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.
| 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.
| 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
