March Madness always brings chaos, and that is what makes the NCAA Tournament so fun to watch. Every year, smaller teams get a real chance to take down big programs. The format plays a big role in that excitement. It is single elimination, so one bad game can end a season. On the other hand, one great performance can turn a team into history makers.
The tournament includes 68 teams in total. First, four teams battle in the play-in games. After that, the main bracket begins with 64 teams. Each region has 16 teams, and matchups depend on seeding. Higher seeds are expected to win, but things rarely go as planned.
Over the years, upsets have become a big part of the tournament. Since 1985, all No. 1 seeds have reached the Final Four only twice. That shows how unpredictable this event really is. Almost every year, at least one team surprises everyone.
So far, the 2026 tournament has followed the same trend. The early rounds have already produced some big upsets. A few games were very close, while others shocked everyone completely. Now, here is a full list of the biggest surprises so far, starting with the most recent ones and going backward.
10. No. 9 Iowa beat No. 1 Florida
Iowa pulled off the biggest shock of the tournament so far. They beat defending champion Florida in a dramatic game. For most of the night, Iowa looked in control. At one point, they even led by 12 points.
Florida made a late push, with Alex Condon leading the comeback. In the final seconds, Bennett Stirtz found Alvaro Folgueiras with a perfect bounce pass. Folgueiras hit a three with just five seconds left. That shot won the game. This win sent Iowa to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999. It also stands as one of the biggest upsets this year.
9. No. 5 St. John’s beat No. 4 Kansas
This may look like a small upset, but it still counts based on seeding. For most of the game, Kansas stayed in control. They even built a 14-point lead in the second half. Then St. John’s fought back hard.
Late in the game, Kansas tied it at 65, and overtime seemed likely. Instead, Dylan Darling drove in and scored at the buzzer. That moment gave St. John’s a thrilling win and showed their confidence under pressure.
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8. No. 11 Texas beat No. 3 Gonzaga
Texas kept its strong run going with a win over Gonzaga. Coming into the tournament, they were one of the last teams to qualify. Still, their confidence kept growing after beating BYU.
Matas Vokietaitis led the team with 17 points and nine rebounds. His performance helped Texas stay steady in key moments.
Gonzaga could not catch up late. This win pushed Texas further and made them a surprise team this year.
7. No. 9 Iowa beat No. 8 Clemson
Iowa burst into its strong form with the Clemson win. Right from the start, they built a solid lead and never let it slip. Clemson tried to come back but could not finish.
Alvaro Folgueiras scored 14 points off the bench. Kael Combs added 15 points with great efficiency. Rebounding made a big difference, as Iowa won that battle 40 to 27. Free throws also helped them control the game.
6. No. 9 Utah State beat No. 8 Villanova
Utah State showed great fight in this game.
Early in the second half, Villanova led by 10 points. Many thought the game was over at that stage. Even though Utah State struggled from three-point range, they found other ways to score.
A strong 20-6 run late in the game changed everything. MJ Collins Jr. played a key role in that stretch. That push helped them secure the win.
5. No. 12 High Point beat No. 5 Wisconsin
High Point delivered a classic 12-over-5 upset. Throughout the game, they stayed close and never let Wisconsin pull away. That constant pressure made the difference. Chase Johnston had a rare moment when he scored inside instead of from three. Those points turned out to be crucial.
In the end, High Point won 83-82 in one of the closest games of the round.
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4. No. 11 Texas beat No. 6 BYU
Texas started its tournament run with a strong win. After playing a play-in game, they came in with momentum and confidence. That showed early on the court.
They built a nine-point lead by halftime and managed it well in the second half.
Matas Vokietaitis led the way with 23 points and 16 rebounds. His double-double helped Texas stay in control.
3. No. 9 Saint Louis beat No. 8 Georgia
Saint Louis dominated this game from the start. By halftime, they already had a 17-point lead. That gave them full control of the game.
Their offense worked well as five players scored in double figures. That balance made them hard to defend. In the end, they won comfortably in one of the most one-sided upsets.
2. No. 10 Texas A&M beat No. 7 Saint Mary’s
Texas A&M handled this game with ease. From the beginning, they took the lead and never looked back. By halftime, they were already ahead by 11 points. Saint Mary’s struggled to respond and could not close the gap.
Rashaun Agee led the team with 22 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. His performance powered a 63-50 win.
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1. No. 11 VCU beat No. 6 North Carolina
This game turned into one of the most dramatic moments of the tournament. Early on, North Carolina looked comfortable and in control. They even built a 19-point lead.
In the second half, VCU completely changed the game. They scored 47 points and forced overtime. Momentum stayed with VCU, and they finished the job with an 82-78 win. This loss became one of the toughest in North Carolina’s tournament history.
Final Thoughts
March Madness 2026 has already delivered big surprises. Lower seeds have stepped up and played with confidence. Close games and late shots have shaped the early rounds.
Another result was added to the story. UCLA could not get past the first weekend again. They lost 73 to 57 against Connecticut in the second round at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. That made it two straight early exits for them.
More twists are likely as the tournament moves forward.
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