Fill My Bracket starts a full March Madness bracket from five questions.
Has a 5 seed ever won March Madness?
No. Never. Nine 5 seeds reached the Final Four since 1985. Four of them reached the title game. All four lost it.
126 days until Selection Sunday, Sunday, March 14, 2027.
Start your bracketThe nine 5 seeds that reached the Final Four
| Year | Team | Seed | How far it went |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Mississippi State | 5 | Lost in the semifinals |
| 2000 | Florida | 5 | Lost the title game |
| 2002 | Indiana | 5 | Lost the title game |
| 2005 | Michigan State | 5 | Lost in the semifinals |
| 2010 | Butler | 5 | Lost the title game |
| 2010 | Michigan State | 5 | Lost in the semifinals |
| 2019 | Auburn | 5 | Lost in the semifinals |
| 2023 | San Diego State | 5 | Lost the title game |
| 2023 | Miami | 5 | Lost in the semifinals |
Nine teams, but only seven tournaments.
Two tournaments sent two 5 seeds each.
In 2010 it was Butler and Michigan State.
In 2023 it was San Diego State and Miami.
Four finals, four losses
Florida lost the 2000 final to Michigan State.
Indiana lost the 2002 final to Maryland.
Butler lost the 2010 final to Duke, 61 to 59.
That two-point loss is the closest a 5 seed ever came.
San Diego State lost the 2023 final to UConn.
The lowest seed to win is an 8 seed: Villanova, in 1985.
Read about it on the lowest seed to win March Madness page.
The full 5-seed record
Since 1985, 164 teams were 5 seeds.
106 of them won a game.
56 reached the Sweet 16.
12 reached the Elite Eight.
9 reached the Final Four, and 4 reached the final.
Titles: zero. The 5 seed is the strongest seed that has never won.
It is also the seed everyone warns you about.
A 12 seed beat a 5 seed 58 times in the first round.
See how often a 12 seed beats a 5 seed.
How we counted
Counted from the site’s tournament record, 1985 to 2026.
That is 41 tournaments. There was no tournament in 2020.
See every year on the tournament history page.
Five questions start your bracket. Your picks finish it.
The picker opens on Selection Sunday, March 14, 2027. Name your favorite and your upsets.
Common questions
Has a 5 seed ever won March Madness?
No. Nine 5 seeds reached the Final Four since 1985, and four reached the title game. None of them won it.
How many 5 seeds have made the Final Four?
Nine teams, in seven tournaments. Two tournaments sent two 5 seeds each: 2010 (Butler and Michigan State) and 2023 (San Diego State and Miami).
Which 5 seed came closest to winning?
Butler in 2010. It lost the title game to Duke 61 to 59, the closest of the four 5-seed finals.