March Madness bracket tiebreaker: Predicting total points in 2026 NCAA Tournament national championship game As you fill out your March Madness bracket, consider what 16 years of data tell us about the all-important national championship game tiebreaker By Cameron Salerno Mar 15, 2026 at 8:30 pm ET • 1 min read Imagn Images The final step in completing your NCAA Tournament bracket is to predict the total final score of the national title game matchup for tiebreaking purposes. Although it may seem like a small detail, it can be the difference in earning bragging rights as the winner of your bracket pool or coming in second place. If you're in this predicament and confused about what number to put for this year's national title game happening on April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, we are here to help. Instead of putting 100 or 10,000 as a random final score, we are here to provide you with some past data that will hopefully get you on track to winning your bracket pool. The average total score of the national title game since 2010 is 135.2. The highest-scoring title game since that time period happened in 2019, when Virginia defeated Texas Tech 85-77 (162 total) in overtime. The lowest-scoring championship game in the same stretch occurred when UConn outlasted Butler 53-41 (94) in a dismal game to win the national title in 2011. It's bracket time, fill yours out now: Play in pools with friends and enter our Bracket Challenge for your shot at winning a dream trip to the 2027 Final Four®! Over the last five years, the average total score of the national title game has been higher at 139.0. Last year's title game between Florida and Houston came down to the final possession, with the Gators exiting San Antonio with a dramatic 65-63 (128 total) win over the Cougars. Before that, UConn won back-to-back national titles over Purdue and San Diego State , respectively, and the total score of both games landed at 135. Below is a complete list of every national title game since 2010, with final scores and total scores included for your convenience. Every national championship total score 2010 Year Championship Result Total Score 2025 Florida 65, Houston 63 128 2024 UConn 75, Purdue 60 135 2023 UConn 76, San Diego State 59 135 2022 Kansas 72, North Carolina 69 141 2021 Baylor 86, Gonzaga 70 156 2020 Canceled due to Covid-19 N/A 2019 Virginia 85, Texas Tech 77 (OT) 162 2018 Villanova 79, Michigan 62 141 2017 North Carolina 71, Gonzaga 65 136 2016 Villanova 77, North Carolina 74 151 2015 Duke 68, Wisconsin 63 131 2014 UConn 60, Kentucky 54 114 2013 Louisville 82, Michigan 76 158 2012 Kentucky 67, Kansas 59 126 2011 UConn 53, Butler 41 94 2010 Duke 61, Butler 59 120 Join the Conversation comments