Generous Dose of Humility: Most Lopsided Setbacks For #1-Ranked Teams
January 10th, 2026 - 8:21
T.J. Otzelberger-coached Iowa State has knocked off a #1-ranked team by at least 23 points away from home twice in the last three seasons. The last three campaigns provided three of the nine most lopsided losses by a top-ranked club in NCAA history since the late 1940s. Following are the widest margins of defeat for an AP top-ranked team (11 times by more than 20 points with no margin this high in a 21-season span from 1968-69 through 1988-89):
| Margin | Losing #1 Team | Winning Opponent (Coach) | Result/Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | St. John's | at Kentucky (Adolph Rupp) | 81-40/1951-52 |
| 32 | Houston | at UCLA (John Wooden) in NCAA Tournament semifinals | 101-69/1967-68 |
| 30 | Tennessee | at Florida (Todd Golden) | 73-43/2024-25 |
| 28 | Houston | vs. Iowa State (T.J. Otzelberger) at Kansas City in Big 12 Conference Tournament final | 69-41/2023-24 |
| 27 | Duke | at Miami FL (Jim Larranaga) | 90-63/2012-13 |
| 24 | Arkansas | at Massachusetts (John Calipari) | 104-80/1994-95 |
| 24 | Duke | at North Carolina (Bill Guthridge) | 97-73/1997-98 |
| 23 | Connecticut | vs. Villanova (Steve Lappas) | 96-73/1994-95 |
| 23 | Purdue | vs. Iowa State (T.J. Otzelberger) | 81-58/2025-26 |
| 22 | Kansas | at Oklahoma (Billy Tubbs) | 100-78/1989-90 |
| 21 | Baylor | at West Virginia (Bob Huggins) | 89-68/2016-17 |