Biggest Winners and Losers of the 2021 NCAA Tournament

By Matt Melton | Apr 8, 2021

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 05: Jared Butler #12 of the Baylor Bears celebrates after winning the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Baylor Bears defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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EJ Liddell Ohio State Buckeyes (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Loser – Ohio State Buckeyes

Arguably the biggest loser of the 2021 NCAA Tournament was the 2-seed Ohio State Buckeyes who suffered a historic loss in the Round of 64.

The Buckeyes fell to 15-seed Oral Roberts in the First Round 75-72 in what was only the ninth time in history that a 15-seed had upset a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Just how big of an upset was this? Just look at the numbers.

This was the 8th biggest upset in the NCAA Tournament since 1985 as Ohio State was a 16-point favorite going into this matchup, and the biggest upset since 16-seed UMBC knocked off 1-seed Virginia back in 2018. Looking at ESPN’s Tournament Challenge, over 95% of brackets had Ohio State winning which amounted to nearly 14 million people picking the Buckeyes.

Not only was this a historic loss for the Buckeyes, but a disappointing end to a promising season. Ohio State at one point was considered the last 1-seed behind Gonzaga, Baylor, and Michigan, but fell off toward the end of the season losing six of their final nine games.

Even though four of those losses came against teams ranked in the Top 10, it was still a disappointing finish for a team that looked to be among college basketball’s elite at times throughout the season.

Ohio State should return around the top of the Big Ten once again next season, but there is no denying that this was a disappointing finish for one of the nation’s best teams this season.

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