Five years after UMBC, Fairleigh Dickinson defeated Purdue to become the second-ever 16-seed to beat a 1 seed.

UMBC became the first 16-seed to ever beat a 1-seed, pulling off the biggest upset in March Madness history

In 2018, UMBC defeated the overall No. 1 seed Virginia 74-54, ending a 0-135 record for 16-seeds against 1-seeds and turning what was expected to be a blowout into one of the most unlikely results in sports history.

Florida Gulf Coast became the first 15-seed ever to reach the Sweet 16 with one of March Madness's most electrifying runs

In only their second year of full NCAA eligibility, FGCU upset 2-seed Georgetown and 7-seed San Diego State with flashy alley-oops and fast-break dunks-(earning the nickname "dunk city") becoming the first 15-seed in history to reach the Sweet 16.

Relive the best moments from March Madness 2025

Florida won its first national title since 2007, beating Houston 65-63 in a tournament where all four No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four for only the second time in history.

See what makes a team a Cinderella—the term for an underdog that goes on an unexpected March Madness run

Fox Sports Research analyzed past Cinderella runs and found that most share a dynamic duo of players, strong conference tournament momentum, and an offense and defense that both rank in the top 80 nationally.

Ranking ten of the best March Madness buzzer-beaters

There is nothing like the thrill of an NCAA March Madness buzzer-beater–particularly if it's a Cinderella upsetting a top-ranked team. This SI.com article ranks 10 heart-stoppers, going back to 1981. Relive Keith Smart's 1987 dagger, Bryce Drew's prayer in 1998, Kris Jenkins' 2016 title-winner, Lorenzo Charles' 1983 dunk, and, of course, "the Shot" in 1992.

Butler made back-to-back national championship games as a mid-major underdog

A 5-seed from the small Horizon League, Butler reached the 2010 title game against Duke—where Gordon Hayward's half-court heave at the buzzer narrowly missed. They returned as an 8-seed in 2011, losing to UConn. The runs launched Hayward into the NBA lottery and coach Brad Stevens to the Boston Celtics.

What is the NCAA First Four?

March Madness's play-in games—known as the First Four—whittle down the field from 68 to 64. This resource from the NCAA breaks down the history of the First Four, which began in 2011. The gears were in motion long before that, though, thanks to the addition of the Mountain West Conference to Division I, which necessitated more than 64 teams for the March Madness field.

Exploring the Larry Bird punch that almost changed March Madness

The FCS is Division I’s second tier with its own playoff system

The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) features 128 Division I programs that offer fewer scholarships than the FBS. Instead of bowl games, the FCS crowns its champion through a 24-team playoff each season.

The 2007 college football season was one of the wildest in history

In 2007, a record number of top-ranked teams fell, including 41-point underdog Stanford stunning USC. Upsets scrambled the rankings weekly, producing an unpredictable and memorable season.

The first college football game was played in 1869 between Rutgers and Princeton

On November 6, 1869, Rutgers defeated Princeton 6–4 in what is considered the first college football game. Played under soccer-like rules, it marked the birth of a sport that would evolve into American football.

How one Texas Western team changed college hoops

Texas Western, featuring college basketball's first all-Black starting five, stunned No. 1 Kentucky in 1966. Coach Don Haskins shrugged off the issue of race, but he received 40,000 pieces of hate mail after the game. This in-depth history relives the Miners' speed-driven triumph, their snub from Ed Sullivan, and a quiet revolution that sparked integration across the South's courts.

The US Olympic hockey team upset the USSR in 1980—later dubbed the 'Miracle on Ice'

At the 1980 Winter Olympics, a team of American college players defeated the heavily favored Soviet hockey team—shocking the world. The victory became a defining moment of Cold War sports rivalry and American national pride.

A part-time teacher in Maryland kickstarted Title IX

When applying for a fill-time position at the University of Maryland, Bernice Sandler was told she "came on too strong" for a woman, leading her to research legal protections against gender discrimination. She found a 1967 Executive Order prohibiting federally funded institutions from discrimination and used it as the basis for a class action lawsuit that would eventually lead to Title IX.

The long shot victory of Rich Strike at the Derby

Thanks to a last-minute scratch by Ethereal Road, Rich Strike made the 2022 Kentucky Derby field. He only had one win out of six races prior, and was listed as an 80-1 long shot. This USA Today article lays out the favorable draw and strategic ride that led to the biggest upset since 1913. Watch the wire-to-wire replay of his historic comeback and listen to the call by Larry Collmus.

Inside one credit union’s big NFL bet

Herndon, Virginia-based Northwest Federal Credit Union is working to bring credit unions into the spotlight. The relatively small institution just made a big splash when it struck an $8M-per-year naming rights deal with the Washington Commanders. Northwest is now the official credit union partner for the team and has turned FedEx Field into Northwest Stadium. Banking nerds and sports fans alike are paying close attention. Read this article to learn more.

At least 7 eastern college campuses experienced surprisingly large HFMD outbreaks in 2018

The outbreaks at the college level caused a particularly nasty set of symptoms, including the usual blisters in the mouth and on the hands and feet—but also affected the genitals. They surprised health officials who weren't sure why so many young adults were being sickened, including more than 120 kids at Johns Hopkins University. The disease also caused outbreaks at campuses including Princeton, Dartmouth, West Virginia University, Lehigh University, Wesleyan University in Connecticut, and Mars Hill University in North Carolina.

