The insanity has begun. Each March, followers all all over the world sit again and watch historical past unfold. There’s something magical about March Insanity, the place we see essentially the most dominant groups elevate a trophy or go dwelling in shock. It is the Cinderella tales that pave the way in which for smaller faculties sooner or later. It is what makes the NCAA Match unforgettable. It isn’t simply who wins all of it, however the chaos created alongside the way in which.
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Males’s NCAA Match All-time Upsets
5. No. 14 Oakland Defeats No. 3 Kentucky (2024)
While you take a look at latest historical past for upsets, the primary one which involves thoughts is when Jack Gohlke made a reputation for himself by lighting up Huge Blue. In an 80-76 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies put the Horizon League on the map.
FINAL: Oakland 80, Kentucky 76.
Greg Kampe and Oakland stun the school basketball world with one of many biggest upsets in March Insanity historical past! 🏀🔥
Need his 1-1-3 Match-up Notes: https://t.co/RIWbQ7wfZK pic.twitter.com/m7IWRMiPG2
— Scott Peterman (@coachpeterman) December 31, 2024
Gohlke dropped 32 factors and hit 10 3-pointers, the second-most threes in an NCAA Match recreation. Within the victory over the Wildcats, the Golden Grizzlies shot 15-of-31 from three (48%), utterly outgunning one of many extra proficient groups within the nation. The Golden Grizzlies got here out victorious, due to limiting turnovers, and scored 12 factors off the Wildcats’ 11 turnovers.
4. No. 15 Oral Roberts Defeats No. 2 Ohio State (2021)
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles got here in missed however left unforgettable. Led by Max Abmas, who scored 29 factors, Oral Roberts took down the Ohio State Buckeyes 75–72 in additional time.
IT’S MARCH!
15-SEED ORAL ROBERTS UPSETS OHIO STATE! 😱@ORUMBB | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/GyKqYYGhhm
— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2021
What makes this upset even crazier is that Abmas averaged 24.5 factors per recreation through the match. The Golden Eagles grew to become simply the second 15-seed ever to succeed in the Candy 16.
3. No. 15 FGCU Defeats No. 2 Georgetown (2013)
“Dunk Metropolis.” That’s all you must say. The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles didn’t simply beat the Georgetown Hoyas; they dominated with type.
March 22, 2013: Dunk Metropolis introduces itself to the nation, as 15-seed Florida Gulf Coast College (@FGCU_MBB) shocks 2-seed Georgetown 78-68 within the first spherical of the NCAA Match. pic.twitter.com/6OfyM69RO4
— This Day In Sports activities Clips (@TDISportsClips) March 22, 2020
The Eagles shot 43% from the sphere and threw down dunks throughout their first two match video games. In a recreation led by Sherwood Brown and Bernard Thompson, this group regarded unstoppable. With a 78-68 victory, the Eagles turned their match run right into a spotlight reel by changing into the primary 15-seed ever to succeed in the Candy 16.
2. No. 8 Villanova Defeats No. 1 Georgetown (1985)
With the way in which upsets occur now, we have now to understand what got here earlier than modern-day basketball. This wasn’t simply an upset, it was perfection. The Villanova Wildcats shot an unbelievable 78.6% from the sphere (22-of-28) within the nationwide championship recreation to take down the Georgetown Hoyas.
40 years in the past at present, Villanova performed the proper recreation to beat mighty Georgetown within the 1985 Championship Recreation by taking pictures 79% from the sphere (22-28 FGs). 🤯 pic.twitter.com/DayA6oDNRG
— School Sports activities Solely (@CSOonX) April 1, 2025
The Wildcats missed solely six pictures the complete recreation, a document of effectivity that also stands as one of many biggest performances ever. While you take a look at this Georgetown group, led by Patrick Ewing, with Reggie Williams additionally on the roster, it is laborious to imagine they misplaced.
Going into this recreation, Villanova would fairly actually need to play an ideal recreation to win. This exhibits the fantastic thing about March Insanity. There’s a motive why this recreation is named “The Excellent Recreation.”
1. No. 16 UMBC Defeats No. 1 Virginia (2018)
In some unspecified time in the future, we must see the final No. 16 seed defeat the primary No. 1 seed. The phrase “U Should Be Cinderella” was the slogan for the UMBC Retrievers. This wasn’t only a win—it was a blowout 74-54 victory.
On this present day in 2018, historical past was made as 16-seed @UMBC_MBB did the UNTHINKABLE by defeating 1-seed Virginia 😱#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/0CMAmlGODI
— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2025
The Retrievers shot 54.2% from the sphere and outscored Virginia 53–33 within the second half. Earlier than this recreation, 16 seeds had been 0–135 all-time towards No. 1 seeds. That’s what makes this the best upset ever. It didn’t simply break the rule— it shattered it.
For a group to utterly stroll down their opponent with no concern, this “David and Goliath” matchup will at all times be a historic traditional.
