The 7-10 matchup is always one of the toughest picks in the men’s NCAA tournament bracket. Sure, a No. 10 seed beating a No. 7 seed is a difference on the seed line. But it happens so often that it’s rarely a surprise when it does.
Here’s everything you need to know about No. 10 seeds vs. No. 7 seeds in March Madness.
History of 10 vs. 7 seeds in March Madness
Here are all of the times No. 10 seeds have beaten No. 7 seeds, since 2010:
| Year | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Colorado def. Florida | 102-100 |
| 2023 | Penn State def. Texas A&M | 76-59 |
| 2022 | Miami (Fla.) def. USC | 68-66 |
| 2021 | Maryland def. UConn | 63-54 |
| 2021 | Rutgers def. Clemson | 60-56 |
| 2019 | Florida def. Nevada | 70-61 |
| 2019 | Iowa def. Cincinnati | 79-72 |
| 2019 | Minnesota def. Louisville | 86-76 |
| 2018 | Butler def. Arkansas | 79-62 |
| 2017 | Wichita State def. Dayton | 64-58 |
| 2016 | VCU def. Oregon State | 75-67 |
| 2016 | Syracuse def. Dayton | 70-51 |
| 2015 | Ohio State def. VCU | 75-72 |
| 2014 | Stanford def. New Mexico | 58-53 |
| 2013 | Iowa State def. Notre Dame | 76-58 |
| 2012 | Xavier def. Notre Dame | 67-63 |
| 2012 | Purdue def. St. Mary’s | 72-69 |
| 2011 | Florida State def. Texas A&M | 57-50 |
| 2010 | Georgia Tech def. Oklahoma State | 64-59 |
| 2010 | Missouri def. Clemson | 86-78 |
| 2010 | St. Mary’s def. Richmond | 80-71 |
Some more tidbits:
- In total, No. 10 seeds hold a 60-96 record against No. 7 seeds since the NCAA tournament field expanded in 1985. That equates to a 38.46 winning percentage.
- West Virginia had the widest margin of victory for a No. 10 seed when it beat Temple, 82-52, in 1998.
- Creighton (which has the most appearances as a No. 10 seed with five) is winless as the lower seed, but 1-0 as a No. 7 seed.
- There has been only one tournament where No. 7 seeds were swept by 10s (1999).
- On the flip side, there have only been two tournaments where all four No. 7 seeds advanced: 1993 and 2007.
- No. 10 seeds went 3-1 against 7s in 2019. Florida, Iowa and Minnesota were the lower seeds who advanced. Wofford was the only No. 7 seed to win.
- In 2021, No. 7 Oregon’s advancement past No. 10 VCU happened because COVID-19 protocols and a no-contest designation.
Recent/most memorable 10-7 moments
In 2024, Colorado took out Florida in a wild 102-100 final that didn’t even need OT to reach that point total. KJ Simpson led the Buffaloes with 23 points and made a late shot that proved to be the winner.
Full ending, game winner from Colorado’s wild first-round win over Florida
Two 10 seeds won in 2021: Maryland beat UConn and Rutgers defeated Clemson. Rutgers’ 60-56 win was the Scarlet Knights’ first in the NCAA tournament since 1983.
Rutgers vs. Clemson: Extended highlights from 2021 NCAA tournament
The 2019 tournament saw three No. 10 seeds advance by an average of 8.7 points. First there was Florida over Nevada:
Florida survives first round battle with Nevada
Then, Minnesota over Louisville:
Minnesota advances past Louisville
Also Iowa over Cincinnati:
Iowa knocks off Cincinnati, 79-72
Remember Syracuse’s magical Final Four run in 2016? It started with a decisive win over Dayton in the first round:
First Round: Syracuse flies by Dayton
And before Syracuse, the last time a No. 10 seed reached the Elite Eight, Steph Curry’s Davidson Wildcats pulled out a six-point win over Gonzaga to start one of the best Cinderella stories in college basketball history.
Curry leads Davidson to the Elite Eight in 2008
