The 2026 NCAA Tournament has featured plenty of fireworks, and we’re only through the first two rounds. Last week, VCU’s 19-point comeback to defeat North Carolina in overtime caused many fans to wonder: What’s the biggest come-from-behind victory in NCAA Tournament history?
From a First Four game to a Final Four showdown, these three comebacks define what makes March Madness so fun.
BYU Overcomes 25-Point Deficit vs. Iona (2012)
The largest comeback in NCAA tournament history unfolded in the First Four, where BYU trailed Iona 49-24 with 6:12 remaining in the first half. The Gaels shot 59% before halftime and scored 55 points in the opening 20 minutes.
Then, everything changed.
Senior Noah Hartsock scored 17 of his 23 points after the break, and BYU held Iona scoreless for more than nine minutes during a decisive 17-0 run. The Cougars outscored the Gaels 38-17 in the second half, completing the 78-72 victory that still stands as the benchmark for March Madness rallies. Brandon Davies added 18 points and 15 rebounds while Iona’s shooting plummeted to 24 percent after halftime.
President Barack Obama attended the First Four that night but left before the BYU-Iona matchup, missing the historic finish.
Duke Erases 22-Point Hole vs. Maryland in Final Four (2001)
The 2001 Final Four featured ACC rivals meeting for the fourth time that season, and Maryland wanted blood. The Terrapins seized a 39-17 lead with 6:37 left in the first half, looking poised to end Duke’s championship hopes.
Mike Krzyzewski made an unusual decision at halftime: he stopped calling plays, telling his players they already knew how to play Duke basketball. The Blue Devils responded by outscoring Maryland 78-45 the rest of the way. Jay Williams poured in 23 points while Shane Battier finished with 25 points and 8 rebounds in the 95-84 victory.
That 22-point deficit stood as the largest overcome in Final Four history for more than two decades. Duke went on to beat Arizona for the national championship.
Nevada Stuns Cincinnati With 22-Point Rally (2018)
Nevada trailed 65-43 with 11:37 remaining against second-seeded Cincinnati. ESPN gave the Wolf Pack a 0.1% win probability. Cincinnati had an elite defense and a clear path to the Sweet 16.
Then, Cincinnati went cold. The Bearcats made just 3-of-19 field goals down the stretch and failed to convert a single basket in the final five minutes. Cody Martin led the charge with 25 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 0 turnovers. Josh Hall’s go-ahead basket with 9.1 seconds remaining completed a stunning 32-8 run in the 75-73 victory.
Coach Eric Musselman ripped off his shirt in celebration. Nevada had trailed at halftime in five consecutive games entering the tournament and still reached the Sweet 16.
