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Every year, March Madness delivers surprises, with lower-seeded teams making unexpected runs and turning the tournament upside down. While powerhouses like Duke, Kansas, and UConn dominate the headlines, several overlooked programs have the potential to make serious noise in the bracket.

 

No matter if it’s a battle-tested team with experienced leadership, a squad with an elite scorer who can take over games, or a high-powered offense that can outshoot anyone, certain teams are built to exceed expectations. With that in mind, some underrated teams could emerge as bracket-busting threats in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Texas Longhorns

Here’s a fascinating statistic to remember when filling out brackets next month: The last time Texas pulled off an NCAA tournament seeding upset was in 2002 when the No. 6 seed Longhorns defeated No. 3 seed Mississippi State in the second round. Since that game, Texas has struggled facing higher-seeded opponents, going 0-9 in such matchups.

 

Additionally, the program has suffered 10 losses when entering as the favored seed. However, none of those teams had Tre Johnson. Even a roster featuring Kevin Durant and three other future NBA players could not break the trend, as USC neutralized D.J. Augustin and imposed its physicality in that tournament loss. 

 

But that’s the unpredictability of March Madness. When Johnson and the Longhorns get hot this time, anything could happen. Even on an off night for the freshman standout, Texas remained competitive against a fully healthy Auburn team, losing just five points.

 

The Longhorns then nearly defeated Tennessee, secured a road win at Oklahoma, and staged an incredible comeback from 22 points down in the second half to stun Texas A&M. This team is built for battle, with experience at its core. 

 

More than half of its primary nine-man rotation consists of fifth-year seniors, while Johnson is the lone regular who isn’t at least a junior. With veteran leadership, balance, and resilience, this Texas squad has the potential to exceed expectations when it matters most. NCAAB Updates at FanDuel has all the details.

BYU Cougars

While Mark Pope has excelled in his first season as Kentucky’s head coach, his former team has shown no signs of slowing down without him. A few weeks ago, BYU appeared to be struggling, sitting at 11-6 and still searching for a signature victory. 

 

However, the Cougars have since strung together four straight wins at Colorado, against Cincinnati, against Baylor, and at UCF while shooting an impressive 47.5 percent (48-for-101) from three-point range during that stretch. Suddenly, they look like a dangerous team.

 

A key factor in BYU’s early inconsistency was the absence of Egor Demin, who missed three games in December and took some time to regain his rhythm. Now back at full strength, and with Richie Saunders also catching fire, the Cougars have transformed into an offensive powerhouse capable of scoring at will.

 

The question is whether their defensive three-point luck will hold up in March.

 

Like Nebraska, BYU’s defensive scheme allows plenty of open perimeter looks, leading to some games spiraling out of control. The most glaring example came in a loss to Providence, where the Friars shot 12-for-22 from deep and cruised to a 19-point win. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword, as the high volume of three-point attempts, both taken and allowed, makes BYU an intriguing team for the NCAA tournament.

 

In games involving the Cougars, approximately 46.5 percent of total field-goal attempts come from beyond the arc. They convert 37.5 percent of their threes while ranking among the nation’s top rebounding teams. When hitting at least 34 percent from deep, BYU boasts a 13-1 record, with the lone loss coming in a close road game against TCU, where a minus-10 turnover margin proved costly.

 

With their explosive shooting and strong rebounding, BYU has the tools to be a formidable opponent in March. According to NCAAB odds by FanDuel, their ability to get hot from beyond the arc could make them a valuable dark-horse pick for bettors looking to capitalize on their high-risk, high-reward style.

Gonzaga Bulldogs

While Gonzaga, with zero national championships in program history, is certainly more of a sleeper candidate than six-time champion Connecticut, the Bulldogs have long since established themselves as a perennial NCAA tournament presence. With 25 consecutive tournament appearances, including at least a Sweet 16 berth in the last nine years, this team hardly sneaks up on opponents. (Then again, North Carolina was mentioned in a similar context.)

 

However, concerns over whether Gonzaga will secure a tournament bid this season are growing. The Bulldogs hold a 5-7 record against the top two Quadrants and lack a signature victory. Their dominant season-opening win over Baylor initially seemed impressive but has since lost some luster, barely qualifying as a Quad 1 result.

 

Assuming Gonzaga makes the field, one thing remains clear: Few offenses are as relentless as this one.

 

Ryan Nembhard is averaging 10 assists per game, orchestrating an attack centered around Graham Ike, who dominates in the post with a scoring rate of 32.1 points per 40 minutes. When Ike rests, Braden Huff enters, producing an impressive 26.7 points per 40 minutes. 

 

Together, this center tandem averages 28.6 points and 10.7 rebounds while logging a combined 38.5 minutes per game. Meanwhile, Khalif Battle and Nolan Hickman bring unpredictability to the backcourt, but Gonzaga becomes a tough team to beat when either shooting guard is on.

 

As has often been the case with Gonzaga, the biggest question is its defense.

 

In consecutive losses to Oregon State and Santa Clara last month, the Bulldogs surrendered 97 and 103 points, respectively. Their overtime loss to Kentucky was even more troubling, as an 18-point second-half lead evaporated in just three minutes. 

 

Rim protection remains a significant weakness, and outside of Nembhard (1.7 steals per game), no player is averaging more than one steal per contest. These defensive struggles make Gonzaga a risky team to trust in a tournament setting, as high-powered offenses with mediocre defenses tend to have short stays in March Madness. 

 

However, there is reason for optimism. Statistically, this year’s defense is better than either of the past two seasons, during which Gonzaga still managed to win five combined tournament games. The program’s first Cinderella run came in 1999, when it was a No. 10 seed. Perhaps history could repeat itself.

Final Words

March Madness is all about unpredictability, and these underrated teams have the potential to shake up the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Whether it’s Texas with its veteran leadership, BYU with its lethal shooting, or Gonzaga with its high-powered offense, each program has the tools to make a deep run. While they may not be among the favorites, history has shown that anything can happen in March. Keep an eye on these squads—they might be this year’s bracket-busting surprises.

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