2026 March Madness: What Makes an NCAA Tournament Champion?

"March Madness" is finally here.

Sixty-eight teams commenced play this week, all with the hopes of cutting down the nets on April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianpolis. Thirty-seven programs have won a national title since the tournament's conception in 1939, with two of the last six winners being first-time champions — Baylor (2021) and Virginia (2019). As the popularity of the tournament has grown in recent years, there has been a focus on the statistical trends that have made up past champions.

FOX Sports Research decided to dive into all the characteristics that make up the tournament champion, examining various metrics while also taking the past into account. Let's take a look:

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KenPom 

Seeding

Other Trends