Jimmy Boyd in 
The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is one of the most exciting events in sports. That is why the NCAA estimates there are 60 to 100 million brackets filled out every year.
That pales in comparison to the $3.3 billion in legal bets the AGA projected for the 2026 men’s and women’s tournaments. It is one of the busiest times for college basketball betting and fans alike.
You might refer to it as March Madness or the Big Dance as so many others do. Even if you look forward to the Tournament each year, have you stopped to think about its history?
This article takes a step back and shows you how March Madness has evolved into what it is today and maybe helps you find an angle or two to help predict who will win the 2027 NCAA tournament.
Since the first NCAA Tournament in 1939, we have seen the field expand to 68 teams, and it grows to 76 in 2027.
It’s also safe to say that no other event has conjured up more friendly wagering in the form of bracket pools.
March Madness: Men’s NCAA College Basketball Tournament History
Number of Teams in the Field
From 1939-1950 the college basketball tournament consisted of just 8 teams.
The field doubled over the next two years and would feature 22-25 teams from 1953-1974.
It became more standardized in 1975 when the number was set at 32. That lasted four seasons (1975-1978) before it was increased to 40 teams in 1979. Just one year later, the field jumped to 48 teams.
The field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. That lasted until 2001 when we added a play-in game to make it 65.
The bracket grew to 68 in 2011, as we added three more play-in games to make the First Four. In 2027 it grows to 76 teams, and the First Four gives way to a 12-game Opening Round in Dayton and Wichita on March 16-17.
Think the play-in game is a new thing? The tournament actually held four play-in games in 1983 and five in 1984.
In 2025 and 2026 there were 31 automatic invites given to the conference champions, and the committee selected 37 at-large teams to fill the rest of the field of 68. The 2027 field of 76 adds eight at-large bids, for 45.
Incredible Underdog Wins
There have been several big upsets throughout the years.
There have been two #14 seeds advanced to the Sweet 16. Cleveland St did it first in 1986 and Chattanooga followed suit in 1997. Four #15 seeds have gone that far: Florida Gulf Coast (2013), Oral Roberts (2021), Saint Peter’s (2022) and Princeton (2023).
In 2002, #12 seed Missouri made an incredible run to the Elite 8, and #12 Oregon State matched it in 2021. Saint Peter’s topped both in 2022, reaching the Elite 8 as a #15 seed.
LSU advanced to the Final 4 in 1986 as a #11 seed. A feat that has since been duplicated by George Mason (2006), VCU (2011), Loyola Chicago (2018), UCLA (2021) and NC State (2024).
Five #8 seeds have advanced to the title game. UCLA in 1980, Villanova in 1985, Butler in 2011, Kentucky in 2014, and North Carolina in 2022. Those are the lowest in history. Of the five only Villanova managed to win it all.
In 2014, the national championship game saw #7 seed Connecticut defeat #8 seed Kentucky.
That is the highest total for two teams (combined seeds) since the field moved to 64 teams in 1985.
The biggest Cinderella story finally unfolded in 2018, when #16 seed UMBC beat #1 Virginia 74-54. Fairleigh Dickinson became the second #16 seed to beat a #1 in 2023, 63-58 over Purdue.
If you want more information on the seeds check out how far each seed has gone and the winning percentages by seed.
Strongest Dynasty
There have also been some incredible college basketball dynasties formed by NCAA tournament success.
None bigger than the UCLA Bruins. UCLA won 10 titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 in a row during one stretch. They went undefeated a record 4 times during this run.
List of Past Final Four Teams, Winners & Championship Game Scores
Most Final Four Appearances (Teams with Five or More)
| App. | Team |
|---|---|
| 21 | North Carolina |
| 18 | Duke, UCLA |
| 17 | Kentucky |
| 15 | Kansas |
| 10 | Michigan State, Ohio State |
| 8 | Indiana, Louisville, UConn |
| 7 | Houston, Michigan |
| 6 | Arkansas, Cincinnati, Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma State, Syracuse, Villanova |
| 5 | Arizona, Georgetown, Oklahoma |
Through the 2026 Final Four. Official counts: the NCAA leaves out vacated appearances, including UCLA 1980, Kansas 2018, Louisville 2012 and 2013, Michigan 1992 and 1993, Ohio State 1999 and Villanova 1971.
