March Madness is back, bringing college basketball’s famous bracket into the national spotlight. The 2026 bracket will be featured on every website covering the NCAA Tournament. It tests your knowledge of the teams from the regular season. The goal: create a perfect bracket by choosing the right teams from the First Four through the national championship.
There’s a twist to the bracket. You’ll also answer a bonus question about the final game’s combined score — a real challenge when things get close. Ready for this? Let’s look at the average combined score in every NCAA title game since the three-point line changed college basketball in 1987.
Breaking Down the Average Score in College Basketball’s National Title Game
Since the NCAA introduced the 3-point line in 1987, the average combined score of both teams in every men’s college basketball national championship game is 145.3, which rounds to 145. This average is calculated by adding up the final scores of both teams in each championship since 1987 and dividing by the number of games.
Typically, combined scores range from 130 to 145. This depends on the strength of the defense in the 40-minute winner-take-all game. The lowest combined score was 94 in 2011, when UConn beat Butler 53-41. The highest total was 176 in 1990, when Jerry Tarkanian’s UNLV crushed Mike Krzyzewski and Duke 103-73.
READ MORE: March Madness: Ranking The Paths for Michigan, Duke, Arizona, and Florida
Adding the lowest and highest totals since 1987 — 94 and 176 — equals 270. Dividing that by two equals 135, which still falls within the 130-145 range.
Some scores have appeared multiple times in recent history. For example, UConn’s consecutive championship wins in 2023 and 2024 each had a combined score of 135. Other repeated scores include 141 (2018, 2022), 143 (1996, 2008), 147 (1987, 1998), and 148 (1993, 1994). The total of 159 has appeared most frequently in national title games, occurring three times in 1989, 2003, and 2007.
Last year’s national championship game between Florida and Houston was disappointing for bracket busters who predicted a score within the 145-point range. Both teams combined for 128 points, with the Gators winning the defensive-minded matchup, 65-63.
In the post-COVID era (2021-2025), the last four editions of the national championship game failed to reach the average combined score. The Kansas-North Carolina title game in 2022 had a total of 141, while UConn’s victories over San Diego State and Purdue each had totals of 135. Last season’s final scored 128. The only time it went above the 145 mark was in 2021, when Baylor defeated Gonzaga 86-70.
The law of averages could come into play this season, and with the average total over the past four seasons being 134.75 (rounded to 135), the score might rise above the 135-145 range, considering how offense and talent across March Madness teams continue to improve.
The knockout rounds start on March 17 with the First Four matchups: UMBC vs. Howard for the Midwest Region No. 16 seed at 6:40 p.m. ET, and Texas vs. NC State for the West Region No. 11 seed at 9:15 p.m. ET.
The next day, Prairie View A&M and Lehigh face off for the South Region No. 16 seed at 6:40 p.m. ET, while the Miami (OH)-SMU game for the Midwest Region No. 11 seed is scheduled for 9:15 p.m. ET. All games will be held at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
