History of 4 seeds vs. 13 seeds in March Madness

Yale joined the list of No. 13 seeds pulling out upsets in 2024, as the Paladins upset No. 4 Auburn 78-76.

Here’s everything you need to know about 13 seeds vs. 4 seeds in March Madness.

History of 13 vs. 4 seeds in March Madness

Thirty-three No. 13 seeds have upset No. 4 seeds since the NCAA tournament field expanded in 1985. Following the first round of the 2025 NCAA tournament, No. 13 seeds had a 33-127 record all-time. That equated to a 20.63 winning percentage.

Here are all of the times it’s ever happened.

13-seed upsets over 4-seeds

Year
Result
Score

2024
Yale def. Auburn
78-76

2023
Furman def. Virginia
68-67

2021
Ohio def. Virginia
62-58

2021
North Texas def. Purdue
78-69 (OT)

2019
UC Irvine def. Kansas State
70-64

2018
Marshall def. Wichita State
81-75

2018
Buffalo def. Arizona
89-69

2016
Hawaii def. California
77-66

2013
La Salle def. Kansas State
63-61

2012
Ohio def. Michigan
65-60

2011
Morehead State def. Louisville
62-61

2010
Murray State def. Vanderbilt
66-65

2009
Cleveland State def. Wake Forest
84-69

2008
San Diego def. UConn
70-69

2008
Siena def. Vanderbilt
83-62

2006
Bradley def. Kansas
77-73

2005
Vermont def. Syracuse
60-57

2003
Tulsa def. Dayton
84-71

2002
UNC Wilmington def. USC
93-89

2001
Kent State def. Indiana
77-73

2001
Indiana State def. Oklahoma
70-68

1999
Oklahoma def. Arizona
61-60

1998
Valparaiso def. Ole Miss
70-69

1996
Princeton def. UCLA
43-41

1995
Manhattan def. Oklahoma
77-67

1993
Southern def. Georgia Tech
93-78

1992
Southwestern Louisiana def. Oklahoma
87-83

1991
Penn State def. UCLA
74-69

1989
Middle Tennessee def. Florida State
97-83

1988
Richmond def. Indiana
72-69

1987
Xavier def. Missouri
70-69

1987
Missouri State def. Clemson
65-60

1985
Navy def. LSU
78-55

Some more tidbits:

Basketball legend David Robinson was on the right side of the first 13-4 upset in 1985. Robinson’s Navy Midshipmen cruised to a 78-55 victory over fourth-seeded LSU in the opening round.
Of the 33 upset victories, six finished in the Sweet 16, starting with Richmond in 1988 and most recently with La Salle in 2013.
The No. 13 seed is 7-2 in games decided by one point.
Multiple 13 seeds have upset 4 seeds in five years: 1987, 2001, 2008, 2018 and 2021.

How much more likely is a 13-4 upset than a 14-3 upset?

Twenty-three 14 seeds have upset 3 seeds since 1985, giving them a 23-137 record all-time. That equates to a 14.38 win percentage. Thus, a 13-4 upset is more than 6 percentage points more likely to happen than a 14-3.

Here are all of the times it’s ever happened.

These are the times a 14 seed upset a 3 seed in men’s March Madness

Year
Result
Score

2024
Oakland def. Kentucky
80-76

2021
Abilene Christian def. Texas
53-52

2016
Stephen F. Austin def. West Virginia
70-56

2015
Georgia State def. Baylor
57-56

2015
UAB def. Iowa State
60-59

2014
Mercer def. Duke
78-71

2013
Harvard def. New Mexico
68-62

2010
Ohio def. Georgetown
97-83

2006
Northwestern State def. Iowa
64-63

2005
Bucknell def. Kansas
64-63

1999
Weber State def. North Carolina
76-74

1998
Richmond def. South Carolina
62-61

1997
Chattanooga def. Georgia
73-70

1995
Weber State def. Michigan State
79-72

1995
Old Dominion def. Villanova
89-81

1992
ETSU def. Arizona
87-80

1991
Xavier def. Nebraska
89-84

1990
Northern Iowa def. Missouri
74-71

1989
Siena def. Stanford
80-78

1988
Murray State def. NC State
78-75

1987
Austin Peay def. Illinois
68-67

1986
Arkansas Little-Rock def. Notre Dame
90-83

1986
Cleveland State def. Indiana
83-79

Recent/best highlights of 13-4 upsets

One of the most memorable games in NCAA tournament history was a 13-4 upset.

Valparaiso won in dramatic fashion over Ole Miss in 1998. With 2.5 seconds left in the game with a two-point deficit, the Crusaders had one final shot to tie or win. Inbounding from the opposite baseline, Jamie Sykes threw an inbounds pass to Bill Jenkins at midcourt, who tapped it to Bryce Drew, who tossed up a desperation 23-foot 3-pointer. The shot went in as time expired to send Valpo to the second round. 

And here are some of the most recent 13-4 upsets.

In 2024, Yale rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half to shock Auburn:

Auburn Tigers vs. Yale Bulldogs: Game Highlights

Ohio stunned Virginia in 2021:

Ohio vs. Virginia: Extended highlights from 2021 NCAA Tournament

Also in 2021, North Texas defeated Purdue in OT:

Purdue vs North Texas: Extended highlights from 2021 NCAA tournament

In 2023, Furman shocked Virginia on a late shot:

Virginia Cavaliers vs. Furman Paladins: Game Highlights

UC Irvine’s win over Kansas State in 2019:

UC Irvine upsets Kansas State for first tournament win

Hawai’i’s first NCAA tournament win ever, which came against California in 2016:

First Round: Hawai’i upsets Cal