Purdue students' robot solves a Rubik's cube faster than most people can blink

The solution time of 0.103 seconds is a Guinness World Record. A robot created by Mitsubishi Electric engineers held the previous record of 0.305 seconds.

Ann Meyers Drysdale was the first female athlete to receive a full sports scholarship

In 1974, Ann Meyers Drysdale earned a full ride to play basketball at UCLA. It was historic, but only the beginning of her pioneering life, which included a Silver Medal at the 1976 Summer Games and a contract with an NBA team in 1979.

University of Virginia has the nation's premier near-death studies department

Researcher Bruce Greyson has been studying this phenomenon at the University of Virginia for decades, where he now directs the Division of Perceptual Studies. This piece from the university’s magazine explores the breadth and substance of the department, founded by pioneer researcher Ian Stevenson.

Brandi Chastain, the star of the 1999 US victory over China in the 1999 Women's World Cup, was a last-second choice to take the penalty kick that sealed the victory.

Scientific advances are unlocking a wide range of alternatives to IVF

From refined artificial insemination and microsurgical sperm extraction to experimental uterine transplants, scientific innovation is rapidly advancing potential fertilization technologies. But they come along with costly trials, some ethical dilemmas, regulatory issues, and more.

Explore 25 of the world's richest universities beyond the US

This article from The College Post highlights 25 of the wealthiest universities outside the United States. It showcases institutions like King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), the University of Oxford, and the University of Hong Kong. Learn more about the global landscape of higher education funding.

Faithless electors have never changed the outcome of a US presidential election

Occasionally, Electoral College members vote against their state's popular choice—known as "faithless electors." Though these rare defections have drawn attention and prompted new state laws, none have ever altered the final result of a presidential race.

The Pop-Tarts Bowl ends with its mascot being eaten by the winning team

In one of college football’s quirkiest traditions, the Pop-Tarts Bowl concludes with the victorious players taking bites out of the giant Pop-Tart mascot.

Only 156 players secure a PGA Tour Card each year

Automatic eligibility is granted to past PGA Championship winners, while newcomers must win a PGA-approved tournament, rank in the top 70 of the FedEx Cup standings, or finish in the top 30 of the Korn Ferry Tour finals.

Claims about 'Twenty-One' weren't taken seriously until other quiz shows were exposed

Contestant Herb Stempel alleged that “Twenty-One” was fixed after his loss to Charles Van Doren, saying that everything on the show was “carefully choreographed,” though his claims were dismissed as mere bitterness. In truth, Stempel had been promised a network job if he went along with the con and became outspoken when it didn’t materialize. Van Doren, meanwhile, became a celebrity, donning the cover of Time magazine.

For centuries, Niagara Falls has been a magnet for daredevils seeking to conquer one of nature's most powerful wonders, with its 200-foot drop and water rushing at 32 feet per second with 280 tons of force.

Domino's Pizza's 30-minute delivery guarantee was responsible for the chain's 1980s surge, but it was discontinued after the company was found liable for delivery driver accidents.

NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama spent the 2025 summer training with monks in central China to enhance his body and mind.

44% of Americans say they pray at least once a day—discover how your state's religiosity stacks up against the rest of the country.

See a ranking of the best (and worst) Federal Reserve Chairs since 1914 out of the 16 men and women who have held the office since.

Explore fun facts from the USPS, including unique post office buildings, a stamp that traveled past Pluto, and more.

Elk Cloner, the first computer virus to spread in public, was written as a practical joke by Richard Skrenta, a Pittsburgh high school student.

The United States is one of only around two dozen countries with a fully federal system of government, in which power is divided between national and state governments.

Play the role of a student in a game where you try to navigate college and remain debt-free, selecting different income levels, high school experience, race, ethnicity, and more.

Abraham Lincoln was almost assassinated weeks before his inauguration as he traveled from Illinois to DC through Baltimore in 1861; it took two independent claims for Lincoln to be convinced the threat was real

When caught in the mouths of cardinal fish, seed shrimp release glowing, bioluminescent chemicals, which alert predators of the cardinal fish, prompting the shrimp's ejection.

Budweiser stores yeast derived from the original 1800s strain in a secret bunker, which only the Head of Yeast Management can access—not even the CEO

About 12.5% of US adults experience a phobia in their lifetime, a diagnosis that hinges on the intense fear interfering with daily life and persisting for at least six months.

The 2026 Ebola outbreak in the DRC is spurring new Ebola vaccine development for the Bundibugyo species.

11 people died from firework injuries in the US in 2024.

Gerrymandering works through two techniques: cracking opposing voters across districts to dilute their power, and packing them into a few to waste their votes in lopsided majorities.

In 2025, four executives from large tech companies were given positions in the US Army Reserves—including Palantir Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar, which reinforced Palantir's ties with the US military and its role as a leading defense partner.

In 1963, a basement renovation in Turkey revealed a passageway to a hidden, multilevel underground city that once housed as many as 20,000 people

Up to a million Girl Scouts sell about 200 million cookie boxes every spring, generating $800 million, largely because refusing a child is frowned upon

Hedge funds, the private investment firms that trade a wide swath of financial assets, make money by imposing steep fees on investors and from the fund's investment performance.

Sunflowers have long been a symbol of nuclear disarmament because they can extract large amounts of radioactive cesium from soil.

In 1945, Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí and legendary animator Walt Disney began collaborating on a short film that was not completed until 2003, years after both men had died.

According to the physics of black holes, our 4D reality may be a hologram—a projection of information coded on a 2D surface on the edge of the universe.