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Iowa basketball pulls off March Madness upset, reaches first Elite 8 in 39 years
Ninth-seeded Hawkeyes beat No. 4 Nebraska to become highest remaining seed in tournament
Mar. 27, 2026 at 2:58am
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The Iowa Hawkeyes, a 9-seed, have advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament for the first time in 39 years. Led by head coach Ben McCollum and star player Bennett Stirtz, the Hawkeyes pulled off an upset victory over No. 4 seed Nebraska to become the highest remaining seed in the tournament. This Cinderella run comes after Iowa struggled late in the regular season but has found its stride in March Madness.
Why it matters
Iowa's unexpected tournament run as a 9-seed has captivated fans and made the Hawkeyes the new darlings of March Madness. Their underdog story is reminiscent of past Cinderella teams that have captured the nation's attention, and their success could inspire more mid-major programs to believe they can make deep tournament runs.
The details
In the Sweet 16 matchup against Nebraska, Iowa trailed for most of the game before Bennett Stirtz hit a crucial 3-pointer with just over 2 minutes remaining to give the Hawkeyes their first lead. On the next possession, teammate Tate Sage also hit a 3 to extend the lead, and Iowa held on for a 77-71 victory. The Hawkeyes made 13 3-pointers in the game, taking advantage of one of the nation's best defensive teams. Stirtz led Iowa with 20 points and 4 assists, while the Hawkeyes' bench contributed 38 points.
- Iowa reached the Elite 8 for the first time in 39 years.
- The Hawkeyes upset No. 4 seed Nebraska in the Sweet 16 on March 26, 2026.
The players
Ben McCollum
The head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, who previously coached at Division II Northwest Missouri State and Drake before taking the Iowa job.
Bennett Stirtz
A star player for Iowa who followed head coach Ben McCollum from Northwest Missouri State to Drake and now to the Hawkeyes. Stirtz led Iowa with 20 points and 4 assists in the Sweet 16 win over Nebraska.
Tate Sage
An Iowa player who hit a crucial 3-pointer in the final minutes to help the Hawkeyes pull away from Nebraska.
Pryce Sandfort
A Nebraska player who scored 25 points against Iowa in the Sweet 16 matchup. Sandfort previously played for the Hawkeyes before transferring to Nebraska.
Braden Frager
A Nebraska player who hit a 3-pointer to briefly give the Huskers the lead in the second half against Iowa.
What they’re saying
“Cinderella, whatever they want to call us, we're in the Elite Eight — that's what they need to call us.”
— Ben McCollum, Head Coach, Iowa Hawkeyes
“That's my guy.”
— Bennett Stirtz, Player, Iowa Hawkeyes
“They seeded us right where we should.”
— Ben McCollum, Head Coach, Iowa Hawkeyes
What’s next
The Iowa Hawkeyes will face the winner of the Gonzaga-UCLA matchup in the Elite 8 on March 30, 2026, with a chance to advance to the Final Four.
The takeaway
Iowa's unexpected run to the Elite 8 as a 9-seed has captivated college basketball fans and proven that Cinderella stories can still happen, even in a sport dominated by traditional powerhouses. The Hawkeyes' success could inspire more mid-major programs to believe they can make deep tournament runs and challenge the established order in men's college basketball.
