Fill My Bracket starts a full March Madness bracket from five questions.
How often do two 1 seeds play in the championship game?
Eleven times in 47 finals. Seeding began in 1979. About one final in four pairs two 1 seeds.
128 days until Selection Sunday, Sunday, March 14, 2027.
Start your bracketEvery final between two 1 seeds
| Year | Game | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | North Carolina vs Georgetown | 63 to 62 |
| 1993 | North Carolina vs Michigan | 77 to 71 |
| 1999 | UConn vs Duke | 77 to 74 |
| 2005 | North Carolina vs Illinois | 75 to 70 |
| 2007 | Florida vs Ohio State | 84 to 75 |
| 2008 | Kansas vs Memphis | 75 to 68 |
| 2015 | Duke vs Wisconsin | 68 to 63 |
| 2017 | North Carolina vs Gonzaga | 71 to 65 |
| 2021 | Baylor vs Gonzaga | 86 to 70 |
| 2024 | UConn vs Purdue | 75 to 60 |
| 2025 | Florida vs Houston | 65 to 63 |
The last two finals both paired two 1 seeds.
It also happened in 2007 and 2008.
North Carolina played in four of the 11 games.
One 1 seed is far more common
At least one 1 seed played in 36 of the 47 finals.
The longest wait came at the start.
No final paired two 1 seeds from 1983 to 1992.
How we counted
Counted from the site’s champions list, 1939 to 2026.
Seeds start in 1979. There was no event in 2020.
For the last four, see how many 1 seeds make the Final Four.
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
How often do two 1 seeds play in the championship game?
Eleven times in 47 finals since seeding began in 1979.
When was the last championship game between two 1 seeds?
In 2025. Florida beat Houston 65 to 63.
How many 1 seeds make the Final Four?
68 of the 164 Final Four spots since 1985.