First Four to Final Four? How First Four NCAA Tournament Teams Perform in March Madness

First Four NCAA Tournament teams in March Madness

First Four NCAA Tournament: Since 2011, the NCAA Tournament has featured 68 teams, with the First Four matchups deciding the final entries into the 64-team bracket. These initial games showcase the last four at-large selections alongside the last four automatic qualifiers, all vying for a chance to progress.

In 2023, No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson (FDU) made history as the first automatic qualifier from the First Four to win a first-round game, pulling off a shocking upset against No. 1 Purdue. However, the at-large winners from the First Four have had an even more significant impact, consistently demonstrating their ability to make deep runs during March Madness.

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) set a precedent in 2011 by advancing from the First Four to the Final Four, defeating several prominent programs along the way. Similarly, UCLA made a remarkable journey in 2021, progressing from Dayton to the Final Four, highlighted by an Elite Eight triumph over No. 1 Michigan.

Despite their lower seeds, these First Four teams have proven they can create a stir. In fact, the only tournaments where at least one at-large First Four team did not make it past the opening round of 64 are 2019 and 2025.

Here’s how they perform:

AQ First Four teams that have won in the NCAA tournament-

We only listed teams that won a game in the first round, or post-First Four games won. Gains are highlighted:

Team	Seed	Scores
2023 FDU (19-15)	No. 16	W, No. 1 Purdue, 63-58 L, No. 9 Florida Atlantic, 78-70

How at-large First Four teams do in the NCAA tournament

We listed post-First Four games, meaning only the winners of the First Four games are here. Wins are in bold:

Team	Seed	Scores
2010-11 VCU (23-11)	11	W, No. 6 Georgetown, 74-56 W, No. 3 Purdue, 94-76 W, No. 10 Florida State, 72-71 (OT) W, No. 1 Kansas, 71-61 L, No. 8 Butler, 70-62
2010-11 Clemson (21-11)	12	L, No. 5 West Virginia, 84-76
2011-12 South Florida (20-13)	12	W, No. 5 Temple, 58-44 L, No. 13 Ohio, 62-56
2011-12 BYU (25-8)	14	L, No. 3 Marquette, 88-68
2012-13 Saint Mary’s (27-6)	11	L, No. 6 Memphis, 54-52
2012-13 La Salle (21-9)	13	W, No. 4 Kansas State, 63-61 W, No. 12 Ole Miss, 76-74 L, No. 8 Wichita State, 72-58
2013-14 Tennessee (21-12)	11	W, No. 6 UMass, 86-67 W, No. 14 Mercer, 83-63 L, No. 2 Michigan, 73-71
2013-14 NC State (21-13)	12	L, No. 5 Saint Louis, 83-80 (OT)
2014-15 Ole Miss (20-12)	11	L, No. 6 Xavier, 76-57
2014-15 Dayton (25-8)	11	W, No. 6 Providence, 66-53 L, No. 3 Oklahoma, 72-66
2015-16 Wichita State (24-8)	11	W, No. 6 Arizona, 65-55 L, No. 3 Miami (FL), 65-57
2015-16 Michigan (22-12)	11	L, No. 6 Notre Dame, 70-63
2016-17 USC (24-9)	11	W, No. 6 SMU, 66-65 L, No. 3 Baylor, 82-78
2016-17 Kansas State (20-13)	11	L, No. 6 Cincinnati, 75-61
2017-18 St. Bonaventure (25-7)	11	L, No. 6 Florida, 77-62
2017-18 Syracuse (20-13)	11	W, No. 6 TCU, 57-52 W, No. 3 Michigan State, 55-53 L, No. 2 Duke, 69-65
2018-19 Belmont (26-5)	11	L, No. 6 Maryland, 79-77
2018-19 Arizona State (22-10)	11	L, No. 6 Buffalo, 91-74
2020-21 Drake (25-4)	11	L, No. 6 USC, 72-56
2020-21 UCLA (17-9)	11	W, No. 6 BYU, 73-62 W, No. 14 Abilene Christian, 67-47 W, No. 2 Alabama, 88-78 (OT) W, No. 1 Michigan, 51-49 L, No. 1 Gonzaga, 93-90 (OT)
2021-22 Indiana (20-13)	12	L, No. 5 Saint Mary’s, 82-53
2021-22 Notre Dame (22-10)	11	W, No. 6 Alabama, 78-64 L, No. 3 Texas Tech, 59-53
2022-23 Arizona State (22-12)	11	L, No. 6 TCU, 72-70
2022-23 Pitt (22-11)	11	W, No. 6 Iowa State, 59-41 L, No. 3 Xavier, 84-73
2023-24 Colorado (24-10)	10	W, No. 7 Florida, 102-100 L, No. 2 Marquette, 81-77
2023-24 Colorado State (24-10)	10	L, No. 7 Texas, 56-44
2024-2025 Xavier (22-11)	11	L, No. 6 Illinois, 86-73
2024-2025 North Carolina (23-13)	11	L, No. 6 Ole Miss, 71-64