NCAA Bracket Challenge Nearly Achieves Perfection

STORRS, Conn. — In a remarkable turn of events during the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, one participant in the CBS Sports Bracket Challenge came within one game of a perfect prediction. The near miss occurred on March 22, when 10th-seeded South Dakota State rallied to defeat No. 7 Oklahoma State 74-68 in the first round.

The outcome, while significant for the Jackrabbits, went largely unnoticed as they prepared for their next matchup in the tournament. Achieving perfection in a bracket challenge is a formidable task; the NCAA estimates the odds of selecting every game correctly at one in 9.2 quintillion.

This year’s contest saw a wide array of participants attempting to navigate a series of unpredictable matches. With many upsets occurring throughout the early rounds, finishing with only one loss—like this participant—still represents a remarkable feat. The tournament’s chaotic nature often leads to surprising outcomes, as evidenced by South Dakota State’s unexpected victory.

According to NCAA statistics, the rarity of a near-perfect bracket further highlights the unpredictability of March Madness, where anything can happen. The Jackrabbits, following their win, anticipated a challenging road ahead as they looked to continue their tournament run.

Despite the participant’s impressive performance, the final statistics from the CBS Sports Bracket Challenge do not yet include the chances of finishing with just one prediction error. Nonetheless, each year, enthusiasts eagerly enter the contest in hopes of achieving the elusive perfect bracket.