They say March Madness never fails to surprise us — but these days, we’re so used to chaos and upsets that when things actually go according to plan, it somehow feels even more shocking. 

For the first time since 2008 — and only the second time ever in the modern era of the NCAA Tournament — every single No. 1 seed has advanced to the national semifinals. That means Duke, Houston, Florida, and Auburn are all packing their bags for San Antonio, ready to test their championship mettle.

What made this journey especially wild is how each team secured its spot. Florida delivered a thriller of a comeback against Texas Tech, Duke flexed its muscle in a decisive win over Alabama, Houston suffocated Tennessee with scorching defense, and Auburn outlasted a hungry Michigan State squad. 

Now, after a weekend that had fans glued to their screens, we’re left with four heavyweights — and none of them wants to leave the Alamodome without the biggest prize in college hoops.

Elite Eight Recaps: The Path to San Antonio

Florida Gators (1) vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (3)

Final: 84-79

If you love heart-stopping finishes, the Gators always seem to have you covered, and this Elite Eight tilt was no exception. Down by ten points with a little over five minutes left, Florida looked like they might be heading home early.

Walter Clayton Jr. was the star of the night. With 13 of his 30 points coming in the last five-and-change, he basically took the game over, drilling late three-pointers that sucked the life out of Texas Tech’s lead. That scoring flurry was set up by Thomas Haugh’s back-to-back long-range bombs, the kind of big-moment shots that flip momentum on its head. 

If you blinked, you missed the Gators flipping a ten-point deficit into an 18-4 run to end the game. That’s the textbook Florida M.O. this season: find themselves in trouble, then unleash a spree of buckets that leaves everyone else shaking their heads.

It’s also worth noting that Alijah Martin is heading to the Final Four for the second time but with a different program, making him the only player in NCAA history to do so. He’s been an X-factor all tournament — both a glue guy and a spark plug — and it’s that kind of consistent leadership that gets you through these nail-biters.

Texas Tech, for their part, had this one in the bag — or so it seemed. But the inability to lock down Clayton Jr. during his scorching final minutes ended their title hopes. When you have a lead in the Elite Eight, you’ve got to slam the door shut. The Red Raiders couldn’t, and now the Gators are dancing into San Antonio with all sorts of swagger.

Duke Blue Devils (1) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (2)

Final: 85-65

Duke didn’t just handle business here — they dominated. Alabama came into this one boasting a high-octane offense, which had just lit up the scoreboard in the Sweet Sixteen with a staggering 25 made three-pointers. Duke’s response? Lock them down from the perimeter and dare them to find another way to score. 

It worked to perfection. The Tide ended up going 8-for-32 from distance, well below their average and definitely not enough to keep Duke within striking range.

Kon Knueppel paced the Blue Devils with 21 points, but the biggest talking point was how every Duke player seemed to pitch in on both ends. Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick, had a solid game — 16 points and nine boards — though not quite the monstrous showing we saw in the previous round. Still, when Flagg can be “just solid,” and Duke still wins by 20, that spells trouble for the rest of the field.

What really jumps off the page is Duke’s depth. They had four players notch double figures and each of those players pulled down at least five rebounds. That’s not just a reflection of skill, but of a system that encourages team-first basketball. 

Their bench is so stacked that those guys could start at most other programs in the country. 

This is also a milestone for head coach Jon Scheyer, who’s taking the Blue Devils to the Final Four for the first time in the post-Krzyzewski era. Any questions about Duke’s direction after Coach K’s retirement have been answered with a resounding, “We’re still Duke.” And they’re definitely looking capable of adding to that storied trophy case.

Houston Cougars (1) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (2)

Final: 69-50

On paper, this might have looked like a defensive slugfest, but Houston made sure it wasn’t even that close. From the opening tip, they imposed their will. 

Tennessee’s offense never found a rhythm, scoring a mere 15 points in the first half — yes, 15. That’s how suffocating this Houston D can be. They’re the top-ranked team in adjusted defensive efficiency for a reason, and they gave the Volunteers more than they could handle.

But the Cougars aren’t just about locking you down anymore. Thanks to players like LJ Cryer and Milos Uzan, they’ve developed a sneaky-effective three-point attack, leading the nation at nearly 40% from beyond the arc. 

Cryer led the way with 17 points, hitting those dagger triples that leave opponents deflated. Uzan’s knack for knocking down corner threes, especially in transition, has turned this once-defense-first squad into a legitimate dual threat.

Tennessee, on the other hand, couldn’t buy a bucket from distance, missing their first 14 attempts from three-point land. Add in the fact that they got thoroughly beaten in the paint, and you can see how it turned into a 19-point blowout. It’s the fourth Elite Eight loss for Rick Barnes since his last Final Four back in 2003 — frustrating for a Volunteers fan base that’s still waiting for that elusive breakthrough.

For Houston, this trip to the Final Four marks their second since 2021, continuing a strong era under Kelvin Sampson. They’ll head to San Antonio with momentum, depth, and a potent inside-out balance that could spell trouble for the other three contenders.

Auburn Tigers (1) vs. Michigan State Spartans (2)

Final: 70-64

If the Florida game was a late surge, then Auburn’s Elite Eight showdown with Michigan State was more of a steady, grind-it-out affair. The Tigers jumped out to a lead and managed to hold off a Spartans run in the closing minutes. They got a massive lift from Johni Broome, who put up 25 points and snagged 14 rebounds. That’s the kind of stat line you need from your star big man in a do-or-die scenario.

It wasn’t without drama, though. Broome had a scary moment mid-game with an ankle and elbow scare, but came back to immediately hit a three-pointer. Talk about grit. Auburn is among the best in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, and a big part of that is their shot-blocking prowess. They’re not the type of team that’ll let you get into the paint without a fight, and Michigan State found that out the hard way.

For Auburn, it’s their second Final Four appearance in history and first since 2019, which was also under head coach Bruce Pearl. There’s something about this Tigers team that just won’t go away. They’re disciplined, athletic, and when Broome is healthy and rolling, they’re downright tough to beat. Now, with Florida in the next round, we get an SEC rematch that’s sure to bring some fireworks.

No Underdogs, Just Heavyweights

So here we are, down to four teams, all wearing that No. 1 next to their name. 

There’s no underdog story this time — just four juggernauts squaring off, each with a real shot to finish the job. Whether you’re rooting for the bluebloods, the new bloods, or just hoping for some close games and clutch performances, this Final Four has something for every kind of fan. 

And after a weekend that reminded us why we love this sport — comebacks, lockdown defense, and breakout stars — there’s only one thing left to do: sit back, take a breath, and get ready for the last, wild ride of the season. It’s going to be fun.