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#24 Minnesota 35 #9 LSU 29
Minnesota pulled off a significant upset, knocking out No. 9 LSU by six points in a contest that gave the Golden Gophers another opportunity to prove they belong among the tournament's remaining contenders. LSU had defeated Arizona State in the previous round, but Minnesota continued its own impressive run after surviving Virginia Tech by just two points. This time, the Gophers found enough offense to get past a top-ten seed, scoring 35 points against a dangerous Tigers team. LSU's tournament journey ends in disappointment, while Minnesota advances after winning another demanding matchup. The Golden Gophers have now eliminated a team seeded 15 places higher, and their next opponent will have good reason to take them seriously.
#8 Texas Tech 38 #25 Oregon 13
Texas Tech delivered one of the round's most convincing victories, overwhelming Oregon by 25 points and sending the Ducks home. Oregon had survived a competitive seven-point game against Florida in the previous round, but the Red Raiders presented a much more difficult challenge. Texas Tech's offense produced 38 points while its defense held Oregon to just 13, preventing the Ducks from building any meaningful momentum. For a team seeded eighth, this is an important statement: Texas Tech isn't simply advancing; it's eliminating quality opponents with authority. Oregon's tournament journey ends earlier than hoped, while the Red Raiders move forward looking increasingly capable of challenging for the Ohio State bracket title.
#48 Arkansas 35 #16 USC 31
Arkansas has done it again! The No. 48 seed knocked out USC in a four-point thriller, adding another major scalp to an increasingly impressive tournament run. After eliminating Houston by three points in the previous round, the Razorbacks faced another highly ranked opponent and once again found a way to come out on top. USC put up 31 points, but Arkansas answered with 35 to keep its Cinderella story alive. The Trojans had looked capable of making a deep run after comfortably defeating Air Force, yet they couldn't find a way past a determined Arkansas team. The Razorbacks advance as one of the tournament's most dangerous underdogs, while USC's championship hopes come to an abrupt end.
#1 Ohio State 42 #32 Pitt 14
Pitt's tournament run ends against the No. 1 team in the field, as Ohio State delivered a convincing 28-point victory to secure its place in the next round. The Panthers had earned their opportunity by edging Penn State in a memorable in-state showdown, but facing the Buckeyes presented a much steeper challenge. Ohio State's 42 points left little room for an upset, while holding Pitt to just two touchdowns kept the contest comfortably under control. For the Buckeyes, this was the kind of performance expected from a championship favorite: handle business, avoid unnecessary drama, and move forward. Pitt departs after a strong tournament showing, but Ohio State remains firmly on course.
#21 Iowa 27 #12 Tennessee 21
Iowa pulled off a notable upset by eliminating No. 12 Tennessee in a six-point contest, continuing a tournament run built on disciplined, hard-nosed football. The Hawkeyes had already defeated Duke by 11 points, while Tennessee advanced past NC State with a convincing 25-point margin. This matchup proved much tighter, as Iowa found enough offense to reach 27 points while keeping the Volunteers to 21. Tennessee's tournament campaign ends despite two strong performances to open the competition, while Iowa advances after taking down a team seeded nine places higher. The Hawkeyes' defensive approach has continued to pay dividends, and their ability to keep a dangerous opponent below its usual scoring output could prove valuable in the next round.
#5 Alabama 34 #28 South Carolina 28
Alabama finally faced a serious challenge, and South Carolina made the Crimson Tide work for their place in the next round. After two consecutive shutouts, Alabama found itself in a six-point contest against a Gamecocks team that had already eliminated Michigan by 25 points. South Carolina scored 28, putting genuine pressure on the No. 5 seed, but Alabama's 34-point effort was enough to keep its championship hopes alive. The result ends South Carolina's impressive tournament run, while Alabama advances after proving it can win a closer game as well as dominate an opponent. The Crimson Tide remain a formidable contender, but this matchup showed that the path forward won't necessarily be a procession.
#20 Mississippi State 30 #13 Texas 24
Mississippi State delivered another major upset, eliminating No. 13 Texas by six points and sending one of the tournament's most dangerous offenses home. The Longhorns had scored 38 points against Syracuse in the previous round, but the Bulldogs managed to keep them to 24 while producing enough offense to secure the victory. Mississippi State had already survived a seven-point contest against Texas State, and this time it again proved capable of holding its nerve against a highly ranked opponent. Texas exits earlier than expected, while the Bulldogs advance with another impressive win. Mississippi State's tournament run is becoming a story of resilience, and the remaining teams in the Miami bracket will have to respect its ability to beat stronger seeds.
#4 Miami 45 #29 SMU 28
Miami kept its championship campaign moving with a 17-point victory over SMU, overcoming a Mustangs team that had already survived a tight battle with Louisville. SMU entered the contest with plenty of offensive confidence, but the Hurricanes produced 45 points of their own and prevented the lower seed from turning the game into a genuine upset opportunity. The Mustangs managed 28 points, making this a more competitive contest than a simple blowout, but Miami ultimately established a clear advantage. The Hurricanes advance to the next round with their top-four status intact. SMU exits after a respectable tournament run, while Miami remains one of the strongest contenders in its own bracket.
