Fill My Bracket starts a full March Madness bracket from five questions.
What is the longest gap between Final Four appearances?
Oregon waited 78 years between Final Four trips. It went in 1939 and not again until 2017.
128 days until Selection Sunday, Sunday, March 14, 2027.
Start your bracketThe longest waits between Final Fours
| Years | School | Trips |
|---|---|---|
| 78 | Oregon | 1939 and 2017 |
| 71 | Baylor | 1950 and 2021 |
| 59 | Wisconsin | 1941 and 2000 |
| 56 | Stanford | 1942 and 1998 |
| 56 | Texas | 1947 and 2003 |
| 55 | Loyola Chicago | 1963 and 2018 |
Oregon won the first event, in 1939.
It then missed 77 Final Fours in a row.
Baylor went in 1948 and 1950.
It then waited 71 years.
When Baylor got back in 2021, it won the title.
Still waiting
Duquesne last went in 1940, 86 years ago.
Washington State and Pittsburgh last went in 1941.
Both waits are still open.
How we counted
Counted from the site’s champions list, 1939 to 2026.
There was no event in 2020.
For title waits, see the longest gap between titles 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
What is the longest gap between Final Four appearances?
Oregon waited 78 years. It reached the Final Four in 1939 and not again until 2017.
Which school has waited longest since its last Final Four?
Duquesne. It last reached the Final Four in 1940, 86 years ago.
What is the longest gap between March Madness titles?
Michigan waited 37 years. It won in 1989 and again in 2026.