The dreaded No. 5 vs No. 12 has broken many brackets during March Madness over the years. At this point, it seems pretty clear that the selection committee selects matchups that could lead to upsets. Here’s a look at the history of the 5 vs 12 matchup in college basketball’s Big Dance.
How Many Times Has No. 12 Beat a No. 5?
A No. 12 seed has beaten a No. 5 seed 57 times in the NCAA Tournament, dating back to 1985 when the tourney expanded to 64 teams. The No. 12 seed has a record of 57-103 heading into the 2025 tournament, which is a win percentage of 35.63%.
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When was the Last Time a 12 Beat a 5?
(There were two 5-12 upsets in 2025, including McNeese over Clemson. Photo: Eric Canha-Imagn Images)The 12-seed upset has become quite common, and we saw two in 2025 as well as 2024. In last year’s tournament, McNeese beat Clemson 69-67 while Colorado State took down Memphis 78-70. McNeese was leading 31-13 at the half and held off a second-half charge from the Tigers. In 2024, Grand Canyon beat Saint Mary’s 75-66, and James Madison defeated Wisconsin 72-61.
March Madness No. 12 vs No. 5 History
(In 2016, Yale upset No. 5 seed Baylor. Photo: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)In the first year the tournament expanded to 64 teams, we saw No. 12 seed Kentucky defeat No. 5 seed Washington. In 2002, 2009, and 2019, the tournament saw three No. 12 teams advance past the first round. Check out the history of upsets in the No. 12 vs No. 5 seed matchup.
Year12 Upsets 5Score2025McNeese def. Clemson69-672025Colorado State def. Memphis78-702024Grand Canyon def. Saint Mary’s75-662024James Madison def. Wisconsin72-612022New Mexico State def. UConn70-632022Richmond def. Iowa67-632021Oregon State def. Tennessee70-562019Oregon def. Wisconsin72-542019Murray State def. Marquette83-642019Liberty def. Mississippi State80-762017Middle Tennessee def. Minnesota81-722016Yale def. Baylor79-752016Little Rock def. Purdue85-83 (2OT)2014Stephen F. Austin def. VCU77-75 (OT)2014North Dakota State def. Oklahoma80-75 (OT)2014Harvard def. Cincinnati61-572013Oregon def. Oklahoma State68-552013California def. UNLV64-612013Ole Miss def. Wisconsin57-462012VCU def. Wichita State62-592012South Florida def. Temple58-442011Richmond def. Vanderbilt69-662010Cornell def. Temple78-652009Western Kentucky def. Illinois76-722009Arizona def. Utah84-712009Wisconsin def. Florida State61-59 (OT)2008Western Kentucky def. Drake101-99 (OT)2008Villanova def. Clemson75-692006Texas A&M def. Syracuse66-582006Montana def. Nevada87-792005Milwaukee def. Alabama83-732004Pacific def. Providence66-582004Manhattan def. Florida75-602003Butler def. Mississippi State47-462002Creighton def. Florida83-82 (2OT)2002Missouri def. Miami (Fla.)93-802002Tulsa def. Marquette71-692001Gonzaga def. Virginia86-852001Utah State def. Ohio State77-68 (OT)1999Missouri State def. TCU96-871999Detroit def. UCLA56-531998Florida State def. TCU96-871997College of Charleston def. Maryland75-661996Arkansas def. Penn State86-801996Drexel def. Memphis75-631995Miami (Ohio) def. Arizona71-621994Tulsa def. UCLA112-1021994UW-Green Bay def. California61-571993George Washington def. New Mexico82-681992New Mexico State def. DePaul81-731991Eastern Michigan def. Mississippi State76-561990Ball State def. Oregon State54-531990Dayton def. Illinois88-861989DePaul def. Memphis State66-631987Wyoming def. Virginia64-601986DePaul def. Virginia72-681985Kentucky def. Washington66-582026 NCAA Tournament 5 vs 12 Matchups
Will we see a No. 12 knock out a No. 5 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament? Take a look at the matchups beginning on Thursday in the First Round (March 19). McNeese, who upset Clemson last season as a No. 12 seed, is back as a No. 12 seed this season.
5 vs 12DateTime (ET)5 Clemson vs 12 High Point3/191:50 pm5 Vanderbilt vs 12 McNeese3/193:15 pm5 Texas Tech vs 12 Akron3/2012:40 pm5 St. John’s vs 12 Northern Iowa3/207:10 pmResponsible Gaming Resources
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