The first NCAA men’s basketball tournament now known as March Madness was won by the Oregon Webfoots (now the Oregon Ducks) in 1939, defeating Ohio State 46–33 in the title game.

Quick Scoop: Who Won the First March Madness?

  • Champion: Oregon Webfoots (Oregon Ducks)
  • Runner‑up: Ohio State Buckeyes
  • Final score: 46–33 in favor of Oregon
  • Year: 1939 – the very first NCAA men’s basketball tournament
  • Location: Evanston, Illinois

The term “March Madness” came later, but today this 1939 NCAA title is widely treated as the first March Madness championship.

Short Backstory (Mini Section)

In 1939, the NCAA men’s tournament was a tiny, eight‑team event compared to today’s 68‑team spectacle. Oregon’s squad, nicknamed the “Tall Firs” for their size, used height and tempo to overwhelm opponents and claim the inaugural national title. That win over Ohio State laid the foundation for what would grow into the massive, bracket‑busting phenomenon fans now call March Madness.

Fast Facts in List Form

  1. The first NCAA tournament was played in 1939 with just 8 teams.
  1. Oregon beat Ohio State 46–33 in the championship game.
  1. The event took place in Evanston, Illinois.
  1. The tournament later exploded in size and popularity, becoming branded as “March Madness.”

Tiny “Today” Angle

Now, when people ask “who won the first March Madness,” they’re really pointing back to that 1939 NCAA title game and Oregon’s historic win. Modern coverage of March Madness almost always starts its historical timeline with those Oregon Webfoots cutting down the nets in Evanston.

TL;DR: Oregon (then the Webfoots, now the Ducks) won the first March Madness‑era NCAA men’s tournament in 1939, beating Ohio State 46–33.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.