Last of Unbeatens: Miami of Ohio is Eighth Mid-Major in Past 15 Campaigns
No NCAA Division I men's team has compiled an undefeated record since Indiana 50 years ago in 1975-76. Miami of Ohio, compiling longest win streak in Mid-American Conference history, was the last unbeaten team this season after Arizona bowed at Kansas, ending the Wildcats' shot at becoming the 20th team in history to enter the NCAA Tournament with an unblemished record.
Despite Virginia's success seven seasons ago, the historical odds are against Miami capturing the NCAA title because only four final undefeated teams in the previous 46 years - Duke '92, UConn '99, Florida '06 and UVa '19 - went on to capture the national crown. Actually, there is a higher likelihood that Miami won't even participate in the NCAA playoffs.
Three years ago, New Mexico fell into a "shut out" of NCAA tourney category with SMU and Clemson. The Lobos joined Arizona State in 2017-18 as final-unbeaten schools registering losing marks the remainder of campaign upon sustaining initial setback. Prior to probation-shackled SMU 10 seasons ago, Clemson (winner of its first 17 outings in 2006-07), was the only school in this last-of-the-unbeaten category since IU to fail to participate in the NCAA playoffs. The Tigers finished runner-up in the NIT before SMU moved up to power-conference status by joining the ACC.
The total of 52 clubs previously in this "final-undefeated" category combined to compile an average 30-5 season record. Following in reverse order are vital facts on final unbeaten teams since the Hoosiers a half-century ago:
| Season | Last Unbeaten (Wins) | First Defeat | Date | Score | Final Record/Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Miami of Ohio (24)* | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2024-25 | Tennessee (14) | at Florida | 1-7-25 | 73-43 | 30-8/Regional Final |
| 2023-24 | Houston (14) | at Iowa State | 1-9-24 | 57-53 | 32-5/Regional Semifinal |
| 2022-23 | New Mexico (14) | at Fresno State | 1-3-23 | 71-67 | 22-12/NIT First Round |
| 2021-22 | Baylor (15) | Texas Tech | 1-11-22 | 65-62 | 27-7/Second Round |
| 2020-21 | Gonzaga (31)* | Baylor | 4-5-21 | 86-70 | 31-1/NCAA runner-up |
| 2019-20 | San Diego State (26)* | UNLV | 2-22-20 | 66-63 | 30-2/NCAA cancelled |
| 2018-19 | Michigan (17) | at Wisconsin | 1-19-19 | 64-54 | 30-7/Regional Semifinal |
| 2018-19 | Virginia (16) | at Duke | 1-19-19 | 72-70 | 35-3/NCAA Champion |
| 2017-18 | Arizona State (12) | Arizona | 12-31-17 | 84-78 | 20-12/NCAA Play-In |
| 2016-17 | Gonzaga (29)* | Brigham Young | 2-25-17 | 79-71 | 37-2/National Runner-up |
| 2015-16 | Southern Methodist (18) | at Temple | 1-24-16 | 89-80 | 25-5/Probation |
| 2014-15 | Kentucky (38)* | vs. Wisconsin | 4-4-15 | 71-64 | 38-1/NCAA Final Four |
| 2013-14 | Wichita State (35)* | vs. Kentucky | 3-23-14 | 78-76 | 35-1/Second Round |
| 2012-13 | Michigan (16) | at Ohio State | 1-13-13 | 56-53 | 31-8/NCAA Runner-up |
| 2011-12 | Murray State (23)* | Tennessee State | 2-9-12 | 72-68 | 31-2/Second Round |
| 2010-11 | Ohio State (24) | at Wisconsin | 2-12-11 | 71-67 | 34-3/Regional Semifinal |
