In a stunning turn of events, the No. 16 seed Farleigh Dickinson pulled off an incredible upset against No. 1 seed Purdue in the first round of last year’s NCAA tournament. This victory marked only the second time in history that a men’s No. 16 seed defeated a No. 1 seed. Following this upset, the NCAA revealed that out of over 20 million bracket submissions, not a single one remained perfect.
This outcome has left many wondering if a perfect NCAA tournament bracket during March Madness, known for its last-second wins, surprising upsets, and Cinderella stories, is even possible. The truth is, no one has ever achieved a perfect bracket, predicting all 63 game outcomes correctly, despite the millions of attempts each year. Yet, this daunting fact doesn’t deter countless fans from trying their luck each year, hoping to nail their predictions.
For those looking forward to men’s 2024 March Madness, you’ll find all the necessary details including dates, times, and odds. Similarly, information on the women’s 2024 March Madness, including Selection Sunday dates and TV info, is readily available for enthusiasts.
If you’re feeling lucky, consider entering USA TODAY’s NCAA tournament bracket contest. You could win a $1 million prize if you manage to select the perfect bracket.
But what exactly is a perfect bracket? It’s a bracket that correctly predicts the winner of every game in the tournament, a feat no one has accomplished yet. The odds of achieving a perfect bracket are staggeringly low, at one in 9.2 quintillion. However, for those well-versed in college basketball, the odds improve slightly to 1 in 120.2 billion.
The record for the longest a bracket has stayed perfect was set by an Ohio man in 2019, who accurately predicted the outcomes of the first 49 games of the men’s NCAA tournament. This record-breaking streak is the longest since the NCAA started tracking brackets from major online platforms in 2016.
Warren Buffett’s annual March Madness bracket challenge is another highlight, offering a substantial reward for anyone who can predict a perfect bracket. Although no one has yet claimed the grand prize, the challenge has seen participants come close, with significant rewards for those whose brackets last the longest.
As of now, there are no details available for the 2024 Warren Buffett March Madness bracket challenge. However, USA TODAY is offering a chance to win a $1 million prize for perfect brackets. Participants can join the fun at https://brackets.usatoday.com/, make their picks, and even set up pools with family and friends. The competition opens on March 17, inviting all to test their prediction skills.