. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

<sup>‡</sup> Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by fewer than five seed lines.

11 seeds

Ten of the twenty-eight No. 11 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 32 also won in the Sweet Sixteen. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

<sup>‡</sup> Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by fewer than five seed lines.

10 seeds

Nine of the twenty-five No. 10 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 32 also won in the Sweet Sixteen. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

<sup>†</sup> Not an upset, as the No. 10 seed defeated a lower seed.<br> <sup>‡</sup> Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by fewer than five seed lines.

9 seeds

Six of the nine No. 9 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 32 also won in the Sweet Sixteen. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

<sup>†</sup> Not an upset, as the No. 9 seed defeated a lower seed.<br> <sup>‡</sup> Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by fewer than five seed lines.

8 seeds

Nine of the sixteen No. 8 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 32 also won in the Sweet Sixteen. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

<sup>†</sup> Not an upset, as the No. 8 seed defeated a lower seed.<br> <sup>‡</sup> Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by fewer than five seed lines.

7 seeds

Ten of the twenty-nine No. 7 seeds () who advanced from the Round of 32 also won in the Sweet Sixteen. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

<sup>†</sup> Not an upset, as the No. 7 seed defeated a lower seed.<br> <sup>‡</sup> Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by fewer than five seed lines.

Elite Eight

The Elite Eight are the four pairs of teams that meet in the regional finals. This is the first round in which No. 6 seeds are able to face teams ranked five seed lines higher than them and is therefore the first round in which No. 6 seeds may record upset victories.

15 seeds

A No. 15 seed has never won a game in the Elite Eight. The closest margin of defeat happened in 2022, when Saint Peter's lost to No. 8 seed North Carolina by 20 points.

12 seeds

A No. 12 seed has never won a game in the Elite Eight. The closest margins of defeat happened in 2002, when Missouri lost to No. 2 seed Oklahoma, and 2021, when Oregon State lost to No. 2 seed Houston, both by six points.

11 seeds

Six of the ten No. 11 seeds () who advanced from the Sweet Sixteen also won in the Elite Eight. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

<sup>‡</sup> Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by fewer than five seed lines.

10 seeds

One of the nine No. 10 seeds () who advanced from the Sweet Sixteen also won in the Elite Eight. The seed of the team they defeated is in parentheses.

9 seeds

Two of the six No. 9 seeds () who advanced from the Sweet Sixteen also won in the Elite Eight. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

8 seeds

Six of the nine No. 8 seeds () who advanced from the Sweet Sixteen also won in the Elite Eight. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

<sup>†</sup> Not an upset, as the No. 8 seed defeated a lower seed.<br> <sup>‡</sup> Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by fewer than five seed lines.

7 seeds

Three of the ten No. 7 seeds () who advanced from the Sweet Sixteen also won in the Elite Eight. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

<sup>‡</sup> Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by fewer than five seed lines.

6 seeds

Three of the eighteen No. 6 seeds () who advanced from the Sweet Sixteen also won in the Elite Eight. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

<sup>‡</sup> Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by fewer than five seed lines.

Final Four

The Final Four are the winners of the four regional finals.

9 seeds or lower

No team seeded No. 9 or lower has ever won a game in the Final Four. The closest margin of defeat happened in 2023, when No. 9 seed Florida Atlantic lost to No. 5 seed San Diego State by one point.

8 seeds

Four of the six No. 8 seeds () who advanced from the Elite Eight also won in the Final Four. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

<sup>†</sup> Not an upset, as the No. 8 seed defeated a lower seed.

7 seeds

One of the three No. 7 seeds () who advanced from the Elite Eight also won in the Final Four. The seed of the team they defeated is in parentheses.

6 seeds

Two of the three No. 6 seeds () who advanced from the Elite Eight also won in the Final Four. Seeds of the teams they defeated are in parentheses.

<sup>‡</sup> Not officially an upset because the teams were separated by fewer than five seed lines.

National championship

8 seeds

One of the four No. 8 seeds () who advanced from the Final Four also won the national championship. The seed of the team they defeated is in parentheses.

7 seeds

The only No. 7 seed who advanced from the Final Four also won the national championship. The seed of the team they defeated is in parentheses.

<sup>†</sup> Not an upset, as the No. 7 seed defeated a lower seed.

6 seeds

One of the two No. 6 seeds () who advanced from the Final Four also won the national championship. The seed of the team they defeated is in parentheses.

Footnotes

References

See also