2026 March Madness: What Makes an NCAA Tournament Champion?

“March Madness” is finally here. Sixty-eight teams commenced play this week, all with the hopes of cutting down the nets on April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianpolis. Thirty-seven programs have won a national title since the tournament’s conception in 1939, with two of the last six winners being first-time champions — Baylor (2021) and Virginia (2019). As the popularity of the tournament has grown in recent years, there has been a focus on the statistical trends that have made up past champions. FOX Sports Research decided to dive into all the characteristics that make up the tournament champion, examining various metrics while also taking the past into account. Let’s take a look: This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. KenPom Seeding Other Trends​March Madness is here, and FOX Sports Research has done a historical deep-dive into the characteristics that make up a tournament champion.