Iowa Eliminates Top Seed Florida In March Madness Thriller

By Sandy Verma On Mar 24, 2026

Iowa Eliminates Top Seed Florida In March Madness Thriller/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Iowa stunned No. 1 Florida with a last-second shot. Alvaro Folgueiras hit a clutch three to seal victory. The Hawkeyes advance to their first Sweet 16 since 1999.

Iowa forward Cooper Koch (8) celebrates a three-point shot during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Florida Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

=tpduring the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Iowa Upsets Florida March Madness Quick Looks

Iowa defeats No. 1 seed Florida 73-72
Folgueiras hits game-winning three with 4.5 seconds left
Hawkeyes reach Sweet 16 for first time since 1999
First No. 9 seed to beat a No. 1 since 2018
Florida exits tournament as defending champion
Iowa to face Nebraska in next round

Florida guard Isaiah Brown (20) slam dunks over Iowa forward Cooper Koch and guard Isaia Howard during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Florida forward Alex Condon (21) reacts after the team lost to Iowa during the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Deep Look: Iowa Eliminates Top Seed Florida In March Madness Thriller

Iowa delivered one of the biggest upsets of this year’s NCAA Tournament, knocking off top-seeded and defending champion Florida with a dramatic 73-72 victory decided in the final seconds.

The game’s defining moment came with just 4.5 seconds remaining, when Alvaro Folgueiras drained a wide-open 3-pointer to give the Hawkeyes the lead and ultimately the win. The clutch shot capped a resilient performance from Iowa, which had earlier seen a double-digit second-half lead slip away.

According to Folgueiras, he had told teammate Bennett Stirtz to trust him with the ball in that crucial moment — a request that paid off in spectacular fashion. The play was initially designed for Stirtz, but when Florida’s defense collapsed on him, he quickly passed to Folgueiras, who was waiting unguarded in the corner.

The shot silenced a pro-Florida crowd and sent Iowa into the Sweet 16 for the first time in more than two decades. Under first-year head coach Ben McCollum, the Hawkeyes have emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest surprises.

“This is really special,” Folgueiras said after the game, emphasizing the team’s belief and determination. “We’re still hungry.”

Iowa’s path to victory wasn’t easy. After building a 12-point advantage in the second half, the Hawkeyes watched Florida rally and take a late lead. With under two minutes remaining, Florida’s Xaivian Lee scored on a driving layup to put the Gators ahead 71-68.

Iowa responded quickly. Stirtz hit a floater to cut the deficit to one point, setting up a tense final sequence. After Florida missed a key 3-point attempt, Iowa regained possession and Isaiah Brown split a pair of free throws, giving Florida a narrow lead.

But Iowa calmly broke Florida’s full-court press in the closing seconds, leading to Folgueiras’ decisive shot.

Florida had one final chance, but a hurried attempt to get off a shot failed as time expired. The Gators were left stunned, eliminated earlier than expected despite entering the tournament as one of the favorites.

Head coach Todd Golden credited Iowa’s physicality and strong start, acknowledging that his team struggled to match the Hawkeyes’ intensity early in the game. He also pointed to a missed opportunity on the final possession, where Florida had intended to foul before Iowa could attempt a 3-pointer but failed to execute.

Iowa’s victory marks the first time since 2018 that a No. 9 seed has defeated a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. It also ends Florida’s title defense, despite the team coming off a dominant 59-point win in the opening round.

The Hawkeyes were led by Tavion Bankswho scored 20 points, while Folgueiras added 14 and Stirtz contributed 13 despite a tough shooting night. Cooper Koch chipped in 12 points, all from beyond the arc.

For Florida, Alex Condon led the way with 21 pointsfollowed by Thomas Haugh with 19 and Lee with 17.

The game also featured a heated moment in the first half when Folgueiras and Condon became entangled while battling for a loose ball. The confrontation escalated briefly before both players were separated and assessed technical fouls.

Despite the tension, Iowa maintained its composure and outworked Florida on both ends of the floor.

“It felt like five grown men versus five grown men — and we wanted it more,” Folgueiras said.

The Hawkeyes now turn their attention to the next roundwhere they will face No. 4 seed Nebraska in the South Region semifinals in Houston.

With momentum on their side and confidence growing, Iowa’s improbable tournament run continues — fueled by belief, resilience, and a perfectly timed shot that will be remembered as one of March Madness’ defining moments.