Ladies’s NCAA Match All-time Upsets
5. No. 2 Iowa Defeats No. 1 South Carolina (2023)
Though this was a matchup between two top-seeded groups, South Carolina was on a 42-game win streak, in the midst of an ideal season, and on the verge of going back-to-back. Nevertheless, Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes put an finish to the dominant Gamecocks.
“The Legendary Mastery of Caitlin Clark continues.”
Behind 41 from Clark, Iowa advances to the championship recreation towards LSU. South Carolina was the defending champion and had received 42 straight. pic.twitter.com/1hBqgBq2ad
— Terrible Saying (@awfulannouncing) April 1, 2023
Throughout this time, nobody gave the Hawkeyes an opportunity to win, even with Clark having an incredible match. The dominance stemmed from the truth that this South Carolina group completely ought to have been repeat champions. On paper, it is laborious to imagine that Iowa may even sustain with Daybreak Staley’s group, not to mention win the sport.
This was a staple recreation for Iowa, with Clark dropping 41 factors, eight assists, and 6 rebounds. This despatched the Hawkeyes to the Nationwide Championship recreation.
4. No. 2 Stanford Defeats No. 1 Notre Dame (2017)
As soon as once more, one other top-seed upset occurred. This time, the Cardinals got here again from 16 factors down towards this stacked Combating Irish group.
Down at halftime, Stanford got here in on fireplace offensively and with lockdown protection. This was already a rematch of the earlier yr’s Candy Sixteen, which one would assume Notre Dame would have saved the foot on the gasoline.
📹 @StanfordWBB palms Notre Dame its first-ever #Elite8 loss to succeed in the #WFinalFour! pic.twitter.com/QoLFkHcy2J
— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 26, 2017
While you take a look at who was on this Combating Irish group as effectively, there’s a motive why Notre Dame is “Guard College” for ladies’s basketball. This was a roster that includes Marina Mabrey, Arike Ogunbowale, and plenty of different notable WNBA gamers that misplaced! Ultimately, this squad would win a Nationwide Championship, however Stanford’s expertise cannot be missed both.
With a shot made by Alanna Smith with 23 seconds left, Stanford accomplished the comeback. Finally, this makes it a fantastic upset final result.
3. No. 12 Ball State Defeats No. 5 Tennessee (2009)
The Ball State Cardinals shocked the basketball world by taking down the Tennessee Woman Volunteers. Though this Tennessee group misplaced virtually its total roster from the earlier yr, it was nonetheless a Pat Summitt-led group.
Ball State took full benefit of @Beyonce’s “Single Girls” topping the charts in 2009.
The Cardinals carried out the total dance routine earlier than each recreation, together with through the 2009 NCAA Match! #ncaaW | @BallStateWBB pic.twitter.com/wVWpqIBGIP
— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 21, 2020
Nevertheless, Ball State pressured 16 turnovers and held Tennessee to simply 55 factors, utterly disrupting some of the legendary packages within the sport.
Tennessee had by no means misplaced within the first spherical in program historical past till Ball State got here and ended their streak.
2. No. 9 Mississippi State Defeats No. 1 UConn (2017)
The Mississippi State Bulldogs ended some of the dominant runs in sports activities historical past. The UConn Huskies got here in on a 111-game profitable streak, profitable video games by a median of almost 25+ factors.
March 31, 2017: Morgan William nails a jumper on the buzzer to carry the Mississippi State Ladies over UConn 66-64 in OT within the Closing 4, snapping the Huskies’ 111-game win streak. pic.twitter.com/Gm5OCR1b5H
— This Day In Sports activities Clips (@TDISportsClips) March 31, 2022
Then it ended on a Morgan William buzzer-beater. Mississippi State received 66–64 in additional time, ending the streak and stunning the complete sports activities world in a single shot.
1. No. 16 Harvard Defeats No. 1 Stanford (1998)
In terms of upsets, it is already uncommon to see a 16-seed beat a 1-seed, so after all, it must be primary on this checklist.
28 years in the past at present, Harvard defeated Stanford 71-67 to turn into the primary ever 16-seed to defeat a 1-seed in NCAA Ladies’s or Males’s Basketball Match historical past: pic.twitter.com/rM51o9uKvE
— NIL 𝘯𝘰𝘵 NLI (@NILnotNLI) March 14, 2026
The Harvard Crimson girls’s basketball group shocked the Stanford Cardinals, 71-67, changing into the primary 16-seed to beat a 1-seed in NCAA Match historical past.
Harvard received by enjoying fearless basketball from begin to end. Led by Allison Feaster, who had 35 factors and 13 rebounds, Harvard put its identify within the historical past books.
Trying Onward
March Insanity isn’t only a match; it’s proof that numbers don’t at all times matter till they do. As a result of generally it’s 10 threes, generally it’s 78% taking pictures, and generally it’s breaking a 0–135 streak that no person thought would ever finish. It’s the place unknown gamers turn into legends, underdogs turn into icons, and giants fall while you least count on them. Yearly, we look forward to that one shining second. Historical past isn’t simply remembered in March, it is created.
The actual query going into this yr’s match is: Will we see one other Cinderella run? Will a high seed get shocked?
