The modern NCAA tournament dates back to 1985, when the event expanded to 64 teams, introducing seed lines 13 through 16 for the first time. While it took more than three decades for a No. 16 seed to top a No. 1 in the first round, the 15-seeds took just a few years.

The Richmond Spiders made history at the 1991 NCAA tournament, taking down Syracuse—a team just a few years removed from a national title game appearance—during a first-round game in College Park, Md. They were the first of 11 teams seeded 15th to win a game in the tournament, with Florida Gulf Coast—a team affectionately dubbed "Dunk City" for its high-flying style of play—breaking through as the first 15-seed to reach the second weekend.

Furthest a 15-Seed Has Advanced (Men’s)

The men's NCAA tournament has featured a few No. 15 seeds that have made their presences felt, especially over the last decade-plus. None has made the impact of the 2022 Saint Peter's Peacocks.

After becoming the 10th 15-seed in history to win its round of 64 game by stunning No. 2 Kentucky in overtime, Saint Peter's kept the party rolling, taking down No. 7 Murray State and No. 3 Purdue. The clock finally struck midnight on the Peacocks in the Elite Eight, where they lost to eighth-seeded North Carolina 69–49.

Shaheen Holloway's small New Jersey-based program put itself on the map with the run, and helped the coach land the job at his alma mater Seton Hall that offseason.

Four 15-seeds have now gone to at least the Sweet 16, with three of them doing so in the last four tournaments. With the 2025 NCAA tournament tipping off in just a few weeks, let's take a look at the most successful 15-seeds in NCAA tournament history.

Furthest 15-Seed Runs (Men's)

Year

Team (15-Seed)

Opponent (2-Seed)

Score

Round Reached

Result

2022

Saint Peter’s

Kentucky

85–79 (OT)

Elite Eight

L vs. No. 8 North Carolina (69–49)

2013

Florida Gulf Coast

Georgetown

78–68

Sweet 16

L vs. No. 3 Florida (62–50)

2021

Oral Roberts

Ohio State

75–72 (OT)

Sweet 16

L vs. No. 3 Arkansas (72–70)

2023

Princeton

Arizona

59–55

Sweet 16

L vs No. 6 Creighton (86–75)

1991

Richmond

Syracuse

73–69

Round of 32

L vs. No. 10 Temple (77–64)

1993

Santa Clara

Arizona

64–61

Round of 32

L vs. No. 7 Temple (68–57)

1997

Coppin State

South Carolina

78–65

Round of 32

L vs. No. 10 Texas (82–81)

2001

Hampton

Iowa State

58–57

Round of 32

L vs. No. 10 Georgetown (76–57)

2012

Norfolk State

Missouri

86–84

Round of 32

L vs. No. 7 Florida (84–50)

2012

Lehigh

Duke

75–70

Round of 32

L vs. No. 10 Xavier (70–58)

2016

Middle Tennessee

Michigan State

90–81

Round of 32

L vs. No. 10 Syracuse (75–50)

No 15-Seed Has Won a Game in the Women's NCAA Tournament

Women's basketball is still waiting for its first No. 15 over No. 2 upset, with the closest game in tournament history coming in 2017, when Long Beach State narrowly lost to Oregon State 56–55. The women's NCAA tournament did have its first 16-over-1 upset years before the men's event when No. 16 Harvard knocked off No. 1 Stanford in 1998.