.jpg)
1 hour ago
2
The nature of college basketball, from unpredictable missed shots, to injuries and roster turnover, makes it extremely difficult to not just win one NCAA Tournament title, but secure two in a row.
Recent history says that it's possible — in 2023 and 2024, Dan Hurley's UConn squads became the gold standard for a defending champion in the NIL era of the sport. But as the No. 1 Florida Gators proved on Sunday, narrowly losing to Iowa 73-72 in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, UConn's back-to-back titles were a bit of an anomaly.
Florida became yet another recent college basketball champion that, in the following season, failed to even reach the Sweet 16. Todd Golden's Gators found plenty of success in 2025-26 to earn a No. 1 seed, but their postseason run now meets a much quicker ending than last year at the hands of the Hawkeyes.
Here's a breakdown of how recent NCAA Tournament champions have fared in their title defense.
MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more
Recent NCAA Tournament defending champion results
UConn's back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024 are aging well. Among the last nine teams to win the NCAA Tournament, going back to 2016, the 2024 Huskies remain the only defending champion to advance to the Sweet 16 the following year — and they completed their run with a second title.
Florida became the eighth defending champion in nine years to fail to reach the Sweet 16. After taking down Houston in last year's final, the Gators head into their offseason much sooner in 2026.
Here's a look at how recent NCAA Tournament defending champions fared:
| Year of Championship | Team | Coach | Next Year's NCAA Tournament Result |
| 2025 | Florida | Todd Golden | Lost in second round to Iowa (2026) |
| 2024 | UConn | Dan Hurley | Lost in second round to Florida (2025) |
| 2023 | UConn | Dan Hurley | Won NCAA Tournament over Purdue (2024) |
| 2022 | Kansas | Bill Self | Lost in second round to Arkansas (2023) |
| 2021 | Baylor | Scott Drew | Lost in second round to North Carolina (2022) |
| 2019 | Virginia | Tony Bennett | Lost in first round to Ohio (2021) |
| 2018 | Villanova | Jay Wright | Lost in second round to Purdue (2019) |
| 2017 | North Carolina | Roy Williams | Lost in second round to Texas A&M (2018) |
| 2016 | Villanova | Jay Wright | Lost in second round to Wisconsin (2017) |
MORE: Tracking the 2026 March Madness records by conference
NCAA Tournament back-to-back champions history
There have been just eight teams to go back-to-back with NCAA Tournament titles, but on nine different occasions. In 2026, Florida was attempting to join UCLA as the only programs to accomplish that feat twice, as the Gators secured two-straight titles back in 2006 and 2007.
Instead, the exclusive group of two-time champions will remain at eight — with UConn's 2023 and 2024 run being the most recent.
Here's a look at every repeat NCAA Tournament champion:
| Team | Years |
| Oklahoma State | 1945-46 |
| Kentucky | 1948-49 |
| San Francisco | 1955-56 |
| Cincinnati | 1961-62 |
| UCLA | 1964-65, 1967-73 |
| Duke | 1991-92 |
| Florida | 2006-07 |
| UConn | 2023-24 |
SN AWARDS: All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year
English (US)