The field for the 2025 NCAA Division I men’s basketball Final Four is officially set, with Auburn, Duke, Florida, and Houston all advancing as No. 1 seeds from their respective regions. This marks only the second time since the tournament’s expansion in 1985 that all four top seeds have reached the national semifinals. Despite all four teams coming from power conferences, Duke stands out as the lone traditional blue-blood program in the mix, further cementing its status among the schools with the most Final Four appearances in history.
Auburn and Houston are still in pursuit of their first national titles, while Florida aims to reclaim its place at the top of college basketball with its first Final Four appearance since 2014. With a combination of championship hopefuls and a historic powerhouse, the stage is set for an exciting showdown as the action tips off Saturday at the Alamodome.
Curious about where the most successful college basketball programs rank in terms of Final Four appearances? Here’s a closer look at the teams with the most all-time trips to the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four.
1. North Carolina Tar Heels — 21
North Carolina Tar Heels — 21 Final Four Appearances
Years: 1946, 1957, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2022
Despite experiencing some inconsistency since Roy Williams’ retirement, North Carolina remains atop the list for most Final Four appearances. The Tar Heels made a remarkable run in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Final Four as a No. 8 seed before falling to No. 1 seed Kansas in the national championship. Since the start of the Dean Smith era in 1961-62, UNC has never gone more than eight years without reaching a Final Four.
Duke Blue Devils — 18 Final Four Appearances
Years: 1963, 1964, 1966, 1978, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2022, 2025
Mike Krzyzewski turned Duke into a perennial powerhouse, and his successor, Jon Scheyer, has continued that legacy. Now in just his third season as head coach, Scheyer has guided the Blue Devils back to the Final Four with a dominant squad. If Duke secures the national championship in San Antonio, it will tie North Carolina and UConn with six titles—the third-most in NCAA history.
UCLA Bruins — 18 Final Four Appearances
Years: 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980*, 1995, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2021
UCLA is still seeking another national title, but the Bruins have reached the Final Four four times since their last championship in 1995. Mick Cronin led the team on an unexpected Cinderella run in the 2021 NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed before a heartbreaking buzzer-beater ended their title hopes. Before that, former head coach Ben Howland guided UCLA to three consecutive Final Fours from 2006 to 2008. However, the program’s golden era came under the legendary John Wooden, who led the Bruins to 12 Final Four appearances and 10 national championships.
Kentucky Wildcats — 17 Final Four Appearances
Years: 1942, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1966, 1975, 1978, 1984, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015
Five different head coaches have led Kentucky to the Final Four, with Adolph Rupp establishing the program’s dominance in the 1930s and guiding the Wildcats to six national semifinals. Joe B. Hall, Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, and John Calipari each carried on the tradition, winning national championships along the way. However, Kentucky has now gone a decade without a Final Four appearance, marking the second-longest gap since its first trip in 1942.
Kansas Jayhawks — 16 Final Four Appearances
Years: 1940, 1952, 1953, 1957, 1971, 1974, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2018*, 2022
Despite reaching the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend only once in the past six seasons, Kansas made that run count by capturing its fourth national title. While deep tournament runs have been less frequent in recent years, Bill Self remains one of the game’s top coaches, having guided the Jayhawks to three Final Fours—plus another in 2018 that was later vacated.
Michigan State Spartans — 10 Final Four Appearances
Years: 1957, 1979, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2019
Tom Izzo holds the record for most NCAA Tournament wins among active head coaches. He has led Michigan State to eight Final Four appearances, though the Spartans have only converted one of their five semifinal trips into a national title since their 2000 championship. Still, Izzo’s ability to keep Michigan State competitive year after year is a testament to his coaching legacy, as the Spartans currently hold the longest active streak with 27 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
Ohio State Buckeyes — 10 Final Four Appearances (Tied 6th)
Years: 1939, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1968, 1999*, 2007, 2012
While Ohio State’s basketball dominance peaked before the 21st century, the program found success under former head coach Thad Matta, who led the Buckeyes to nine NCAA Tournament appearances in 13 seasons, including two Final Four runs and a national runner-up finish in 2007. Since their last Final Four appearance in 2012, Ohio State has only made it past the first weekend of March Madness once—in 2013, when they fell in the Elite Eight.
Indiana Hoosiers — 8 Final Four Appearances (Tied 8th)
Years: 1940, 1953, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1987, 1992, 2002
Indiana’s Final Four drought has now reached 23 years. The Hoosiers made five Final Four appearances under the legendary Bob Knight, winning three national titles to add to the two claimed under Branch McCracken. Their last trip to the semifinals came in 2002, ending in a national runner-up finish. Since then, Indiana has struggled, making just 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and advancing past the first weekend only three times. The program is currently on its fifth head coach since that 2002 run.
Louisville Cardinals — 8 Final Four Appearances (Tied 8th)
Years: 1959, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 2005, 2012*, 2013*
Although Louisville had its 2012 and 2013 Final Four appearances—along with its national championship—vacated, the Cardinals remain among the all-time leaders in semifinal trips. Rick Pitino led them to the Final Four in 2005, making Louisville the third program he guided to that stage. Before Pitino, Denny Crum took the Cardinals to six Final Fours, winning two national championships in the 1970s and 1980s.
Houston Cougars — 7 Final Four Appearances (Tied 10th)
Years: 1967, 1968, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2021, 2025
Houston endured a 36-year Final Four drought before Kelvin Sampson brought the Cougars back in 2021. Now, they have returned once again in 2025, still chasing their first national championship. Houston is 2-4 in Final Four appearances, coming up short in the 1983 and 1984 title games during the legendary Phi Slama Jama era.
UConn Huskies — 7 Final Four Appearances (Tied 10th)
Years: 1999, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2024
UConn has solidified itself as a modern blue-blood, winning multiple national championships over the past three decades. Though the Huskies fell short of a three-peat in 2025, they dominated the NCAA Tournament in recent years, producing two of the most impressive title runs since the bracket expanded in 1985. UConn has been nearly unstoppable when reaching the Final Four, winning six national championships in seven trips.
T-12. Arkansas Razorbacks — 6 (1941, 1945, 1978, 1990, 1994, 1995)
T-12. Cincinnati Bearcats — 6 (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1992)
T-12. Florida Gators — 6 (1994, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2025)
T-12. Michigan Wolverines — 6 (1964, 1965, 1976, 1989, 1992*, 1993*, 2013, 2018)
T-12. Oklahoma State Cowboys — 6 (1945, 1946, 1949, 1951, 1995, 2004)
T-12. Syracuse Orange — 6 (1975, 1987, 1996, 2003, 2013, 2016)
T-12. Villanova Wildcats — 6 (1939, 1971*, 1985, 2009, 2016, 2018, 2022)
T-19. Georgetown Hoyas — 5 (1943, 1982, 1984, 1985, 2007)
T-19. Illinois Fighting Illini — 5 (1949, 1951, 1952, 1989, 2005)
T-19. Oklahoma Sooners — 5 (1939, 1947, 1988, 2002, 2016)
T-22. Arizona Wildcats — 4 (1988, 1994, 1997, 2001)
T-22. Kansas State Wildcats — 4 (1948, 1951, 1958, 1964)
T-22. LSU Tigers — 4 (1953, 1981, 1986, 2006)
T-22. NC State Wolfpack — 4 (1950, 1974, 1983, 2024)
T-22. UNLV Rebels — 4 (1977, 1987, 1990, 1991)
T-22. Utah Utes — 4 (1944, 1961, 1966, 1998)
T-22. Wisconsin Badgers — 4 (1941, 2000, 2014, 2015)
