The heartbreak list
Belt games decided by 3 points or less344 belt games have come down to 3 points or less. These are the programs who got closest without taking it, and the holders who survived by a whisker.
So close: challengers
Lost a belt game by 3 or less
| Omaha | 15 |
| Denver | 12 |
| Miami (OH) | 12 |
| North Dakota | 10 |
| St. Cloud State | 8 |
| Colorado College | 7 |
| Colgate | 7 |
| Wisconsin | 7 |
| Boston College | 7 |
| Boston University | 6 |
| Maine | 6 |
| Minnesota Duluth | 6 |
Lost it by a whisker
Holders beaten by 3 or less
| Minnesota Duluth | 12 |
| North Dakota | 10 |
| Denver | 10 |
| Omaha | 9 |
| Western Michigan | 7 |
| Boston College | 6 |
| Colorado College | 6 |
| Minnesota | 5 |
| Quinnipiac | 5 |
| Merrimack | 4 |
| UMass Lowell | 4 |
| Miami (OH) | 4 |
Escape artists
Holders who defended by 3 or less
| Denver | 32 |
| North Dakota | 23 |
| Western Michigan | 19 |
| Minnesota Duluth | 15 |
| Providence | 15 |
| Omaha | 10 |
| Merrimack | 10 |
| Boston College | 8 |
| Ohio State | 7 |
| Cornell | 7 |
| Minnesota State | 6 |
| Clarkson | 5 |
Latest nail-biters
| Apr 11, 2026 | Denver beat Wisconsin 2–1 | Defense |
| Apr 9, 2026 | Denver beat Michigan 4–3 (OT) | Defense |
| Mar 21, 2026 | Denver beat Minnesota Duluth 4–3 (OT) | Defense |
| Mar 14, 2026 | Denver beat Western Michigan 2–1 (OT) | Defense |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Denver beat Miami (OH) 3–0 | Defense |
| Feb 28, 2026 | Denver beat Arizona State 4–1 | Defense |
| Feb 27, 2026 | Denver beat Arizona State 5–2 | Defense |
| Feb 14, 2026 | Denver beat Omaha 3–1 | Defense |
| Feb 13, 2026 | Denver beat Omaha 5–2 | Title change |
| Jan 31, 2026 | Omaha beat Western Michigan 4–1 | Title change |
| Jan 30, 2026 | Western Michigan beat Omaha 5–2 | Defense |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Western Michigan beat Minnesota Duluth 4–3 (OT) | Defense |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Western Michigan beat Minnesota Duluth 4–3 | Defense |
| Jan 9, 2026 | Western Michigan beat Denver 4–1 | Defense |
| Dec 29, 2025 | Western Michigan beat Wisconsin 4–1 | Defense |
| Dec 28, 2025 | Western Michigan beat Boston College 5–3 | Defense |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Western Michigan beat Minnesota Duluth 3–2 (OT) | Title change |
| Dec 5, 2025 | Minnesota Duluth beat Western Michigan 4–1 | Title change |
| Nov 22, 2025 | Western Michigan beat Omaha 4–2 | Defense |
| Nov 15, 2025 | Omaha beat Minnesota Duluth 2–0 | Title change |
| Nov 14, 2025 | Minnesota Duluth beat Omaha 5–2 | Defense |
| Nov 8, 2025 | Minnesota Duluth beat St. Cloud State 3–2 (OT) | Defense |
| Oct 31, 2025 | Western Michigan beat St. Cloud State 6–5 | Defense |
| Oct 24, 2025 | Western Michigan beat Michigan 5–2 | Title change |
| Oct 17, 2025 | Western Michigan beat UMass Lowell 2–1 | Defense |