8 Schools In This Year’s NCAA Tournament With The Worst All-Time March Madness Records 

The 2025-26 NCAA Tournament is set to kick off on Tuesday with start of the First Four play-in games in Dayton. A few days later, March Madness will officially begin.

This year’s field of 68 is full of blue blood programs. Duke, Kansas, UNC, Arizona, UCONN, and Michigan State are all included. Those schools boast some of the top all-time success in Big Dance history.

For others, however, this season provides an opportunity to buck past trends. Postseason success has proven elusive for one reason or another. In some cases, it could mean securing the first ever NCAA Tournament win in program history.

8 schools with the worst NCAA Tournament records.

Here, we’ll take a look at eight schools in this year’s field that possess the worst all-time records in March Madness with a minimum of five appearances. Many are mid-majors, while a few hail from the Power 4.

We’ll go in order from most successful to least while listing win percentages and total appearances.

Miami (OH)

Win percentage (.240)

The RedHawks are making a 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the second-most of anyone on this list. They have not been incredibly successful across the first 18 tries.

Miami (OH) is 6-19 all-time in the Big Dance. While that does include four Sweet 16s, there have been far more first-round exits. They will look to flip the script in 2026.

The program posted an undefeated 2025-26 regular season before being upset in the MAC Tournament. It was able to sneak into the field as a First Four team. It will compete in a play-in game vs. SMU for an opportunity to advance to Round 1.

Utah State

Win percentage (.205)

Utah State has been to more NCAA Tournaments than anyone on this list. Unfortunately, wins have done anything but pile up.

In 26 past trips, the program is 7-27. It does have one Elite Eight since the bracket expanded from eight teams, which came in 1970, but is just 3-20 in the field since. They’ll get the chance to grab an eighth win in appearance No. 35 this postseason.

The Aggies will face Villanova as a nine-seed following a spectacular season. It represents their fourth straight Big Dance invite. The last win came in 2024 when USU beat TCU in Round 1.

Hawaii

Win percentage (.167)

The Rainbow Warriors have only appeared in five NCAA Tournaments. They picked up their only March Madness win during their last time in the field.

Hawaii is 1-5 all-time in the Big Dance. Its most recent appearance came in 2016 when it upset fourth-seeded California in the opening round.

This year, they’ll look to continue that trend in a first round matchup with Arkansas while playing a unique brand of defense. The Rainbow Warriors are a 13-seed in the current field.

Lehigh

Win percentage (.167)

Lehigh has been invited to five previous NCAA Tournament fields. The Mountain Hawks have posted a 1-5 overall record during those trips.

The one win came in 2012 when Lehigh played David to knock off Goliath Duke as a 15-seed in the opening round.

This year, the program is a 16-seed. It will compete in a play-in game against Prairie View A&M after winning the Patriot League Tournament Championship.

UCF

Win percentage (.167)

UCF earned its second-highest NCAA Tournament ranking in program history as a 10-seed in this year’s field. It should give the Knights a better opportunity to succeed.

The school is 1-5 across five previous March Madness trips. The one win came in their last appearance in 2019.

UCF beat VCU as a nine-seed in that particular field. It will look to continue those winning ways this year when facing UCLA in the opening round.

Akron

Win percentage (.000)

The Zips have been to seven previous NCAA Tournaments. They have gone a winless 0-7 in those trips.

This season’s appearance will represent the program’s fourth in the last five years. Its seeding on the No. 12 line in the Midwest Region also ties for its highest ranking in school history.

The Zips will have their hands full trying to secure that elusive first victory. They’ll face Texas Tech in the opening round as a 7.5-point underdog.

Long Island

Win percentage (.000)

The Sharks are making their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance this year as a 16-seed in the West Region. They’ll face off against top-ranked Arizona in Round 1.

In seven previous trips, the school in 0-7. The most recent outing came in the 2018 field where it lost to Radford in a play-in contest.

They’ll look to become the third 16 seed in NCAA Tournament history to pull a First Round upset.

Nebraska

Win percentage (.000)

Nebraska has had the least amount of NCAA Tournament success in this year’s field. They’ve been to eight previous Big Dances. They’ve gone a combined 0-8 in those tries.

The Cornhuskers’ last showing came in 2024 when it lost its opener to ninth-seeded Texas A&M. This year, the stakes are much higher.

Nebraska finished off a historic campaign by winning 26 games to earn a No. 4 seed in the South Region. It is the school’s highest rating since earning a three-seed in 1991.

They were upset by a 14-seed in that previously mentioned trip. They’ll look to avoid another loss to a double-digit opponent when facing Troy this year.