Biggest Blowouts in March Madness History

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Villanova's dominant win over Oklahoma in the 2016 Final Four is one of the biggest blowouts in March Madness history.
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Chase Kiddy @chaseakiddy Mar 27, 2024, 3:54 PM

There are plenty of double-digit wins once March Madness rolls around. But to really put your name in the record book of the biggest blowouts in NCAA Tournament history, you need to win by at least 40 points.

In the history of the NCAA Tournament, only about three dozen games have been decided by 40 points or more. Less than half of those occurred within the last 20 years.

Unsurprisingly, many of the biggest blowouts in March Madness history happened in the first round, when a top seed devastated some poor low-major squad. 

However, a few of the results might surprise you, with 40 or 50-point blowouts happening in the Elite Eight or later. 

NCAA Tournament: Biggest Blowouts in March Madness History

ScoreMargin of VictoryYearRound
Cincinnati 99, DePaul 59401960Round 2
Princeton 109, Providence 69401965Regional Final
Arizona 90, Cornell 50401988Round 1
Kansas 107, Niagara 67402007Round 1
Wisconsin 75, American 35402014Round 1
Arkansas 117, Ga. State 76411991Round 1
Duke 99, Florida A&M 58411999Round 1
Duke 97, Tulsa 56411999Round 2
UCLA 70, Miss. Valley St 29412008Round 1
Villanova 53, Lafayette 52412015Round 1
Notre Dame 108, Austin Peay 66421974Round 1
Illinois 96, Northwestern State 54421974Round 1
Villanova 90, Penn 47431971Regional Final
Oklahoma 124, Louisiana Tech 81431989Round 2
Indiana 97, Wright State 54431993Round 1
Duke 95, Monmouth 52432001Round 1
Florida 112, Jackson State 69432007Round 1
N. Carolina 101, Radford 58432009Round 1
Gonzaga 98, Norfolk State 55432021Round 1
DePaul 99, Eastern Kentucky 55441965Round 1
Kentucky 96, Rider 52441993Round 1
Villanova 95, Oklahoma 51442016Final Four
N. Carolina 112, Rhode Island 67451993Round 1
Kentucky 113, Mt St. Mary's 67461995Round 1
VCU 88, Akron 42462013Round 1
Duke 101, UConn 54471964Regional Final
Duke 84, Winthrop 37472002Round 1
Syracuse 81, Montana 34472013Round 1
UCLA 109, Wyoming 60491967Round 2
Syracuse 101, Brown 52491986Round 1
UConn 103, Chattanooga 47562009Round 1
Kansas 110, Prairie View 52581998Round 1
Loyola 111, Tennessee Tech 42691963Round 1

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About the Author

Chase Kiddy

Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.