2026 NCAA Men’s Tournament: The last time every Elite Eight team reached the Final Four

And then there were eight. We have reached the Elite Eight round of the 2026 NCAA men’s tournament, and several top programs have managed to qualify. With that in mind, here’s the last time each of the eight teams that reached this year’s Elite Eight reached the Final Four. Note: Schools are listed in alphabetical order. Arizona Wildcats – 2001 Arizona earned the No. 2 seed in the 2001 NCAA Tournament and embarked on a national championship run, notably defeating the No. 1 seed Illinois Fighting Illini, the No. 1 seed Michigan State Spartans, and the No. 3 seed Ole Miss Rebels. That said, Arizona fell just short, losing to the Duke Blue Devils in the title game. Duke Blue Devils – 2025 The Elite Eight is familiar territory for the Blue Devils under current head coach Jon Scheyer and former coach Mike Krzyzewski. Last year, Duke not only made the Elite Eight, but also the Final Four, a run that included notable wins over the Baylor Bears, Arizona Wildcats and Alabama Crimson Tide, among other teams. At the same time, this trip to the Final Four became a nightmare for the Blue Devils, who blew a six-point lead with 1:14 left in the second half to the Houston Cougars, who won 70-67. Illinois Fighting Illini – 2005 The Fighting Illini have made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last six seasons, but they have not been able to play “Connect Four” since 2005. During that season, Illinois reached the national championship, defeating Lute Olson’s Arizona Wildcats in the Elite Eight and Rick Pitino’s Louisville Cardinals in the Final Four. In the end, however, the North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Fighting Illini in the title game, 75-70. Iowa Hawkeyes – 1980 It’s been a minute for the Hawkeyes. Nonetheless, Iowa had one of the best runs in program history in 1980 when it reached the Final Four. It was a streak highlighted by wins over the Syracuse Orange and Georgetown Hoyas. However, it ended in the Final Four, as Iowa lost to the Louisville Cardinals. Michigan Wolverines – 2018 After winning the Big Ten tournament, Michigan earned third place in the 2018 NCAA tournament and reached the Final Four. Unfortunately for the Michigan faithful, the Wolverines ran into the freight train that was the Villanova Wildcats, who defeated Michigan in the national championship for their second title in three years. Purdue Boilermakers – 2024 After losing in the first round of the tournament in 2021 and 2023 – which saw the Boilermakers lose to the No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in the first round of the tournament, becoming the second No. 1 seed to lose in the first round – and being eliminated in the Sweet 16 in 2022, Purdue reached the national championship in 2024. finished the season at 34-5, with the UConn Huskies defeating them later in the title game. Tennessee Volunteers – Trick Question! The Volunteers have been a staple during the second weekend of the tournament in recent times, reaching the Elite Eight in each of the last three seasons. That said, Tennessee has never reached the Final Four in program history. UConn Huskies – 2024 After winning the national title in 2023, Dan Hurley’s Huskies became the first men’s college basketball team to repeat as national champions since the Florida Gators accomplished that feat under Billy Donovan in 2006 and 2007. UConn went 37-3 overall and won its six NCAA Tournament games by an average of 23.3 points per game. The Huskies then selected four players in the 2024 NBA Draft, including two among the first seven selections (Stephon Castle at No. 4 and Donovan Clingan at No. 7).