6-seeds have been generally unremarkable.  If, and that’s a significant if, they get past their 11-seed foe, their next opponent is usually a 3-seed.  The 6-seed made somewhat regular appearances in the Elite 8 through the first 17 years of the expanded tournament.  It’s only happened four times since then (2001). It’s been 28 years since the last time a 6-seed made the Final 4.  Maybe they’re due??

Overall Performance

• 90 (of 144) 6-seeds advanced to the Second Round
• 43 went on to the Sweet 16
• 15 reached the Elite 8
• 3 reached the Final 4
• 2 made the championship game
• 1 was crowned champion

Performance Over the Last 10 Years

• 19 (of 40) advanced to the Second Round
• 6 went on to the Sweet 16
• 2 reached the Elite 8

Bracket Performance History and Advice

• First Round:  Only 63% of all 6-seeds have won their first game of the tournament.  This equates to an 84% chance of at least one upset.
• Second Round:  30% of 6-seeds advance past the Second Round.
• Sweet 16:  6-seeds don’t have to play the 1-seed in this Round.  They’ve advanced to the Elite 8 almost twice as often as 5-seeds.  Still, there is only a 34% chance we’ll see a 6-seed get past this round.
• Elite 8:  Only 10% of all 6-seeds make it this far.
• Final 4:  A 6-seed hasn’t reached the Final 4 since 1992, so it would be a shocker to see one make it this year.
• Final:  Of the three teams that reached the Final 4, two of them played for the title, and one of them won it.

Record in the Second Round

• vs 3-seeds:  29-45
• vs 14-seeds:  14-2

Feats of Strength

• 1988 Kansas is the only team to win the tournament as a 6-seed.  They defeated 1-seed Oklahoma 83-79
• 1992 Michigan is the only other 6-seed to reach the Championship Game.  They lost to 1-seed Duke 71-51
• 1992 Michigan is also the last 6-seed to reach the Final Four
• Three 6-seeds have reached the Elite 8 in the last 11 tournaments
  • 2010 Tennessee
  • 2016 Notre Dame
  • 2021 USC