The 8-9 matchup is the toughest first round game to pick when you're filling out your NCAA tournament bracket. That's because 8 and 9 seeds have the closest head-to-head record against one another since the March Madness field expanded in 1985. Following the 2025 NCAA tournament's first round, 9 seeds hold a 87-77 edge, with a 53.04 win percentage.
In 2026, the 9 seeds swept, 4-0.
Here's everything else you need to know about 8 seeds vs. 9 seeds.
History of 9 vs. 8 seeds in March Madness
Here's how these seeds have fared against one another in recent years. Both No. 8s and No. 9s have swept years since 2015, with the 8s taking all four games in 2015 and 9s sweeping in 2019 and 2026.
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 4-0, 9s |
| 2025 | 2-2, tie |
| 2024 | 3-1, 9s |
| 2023 | 2-2, tie |
| 2022 | 3-1, 9s |
| 2021 | 3-1, 8s |
| 2019 | 4-0, 9s |
| 2018 | 3-1, 9s |
| 2017 | 3-1, 8s |
| 2016 | 3-1, 9s |
| 2015 | 4-0, 8s |
| 2014 | 3-1, 8s |
| 2013 | 2-2, tie |
| 2012 | 3-1, 8s |
| 2011 | 3-1, 8s |
| 2010 | 2-2, tie |
Some more tidbits:
- Kentucky is tied with BYU for the most appearances as a No. 8 seed and has a 3-1 record compared to the Cougars' 0-4 record.
- 9 seeds went 4-0 against 8 seeds in the 2019 NCAA tournament and 3-1 in 2018. No. 8 seeds then went 3-1 in 2021 and No. 9 seeds responded with a 3-1 performance in 2022 and 2024.
- In 2017, 8 seeds went 3-1 against 9s. Northwestern earned its first NCAA tournament win in school history as an 8 that year.
- It is rare for all four 8 seeds to sweep 9 seeds, as it has occurred only three times since 1985, including 2015’s tournament field of North Carolina State, Cincinnati, Oregon and San Diego State.
- Villanova won the national championship in 1985 as an 8 seed, and it is still the lowest-seeded school to win it all. But the Wildcats barely beat 9 seed Dayton in the first round that year, prevailing by a score of 51-49.
Recent/noteworthy 8-9 games
Most recently in 2026, No. 9 seed TCU snuck past No. 8 seed Ohio State with a last-second layup to advance to the round of 32.
In 2025, the reigning national champions in UConn found themselves in 8-9 dogfight against No. 9 Oklahoma, leading by just five points with less than a minute left in the contest. The Huskies pulled away in the last minute to win 67-59 and cap off the 2025 matchups between No. 8 and No. 9 seeds.
In 2024, Northwestern topped Florida Atlantic by dominating OT, outscoring the Owls 19-7 in the extra session to win, 77-65.
In 2023, Florida Atlantic made the Final Four as a No. 9 seed, but got there only after a thrilling win against No. 8 Memphis in the first round.
In 2017, Northwestern made its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance — and beat No. 9 Vanderbilt 68-66 in their first game.
And Butler reached the title game in 2011, but it barely escaped No. 9 Old Dominion in its first matchup. The Bulldogs advanced with these late heroics from Matt Howard:
