The heartbreak list

Belt games decided by 3 points or less

53 belt games have come down to 3 points or less. These are the teams 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

Holders beaten by 3 or less

Holders who defended by 3 or less

Nov 21, 2025	UConn beat Michigan 72–69	Defense
Jan 12, 2025	UCLA beat Northwestern 2–0	Defense
Jan 7, 2024	Virginia Tech beat NC State 63–62	Title change
Mar 21, 2022	Indiana beat Princeton 56–55	Title change
Mar 6, 2022	Kentucky beat South Carolina 64–62	Title change
Dec 30, 2021	Missouri beat South Carolina 70–69	Title change
Apr 4, 2021	Stanford beat Arizona 54–53	Title change
Mar 27, 2021	Indiana beat NC State 73–70	Title change
Mar 7, 2021	NC State beat Louisville 58–56	Title change
Jan 24, 2021	NC State beat Virginia Tech 89–87	Defense
Jan 20, 2020	South Carolina beat Mississippi State 81–79	Defense
Apr 7, 2019	Baylor beat Notre Dame 82–81	Defense
Apr 1, 2018	Notre Dame beat Mississippi State 61–58	Defense
Mar 30, 2018	Notre Dame beat UConn 91–89	Title change
Mar 31, 2017	Mississippi State beat UConn 66–64	Title change
Feb 18, 2017	UConn beat Tulane 63–60	Defense
Nov 14, 2016	UConn beat Florida State 78–76	Defense
Apr 5, 2015	Notre Dame beat South Carolina 66–65	Defense
Feb 8, 2015	Baylor beat Texas 70–68	Defense
Jan 10, 2015	Iowa State beat Texas 59–57	Title change
Dec 21, 2014	Texas beat Texas A&M 67–65	Defense
Nov 17, 2014	Stanford beat UConn 88–86	Title change
Mar 12, 2013	Notre Dame beat UConn 61–59	Defense
Jan 5, 2013	Notre Dame beat UConn 73–72	Title change
Nov 16, 2012	Stanford beat Baylor 71–69	Title change