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March Madness is set to begin, meaning a field of 68 teams will get the chance to cut down the nets next month. Winning six games in a row against some of the best teams in the country is no easy task, which is why only 15 programs have won at least two National Championships.
Will a first-time champion emerge in 2024, or will the rich get richer and add more bling to their campus trophy case? It'll be fun to find out!
Which programs have the most national championships of all time? Let's dive into the list.
Seven Teams Tied With Two Championships
- Louisville Cardinals
- Cincinnati Bearcats
- Florida Gators
- Michigan State Spartans
- NC State Wolfpack
- Oklahoma State Cowboys
- San Francisco Dons
Villanova Wildcats
National Championship Wins: 3
Most Recent Win: 2018
Legendary head coach Jay Wright led the Wildcats to titles in 2016 and 2018, adding two more rings next to the program's 1985 victory on the big stage. Villanova is the only mid-major program to win at least three championships, so their inclusion on this list is arguably the most impressive.
When Kris Jenkins hit the game winner to win the 2016 NCAA Championship! Also, shout out to the confetti guy for pulling it at the perfect time! pic.twitter.com/T3DjCPK2XN
— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) March 5, 2020
Kansas Jayhawks
National Championship Wins: 4
Most Recent Win: 2022
The Jayhawks won titles in 1952 and 1988 before a 20-year championship drought. Legendary coach Roy Williams did not bring home a title, but active head coach Bill Self cut down the nets in 2008 and 2022.
Indiana Hoosiers
National Championship Wins: 5
Most Recent Win: 1987
It's been a while for the Hoosiers, but they used to be one of the premier programs in college basketball. The late Bob Knight led IU to three titles and five Final Fours during his 29-year run in Red.
Steve Alford decided to play for Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosier's Men's Basketball Team. He became the school's all time leader in points scored with 2,438. Ranked a top 10 NCAA player of the 1980s, Alford lead Indiana to the 1987 NCAA National Championship. pic.twitter.com/rJODotOPJr
— Hoop History (@H00PHISTORY) August 8, 2022
UConn Huskies
National Championship Wins: 5
Most Recent Win: 2023
The defending champs have a path to the No. 1 overall seed in 2024, meaning the Huskies are in good shape to try to become the first team to win back-to-back NCAA tournaments since Florida in 2006 and 2007. The program has won five titles with three different coaches, and Dan Hurley is showing no signs of slowing down.
Duke Blue Devils
National Championship Wins: 5
Most Recent Win: 2015
Mike Krzyzewski is responsible for all five of Duke's NCAA Championships, and he won them all between 1991 and 2015. New head coach Jon Scheyer better deliver wins in late March. Blue Devil fans will not accept being eliminated during the first weekend of the Big Dance.
Here are Mike Krzyzewski's 13 Final Four appearances, broken down by decade:
1980s: 3
1990s: 5
2000s: 2
2010s: 2
2020s: 1Krzyzewski is the first head coach, men's or women's, to reach the Final Four in five different decades. pic.twitter.com/QlOtiMKcQ2
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 27, 2022
North Carolina Tar Heels
National Championship Wins: 6
Most Recent Win: 2017
Roy Williams and Dean Smith combined to win five of the program's six titles, and active head coach Hubert Davis brought the Tar Heels to the title game in his first year under contract (2022). After missing the NCAA tournament last season, North Carolina is in play for a No. 1 seed this season.
Kentucky Wildcats
National Championship Wins: 8
Most Recent Win: 2012
John Calipari has delivered the Wildcats just one championship in his first 14 years with the program, but Kentucky has been to four Final Fours under his direction. The program has a history of excellence, with two championships in the 1940s, two in the 1950s, one in the 1970s, two in the 1990s, and one in the 21st century.
UCLA Bruins
National Championship Wins: 11
Most Recent Win: 1995
The Bruins of the 1960s and 1970s were truly unfair. Head coach John Wooden led UCLA to a whopping ten championships in 12 years from 1964 to 1975. This run included seven straight times cutting down the nets. The program's last title win came in 1995 under Jim Harrick.
