Fill My Bracket starts a full March Madness bracket from five questions.
What is the lowest seed to reach the championship game?
A No. 8 seed. Five 8 seeds have reached the title game. Four lost. One won it all.
128 days until Selection Sunday, Sunday, March 14, 2027.
Start your bracketThe four 8 seeds that lost the final
| Year | 8 seed | Lost to | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | UCLA | Louisville | 59 to 54 |
| 2011 | Butler | UConn | 53 to 41 |
| 2014 | Kentucky | UConn | 60 to 54 |
| 2022 | North Carolina | Kansas | 72 to 69 |
UConn stopped two of them. Butler in 2011, Kentucky in 2014.
The one 8 seed that won
Villanova, in 1985.
Villanova beat Georgetown 66 to 64.
That win is also the lowest seed ever to win the title.
Read the lowest seed to win March Madness.
The line stops at 8
Seeds began in 1979.
Six 11 seeds have reached the Final Four.
None reached the title game.
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 lowest seed to reach the championship game?
A No. 8 seed. Five 8 seeds have reached the title game. One won it, Villanova in 1985. Four lost.
Has a seed lower than 8 ever reached the championship game?
No. Seeds began in 1979. No 9 seed or lower has ever played in the title game.
Which 8 seeds lost the championship game?
UCLA in 1980, Butler in 2011, Kentucky in 2014, and North Carolina in 2022.