#55 Baylor 33 #23 UCLA 28
Baylor continued its giant-killing campaign by defeating UCLA in a five-point contest, following its stunning elimination of Ole Miss with another victory over a higher-ranked opponent. The Bruins had scored 41 points against Memphis in the previous round, but Baylor managed to limit their production while putting up 33 points of its own. UCLA's offense remained dangerous, yet the Bears found enough to secure another upset and keep their tournament hopes alive. Baylor has now knocked out teams seeded 10th and 23rd, establishing itself as a genuine threat rather than a one-game surprise. UCLA exits after a solid run, while the Bears advance with confidence and the knowledge that another big victory is within reach.
#39 Clemson 41 #7 Indiana 38
Clemson delivered one of the tournament's biggest shocks, eliminating No. 7 Indiana in a spectacular 41–38 shootout. Indiana had survived North Dakota State in a wild 45–41 contest the previous round, but another high-scoring game finally proved costly for the Hoosiers. Clemson, meanwhile, continued its impressive run after defeating Oklahoma State, showing that its earlier upset was no fluke. Both offenses found plenty of success, but the Tigers finished three points ahead to knock out one of the tournament's highest remaining seeds. Indiana's championship hopes end in a game that produced 79 points, while Clemson advances with another statement victory. The No. 39 seed has now eliminated two teams ranked considerably higher, and its Cinderella run is gathering serious momentum.
#18 Wisconsin 28 #79 Army 17
Wisconsin brought Army's remarkable underdog run to an end, defeating the Black Knights by 11 points in a matchup between two teams that had earned their place in the tournament through very different paths. Army had stunned both Cincinnati and Utah in successive rounds, establishing itself as one of the field's most dangerous lower seeds. Wisconsin, however, proved a difficult obstacle, producing 28 points while holding the Black Knights to 17. Army's Cinderella story finally concludes, but the Black Knights deserve credit for eliminating two substantially higher-ranked opponents before running into the Badgers. Wisconsin advances with its tournament hopes intact and will be looking to turn this victory into an even deeper run.
#2 Georgia 42 #31 Arizona 24
Georgia took care of business against Arizona, scoring 42 points to secure an 18-point victory and keep its championship ambitions on track. The Wildcats had advanced by defeating Virginia, but facing the No. 2 seed presented a substantially tougher challenge. Arizona managed 24 points, showing enough offensive ability to make the contest interesting, yet the Bulldogs produced a clear winning margin and avoided the kind of late drama that has caught several other favorites. Georgia advances after another convincing performance, demonstrating that it can handle an opponent capable of putting points on the board. Arizona's tournament run ends here, while the Bulldogs remain one of the strongest contenders in the entire field.
#11 Missouri 38 #22 Nebraska 21
Missouri closed out the round with a convincing 17-point victory over Nebraska, continuing a strong tournament campaign and eliminating a respected Big Ten opponent. Nebraska had defeated Navy by seven points in the previous round, but the Tigers proved capable of creating a much more comfortable margin. Missouri scored 38 points while limiting the Cornhuskers to 21, producing a result that reflected its growing confidence and offensive consistency. Nebraska's tournament run ends here, while Missouri advances to the next stage with another solid performance behind it. The Tigers have handled their first two opponents convincingly, and this win over a higher-profile program reinforces their status as a serious contender in the Notre Dame bracket.
#6 Kentucky 27 #27 Northwestern 24
Kentucky survived a serious challenge from Northwestern, escaping with a three-point victory in one of the round's closest contests. The Wildcats had defeated TCU by 11 points in the previous round, but Northwestern proved a more difficult opponent after advancing past Illinois. The Wildcats managed 27 points, while Northwestern's 24 kept the result in doubt until the final margin was established. Kentucky advances, but this was far from a comfortable win for the No. 6 seed. Northwestern's tournament run ends after a respectable pair of victories, while Kentucky moves forward knowing that its next opponent will be eager to exploit any weakness exposed in this contest. At this stage of the tournament, surviving is what matters most.
#19 Wake Forest 34 #14 BYU 30
Wake Forest pulled off a significant upset, edging BYU by four points in a tightly contested game between two highly ranked teams. BYU had defeated Kansas State by 13 points in the previous round, while Wake Forest had won an all-North Carolina battle against the Tar Heels. This matchup proved much closer, with the Demon Deacons producing 34 points and doing just enough to stay ahead of the Cougars. BYU's tournament campaign ends despite a strong opening-round performance, while Wake Forest advances after defeating a team seeded five places higher. The Demon Deacons have demonstrated that their impressive scoring isn't limited to weaker opposition, and this victory gives them a valuable opportunity to continue their run toward the championship.
#3 Notre Dame 38 #30 Oklahoma 7
Notre Dame delivered one of the round's most dominant performances, dismantling Oklahoma by 31 points and allowing just a single touchdown. The Sooners had defeated Auburn by 14 points in the previous round, but the Fighting Irish proved to be a completely different challenge. Notre Dame's offense produced 38 points, while its defense shut down Oklahoma's scoring opportunities and prevented the game from becoming competitive. For the No. 3 seed, this was an emphatic statement of intent. The Irish advance with another convincing victory, while Oklahoma's tournament run ends against a team that appears to be peaking at exactly the right time. Notre Dame will be a formidable opponent for whoever comes next.
