Iowa Upsets Defending Champ Florida in March Madness Thriller

Hawkeyes pull off stunner over No. 1 seed Gators in South Region second round

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:24pm

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In a major upset, the No. 9 seed Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the defending national champion and No. 1 seed Florida Gators 67-61 in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament's South Region. The Hawkeyes overcame a slow start to rally in the second half and hand the Gators their first loss of the season.

Why it matters

This result marks the first time in eight years that a defending champion has advanced past the second round of the NCAA Tournament, raising questions about Florida's ability to repeat. Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes' victory showcases the parity and unpredictability of March Madness, where a lower-seeded team can knock off a heavy favorite on any given day.

The details

Iowa trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half but chipped away at the deficit in the second period, taking the lead for good with under five minutes to play. The Hawkeyes were led by a balanced scoring effort, with four players scoring between 4-7 points. Florida struggled offensively, shooting just 33% from the field and 20% from three-point range.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 22, 2026 in Tampa, Florida.

The players

Iowa Hawkeyes

The No. 9 seed in the South Region, the Hawkeyes pulled off the upset over the defending national champion Gators.

Florida Gators

The No. 1 seed in the South Region and the defending national champions, the Gators were stunned by the lower-seeded Hawkeyes.

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What they’re saying

“Our guys showed a lot of heart and resilience to come back and get this win. We knew we had to play our best basketball to have a chance, and that's exactly what we did.”

— Fran McCaffery, Head Coach, Iowa Hawkeyes

“It's disappointing to see our season end this way, but credit to Iowa - they played a great game and deserved the victory. We'll learn from this experience and come back hungrier than ever next year.”

— Mike White, Head Coach, Florida Gators

What’s next

Iowa will advance to the Sweet Sixteen to face the winner of the UCLA-Gonzaga matchup on Friday, March 27th.

The takeaway

This upset win by the Iowa Hawkeyes over the defending champion Florida Gators is a prime example of the madness and unpredictability that makes the NCAA Tournament one of the most exciting events in all of sports. It proves that any team can win on any given day, no matter their seeding or pedigree.