The NCAA Tournament has been uncommon this year with not many upsets compared to previous March Madness. Now, only four teams remain, each just one win away from an intense national championship. Fans across the country waited as the Final Four matchups unfolded.

Florida vs. Auburn

The Gators entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed throughout March Madness. The Gators opened with a commanding victory over Norfolk State, displaying their depth and defensive prowess. In the second round, they faced UConn in a hard-fought battle but pulled away late. Star forward Jamal Carter’s 22-point performance was a contributing factor to the win. The Sweet 16 matchup against Maryland tested Florida’s resilience, but their balanced scoring attack led to a 78-70 W. In the Elite Eight, the Gators clashed with Texas Tech. The final score was 84-79 Florida Gators, with starter Walter Clayton Jr. scoring 30 Points and Thomas Haugh scoring 20 points for the Gators off the bench. Despite a strong showing from the Red Raiders, Florida’s fast-paced offense and clutch shooting secured an 82-76 W, punching their ticket to the Final Four.

The Auburn Tigers also entered the tournament as a No. 1 seed, demonstrating 85.2 Points per game from the regular season. The Tigers opened the first round with an 83-63W over Alabama State. In the second round, they faced a more challenging opponent in Creighton, behind by two at halftime. Auburn surged in the second half, scoring 40 points to secure an 82-70W. In the Sweet 16, the Tigers faced No. 5 seed Michigan in a game for an Elite Eight spot. Forward-center Johni Broome led the charge with 22 points in a decisive 78-65W. The Elite Eight matchup was set, with a trip to the Final Four on the line. Auburn showed dominance against Michigan State, securing a 70-64W and moving on to the Final Four in San Antonio.

Duke vs. Houston

The Duke Blue Devils finished off the regular season with a 28-3 record. The Blue Devils entered the ACC Tournament as the No. 1 seed and won the championship against No. 13 seed Louisville, 73-62W. Duke’s guard-forward, Cooper Flagg, has had a major impact on the program, leading them to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

In the first round, Duke defeated Mount St. Mary’s with a 93-49 W. In the round of 32, they faced No. 9 seed Baylor which led to  89-66 W, advancing to the Sweet 16. Flagg’s scoring helped the team win 100-93 over Arizona, as he scored 30 points to send Duke to the Elite Eight against No. 2 seed Alabama. Many expected a close matchup, but Duke took a 46-37 halftime lead. The Blue Devils kept a lead and finished with an 85-65 W, sending them to the Final Four.

“I have Duke winning and beating Florida in the championship game.” Atlas ‘27 said

The Houston Cougars had a rocky start to the season, with losses to Auburn, Alabama, and Texas Tech. However, the Cougars battled in the Big 12 Tournament, defeating Colorado and BYU before winning the championship against Arizona, 72-64W. As the No. 1 seed in their region, the Houston Cougars had high hopes of making it to the national championship.

In the first round, they dominated SIU Edwardsville with a 78-40 W. In the round of 32, they faced No. 8 seed Gonzaga, a program known for deep tournament runs. Houston won 81-76, advancing to the Sweet 16 against No. 4 seed Purdue. In a closely contested battle, Houston edged out Purdue 62-60 to secure an Elite Eight berth. Facing No. 2 seed Tennessee, the Cougars showed their dominance early, taking a 34-15 halftime lead. Houston continued its strong performance, finishing with a 69-50 W to set up a showdown with powerhouse No. 1 seed Duke.

“My bracket is not in good shape and has number two, Tennessee, winning the entire March Madness, but got ruined by Houston. ’’ Ryan ‘27 said.