Which Colleges Have Never Won March Madness?

March Madness is one of the hardest tournaments to win in all of sports, considering the amount of teams, talent, and luck involved. Thus, even some of the most high-level basketball programs in college basketball have yet to win a National Championship. Read on to learn more about the best college basketball programs that have yet to win March Madness.

Gonzaga Bulldogs

• First Season: 1907
• March Madness Appearances: 23
• Final Four Appearances: 2

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are one of the most notable examples of a team that has always had potential to win it all, but never has. They most recently made the National Championship game in 2021, where they were looking to cap off an undefeated season against the Baylor Bears. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs fell to the Bears 86-70.

Throughout their history as a program, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have been a #1 seed four times and have been to the National Championship game twice. They have also held the #1 position in the AP Poll numerous times.

Houston Cougars

• First Season: 1945
• March Madness Appearances: 23
• Final Four Appearances: 6

The Houston Cougars are one of the most successful teams in March Madness, except for the fact that they have never won a championship. The Cougars have been to the Final Four six times, which is the record for most Final Four appearances by a team that has not won a National Championship. They have played in the National Championship game twice, losing on both occasions.

Illinois Fighting Illini

• First Season: 1906
• March Madness Appearances: 31
• Final Four Appearances: 5

The Illinois Fighting Illini are another extremely successful college basketball program that has yet to win a National Championship. They have made it to the Final Four five times and the National Championship game once in 2005. The Fighting Illini have had multiple years where they were highly successful during the regular season, but could not fight all the way through to the National Championship game. They have been consistently ranked in the top 25 of the AP Poll over the past decade, and have been a #1 seed in March Madness four times.

Kansas State Wildcats

• First Season: 1902
• March Madness Appearances: 31
• Final Four Appearances: 4

The Kansas State Wildcats are a historic basketball program that began playing over 100 years ago, but have still yet to win a National Championship. They are tied with Notre Dame for the most Sweet 16 appearances without a title at 17. They have only been able to make it to the Final Four four times and the National Championship game once in 1951, where they lost to the Kentucky Wildcats.

LSU Tigers

• First Season: 1908
• March Madness Appearances: 24
• Final Four Appearances: 4

The LSU Tigers are more known for their football program, but their basketball program has also featured some star names, including Shaquille O’Neal, Pete Maravich, and Bob Pettit. While they have never made it to the National Championship game, they have made it to the Final Four on four occasions. However, the LSU Tigers did claim a national championship in 1935, before the National Tournament existed.

St. John's Red Storm

• First Season: 1907
• March Madness Appearances: 30
• Final Four Appearances: 2

The St. John’s Red Storm are yet another program that surprisingly has never won a National Championship. They have appeared in March Madness 30 times, but have only made the Final Four twice and the National Championship game once in 1952. St. John’s have not appeared in the Sweet Sixteen or Elite Eight since 1999 and the Final Four since 1985.

Other Notable Programs Without a National Championship

• Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
• Iowa Hawkeyes
• Memphis Tigers
• Missouri Tigers
• Notre Dame Fighting Irish
• Oklahoma Sooners
• Pittsburgh Panthers
• Wake Forest Demon Deacons
• West Virginia Mountaineers
• Xavier Musketeers

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