Championship Game History
| Year | Champion (Record) | Score | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Michigan (37-3) | 69-63 | Connecticut |
| 2025 | Florida (36-4) | 65-63 | Houston |
| 2024 | Connecticut (37-3) | 75-60 | Purdue |
| 2023 | Connecticut (31-8) | 76-59 | San Diego State |
| 2022 | Kansas (34-6) | 72-69 | North Carolina |
| 2021 | Baylor (28-2) | 86-70 | Gonzaga |
| 2020 | No Tournament (Covid-19) | N/A | N/A |
| 2020 | No Tournament (Covid-19) | N/A | N/A |
| 2019 | Virginia (35-3) | 85-77 (OT) | Texas Tech |
| 2018 | Villanova (36-4) | 79-62 | Michigan |
| 2017 | North Carolina (33-7) | 71-65 | Gonzaga |
| 2016 | Villanova (35-5) | 77-74 | North Carolina |
| 2015 | Duke (35-4) | 68-63 | Wisconsin |
| 2014 | Connecticut (32-8) | 60-54 | Kentucky |
| 2013 | Louisville (35-5)* | 82-76 | Michigan |
| 2012 | Kentucky (38-2) | 67-59 | Kansas |
| 2011 | Connecticut (32-9) | 53-41 | Butler |
| 2010 | Duke (35-5) | 61-59 | Butler |
| 2009 | North Carolina (34-4) | 89-72 | Michigan State |
| 2008 | Kansas (37-3) | 75-68 (OT) | Memphis |
| 2007 | Florida (35-5) | 84-75 | Ohio State |
| 2006 | Florida (33-6) | 73-57 | UCLA |
| 2005 | North Carolina (33-4) | 75-70 | Illinois |
| 2004 | Connecticut (33-6) | 82-73 | Georgia Tech |
| 2003 | Syracuse (30-5) | 81-78 | Kansas |
| 2002 | Maryland (32-4) | 64-52 | Indiana |
| 2001 | Duke (35-4) | 82-72 | Arizona |
| 2000 | Michigan State (32-7) | 89-76 | Florida |
| 1999 | Connecticut (34-2) | 77-74 | Duke |
| 1998 | Kentucky (35-4) | 78-69 | Utah |
| 1997 | Arizona (25-9) | 84-79 (OT) | Kentucky |
| 1996 | Kentucky (34-2) | 76-67 | Syracuse |
| 1995 | UCLA (31-2) | 89-78 | Arkansas |
| 1994 | Arkansas (31-3) | 76-72 | Duke |
| 1993 | North Carolina (34-4) | 77-71 | Michigan |
| 1992 | Duke (34-2) | 71-51 | Michigan |
| 1991 | Duke (32-7) | 72-65 | Kansas |
| 1990 | UNLV (35-5) | 103-73 | Duke |
| 1989 | Michigan (30-7) | 80-79 (OT) | Seton Hall |
| 1988 | Kansas (27-11) | 83-79 | Oklahoma |
| 1987 | Indiana (30-4) | 74-73 | Syracuse |
| 1986 | Louisville (32-7) | 72-69 | Duke |
| 1985 | Villanova (25-10) | 66-64 | Georgetown |
| 1984 | Georgetown (34-3) | 84-75 | Houston |
| 1983 | North Carolina State (26-10) | 54-52 | Houston |
| 1982 | North Carolina (32-2) | 63-62 | Georgetown |
| 1981 | Indiana (26-9) | 63-50 | North Carolina |
| 1980 | Louisville (33-3) | 59-54 | UCLA |
| 1979 | Michigan State (26-6) | 75-64 | Indiana State |
| 1978 | Kentucky (30-2) | 94-88 | Duke |
| 1977 | Marquette (25-7) | 67-59 | North Carolina |
| 1976 | Indiana (32-0) | 86-68 | Michigan |
| 1975 | UCLA (28-3) | 92-85 | Kentucky |
| 1974 | North Carolina State (30-1) | 76-64 | Marquette |
| 1973 | UCLA (30-0) | 87-66 | Memphis State |
| 1972 | UCLA (30-0) | 81-76 | Florida State |
| 1971 | UCLA (29-1) | 68-62 | Villanova |
| 1970 | UCLA (28-2) | 80-69 | Jacksonville |
| 1969 | UCLA (29-1) | 92-72 | Purdue |
| 1968 | UCLA (29-1) | 78-55 | North Carolina |
| 1967 | UCLA (30-0) | 79-64 | Dayton |
| 1966 | UTEP (28-1) | 72-65 | Kentucky |
| 1965 | UCLA (28-2) | 91-80 | Michigan |
| 1964 | UCLA (30-0) | 98-83 | Duke |
| 1963 | Loyola (Ill.) (29-2) | 60-58 (OT) | Cincinnati |
| 1962 | Cincinnati (29-2) | 71-59 | Ohio State |
| 1961 | Cincinnati (27-3) | 70-65 (OT) | Ohio State |
| 1960 | Ohio State (25-3) | 75-55 | California |
| 1959 | California (25-4) | 71-70 | West Virginia |
| 1958 | Kentucky (23-6) | 84-72 | Seattle |
| 1957 | North Carolina (32-0) | 54-53 (3OT) | Kansas |
| 1956 | San Francisco (29-0) | 83-71 | Iowa |
| 1955 | San Francisco (28-1) | 77-63 | LaSalle |
| 1954 | La Salle (26-4) | 92-76 | Bradley |
| 1953 | Indiana (23-3) | 69-68 | Kansas |
| 1952 | Kansas (28-3) | 80-63 | St. John’s |
| 1951 | Kentucky (32-2) | 68-58 | Kansas State |
| 1950 | CCNY (24-5) | 71-68 | Bradley |
| 1949 | Kentucky (32-2) | 46-36 | Oklahoma A&M |
| 1948 | Kentucky (36-3) | 58-42 | Baylor |
| 1947 | Holy Cross (27-3) | 58-47 | Oklahoma |
| 1946 | Oklahoma State (31-2) | 43-40 | North Carolina |
| 1945 | Oklahoma State (27-4) | 49-45 | NYU |
| 1944 | Utah (21-4) | 42-40 (OT) | Dartmouth |
| 1943 | Wyoming (31-2) | 46-34 | Georgetown |
| 1942 | Stanford (28-4) | 53-38 | Dartmouth |
| 1941 | Wisconsin (20-3) | 39-34 | Washington State |
| 1940 | Indiana (20-3) | 60-42 | Kansas |
| 1939 | Oregon (29-5) | 46-33 | Ohio State |
*2013: Title vacated by the NCAA (2018 ruling); NCAA.com still lists it with an asterisk.
