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The NCAA tournament produced one of its signature upsets on March 23, 2026, when Iowa edged defending champion Florida 73-72. The game was decided in the waning seconds when Alvaro Folgueiras buried a corner three-pointer with 4.5 seconds remaining, a shot that sent the top-seeded Gators home and put the Hawkeyes into the Sweet 16. Under the direction of Ben McCollum, a coach with a Division II pedigree, Iowa executed a designed late possession that produced an open look and a season-defining finish in Tampa.
The final margin reflected a contest of momentum swings: Iowa surrendered a 12-point edge in the second half and weathered a late Florida rally before answering with composure. The victory left Florida at 27-8 and Iowa at 23-12, and it made the Gators the first No. 1 seed eliminated from this year’s March Madness. For the Hawkeyes it marked their first trip to the Sweet 16 since 1999 and underscored how preparation, confidence and unselfish execution can overturn seeding expectations on the biggest stage.
How the decisive play unfolded
The closing sequence was a study in situational poise and quick recognition. After Florida’s Isaiah Brown converted a free throw following a rebound with 8.9 seconds left, Iowa broke a full-court press and ran a play originally meant for Bennett Stirtz. When the defense collapsed on Stirtz, he delivered an acute pass to Folgueiras in the corner. With the clock dwindling, Folgueiras rose and knocked down the three that put Iowa ahead 73-72. The execution required a timely inbound, crisp spacing and a player ready to take a high-pressure shot; all three elements lined up to deliver the upset.
The turning moments before the buzzer
Earlier in those final two minutes, Florida’s Xaivian Lee drove for a layup that gave the Gators a 71-68 lead, and Stirtz responded with a floater to keep Iowa within striking distance. Thomas Haugh missed a corner three on Florida’s next attempt, and Stirtz then missed a running layup that led to Brown’s rebound and free throws. When Iowa finally escaped Florida’s press, the team created just enough separation for Folgueiras to get an uncontested look. Head coach Todd Golden later said his squad had planned to foul to prevent a last-second three, but Iowa’s break and conversion left no time for a response.
Coaching, chemistry and context
Ben McCollum arrived in Iowa as a rookie head coach at the Division I level, bringing with him first-year coach energy and several players from his previous stop, including Stirtz and three teammates from Drake. McCollum’s system emphasized unselfishness and physicality, traits his players noted after the win. The coach’s calm demeanor and confidence—he laughed off a comment about “irrational confidence” after the game—helped steady a team that overcame a second-half lapse to finish strong. The result also reflects how tournament matchups and tactical preparation can neutralize conventional seed-based expectations.
Individual contributions that mattered
Several performers keyed the upset. Tavion Banks led Iowa with 20 points, Folgueiras finished with 14 including the decisive triple, and Stirtz added 13 despite a 5-for-16 shooting night. Cooper Kock provided spacing with four three-pointers for 12 points. For Florida, Alex Condon scored 21, Haugh had 19, and Lee contributed 17, but those efforts couldn’t overcome Iowa’s late execution. The game also featured a mid-first-half scuffle when Condon and Folgueiras tangled for a loose ball, resulting in technical fouls for both players and a reminder of the intensity of March Madness competition.
Aftermath and what comes next
The victory sent shockwaves through the bracket and set up a South Region semifinal matchup with No. 4 Nebraska in Houston on Thursday night. As the first No. 9 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed since 2018, Iowa’s story will be watched for signs that underdog runs can be sustained by disciplined coaching and resilient rosters. For Florida, the loss is a hard exit for the defending champions, who looked vulnerable when tested and ultimately fell to a hungry and opportunistic Hawkeye squad. For Iowa, the moment is as much about legacy as it is about the next opponent: a program unlikely to forget March 23, 2026, any time soon.