Final Four Scores Deliver Thrilling NCAA Semifinal Upsets
Final Four Scores Deliver Thrilling NCAA Semifinal Upsets...
The 2026 NCAA Men's Final Four delivered two dramatic upsets Saturday night, sending shockwaves through March Madness brackets nationwide. Underdog Houston stunned top-seeded Duke 72-68 in Phoenix, while Alabama edged defending champion Gonzaga 65-63 in a last-second thriller.
Houston's victory marked their first Final Four win since 1984, fueled by a 24-point performance from guard Jamal Shead. Duke's loss ended Coach Jon Scheyer's bid for a second national title in three years. The Blue Devils shot just 39% from the field against Houston's stifling defense.
In the nightcap, Alabama freshman phenom Jaden Bradley hit the game-winning layup with 1.2 seconds remaining. The Crimson Tide's win sets up an unlikely championship matchup between two programs seeking their first NCAA title.
The semifinal upsets triggered massive bracket busts across the country. Only 3% of ESPN Tournament Challenge entries predicted the Houston-Alabama final. Sportsbooks reported heavy losses as underdogs covered both spreads.
Monday's championship game (9:20 PM ET, CBS) will feature contrasting styles. Houston brings the nation's top-rated defense, while Alabama boasts the highest-scoring offense in tournament history. The matchup is trending nationwide as casual fans join diehards for the unpredictable finale.
Phoenix's State Farm Stadium expects record attendance after Saturday's games drew 72,000 fans. Ticket prices on secondary markets have doubled since the upsets, with get-in prices now exceeding $400. The unexpected finalists have created fresh excitement for what many considered a predictable tournament.
Coaches Kelvin Sampson (Houston) and Nate Oats (Alabama) both seek their first national championships after decades of rebuilding programs. Their success stories have become the tournament's dominant narrative, overshadowing traditional powerhouses.
Basketball analysts note this marks just the third time since 1985 that no No. 1 seeds reached the championship game. The upsets continue a recent trend of parity in college basketball, with seven different champions in the past seven tournaments.