| 2009-10 | Kentucky (19) | at South Carolina | 1-26-10 | 68-62 | 35-3/Regional Final |
| 2008-09 | Wake Forest (16) | Virginia Tech | 1-21-09 | 78-71 | 24-7/First Round |
| 2007-08 | Memphis (26) | Tennessee | 2-23-08 | 66-62 | 38-2/National Runner-up |
| 2006-07 | Clemson (17)* | at Maryland | 1-13-07 | 92-87 | 25-11/NIT Runner-up |
| 2005-06 | Florida (17)* | at Tennessee | 1-21-06 | 80-76 | 33-6/NCAA Champion |
| 2004-05 | Illinois (29)* | at Ohio State | 3-6-05 | 65-64 | 37-2/NCAA Runner-up |
| 2003-04 | Saint Joseph's (27)* | vs. Xavier | 3-11-04 | 87-67 | 30-2/Regional Final |
| 2002-03 | Duke (12) | at Maryland | 1-18-03 | 87-72 | 26-7/Regional Semifinal |
| 2001-02 | Duke (12) | at Florida State | 1-6-02 | 77-76 | 31-4/Regional Semifinal |
| 2000-01 | Stanford (20) | UCLA | 2-3-01 | 79-73 | 31-3/Regional Final |
| 1999-00 | Syracuse (19) | Seton Hall | 2-7-00 | 69-67 | 26-6/Regional Semifinal |
| 1998-99 | Connecticut (19) | Syracuse | 2-1-99 | 59-42 | 34-2/NCAA Champion |
| 1997-98 | Utah (18) | at New Mexico | 2-1-98 | 77-74 | 30-4/NCAA Runner-up |
| 1996-97 | Kansas (22) | at Missouri (2OT) | 2-4-97 | 96-94 | 34-2/Regional Semifinal |
| 1995-96 | Massachusetts (26)* | George Washington | 2-24-96 | 86-76 | 35-2/NCAA Final Four |
| 1994-95 | Connecticut (15) | at Kansas | 1-28-95 | 88-59 | 28-5/Regional Final |
| 1993-94 | UCLA (14) | at California | 1-30-94 | 85-70 | 21-7/First Round |
| 1992-93 | Virginia (11) | at North Carolina | 1-20-93 | 80-58 | 21-10/Regional Semifinal |
| 1991-92 | Duke (17) | at North Carolina | 2-5-92 | 75-73 | 34-2/NCAA Champion |
| 1991-92 | Oklahoma State (20) | at Nebraska | 2-5-92 | 85-69 | 28-8/Regional Semifinal |
| 1990-91 | UNLV (34) | vs. Duke | 3-30-91 | 79-77 | 34-1/NCAA Final Four |
| 1989-90 | Georgetown (14) | at Connecticut | 1-20-90 | 70-65 | 24-7/Second Round |
| 1988-89 | Illinois (17) | at Minnesota | 1-26-89 | 69-62 | 31-5/NCAA Final Four |
| 1987-88 | Brigham Young (17)* | at UAB | 2-6-88 | 102-83 | 26-6/Sweet 16 |
| 1986-87 | DePaul (16) | at Georgetown | 1-25-87 | 74-71 | 28-3/Regional Semifinal |
| 1985-86 | Memphis State (20) | at Virginia Tech | 2-1-86 | 76-72 | 28-6/Second Round |
| 1984-85 | Georgetown (18) | St. John's | 1-26-85 | 66-65 | 35-3/NCAA Runner-up |
| 1983-84 | North Carolina (21) | vs. Arkansas | 2-12-84 | 65-64 | 28-3/Regional Semifinal |
| 1982-83 | UNLV (24) | at Cal State Fullerton | 2-24-83 | 86-78 | 28-3/Second Round |
| 1981-82 | Missouri (19) | Nebraska | 2-6-82 | 67-51 | 27-4/Regional Semifinal |
| 1980-81 | Oregon State (26)* | Arizona State | 3-7-81 | 87-67 | 26-2/Second Round |
| 1979-80 | DePaul (26)* | at Notre Dame (2OT) | 2-27-80 | 76-74 | 26-2/Second Round |
| 1978-79 | Indiana State (33)* | vs. Michigan State | 3-26-79 | 75-64 | 33-1/NCAA Runner-up |
| 1977-78 | Kentucky (14) | at Alabama | 1-23-78 | 78-62 | 30-2/NCAA Champion |
| 1976-77 | San Francisco (29) | at Notre Dame | 3-5-77 | 93-82 | 29-2/First Round |
*All-time top winning streaks.
NOTES: North Carolina lost in Pine Bluff, Ark. . . . Saint Joseph's lost in Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament quarterfinals at Dayton.