The heartbreak list
Belt games decided by 3 points or less108 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
| Texas Tech | 4 |
| Texas | 3 |
| Mississippi State | 3 |
| Arkansas | 2 |
| NC State | 2 |
| Washington | 2 |
| Arizona | 2 |
| Florida State | 2 |
| Baylor | 2 |
| Texas A&M | 2 |
| Notre Dame | 2 |
| Purdue | 2 |
Lost it by a whisker
Holders beaten by 3 or less
| UConn | 8 |
| Tennessee | 4 |
| Louisiana Tech | 3 |
| Virginia | 3 |
| Stanford | 3 |
| Auburn | 2 |
| Ohio State | 2 |
| North Carolina | 2 |
| Notre Dame | 2 |
| Duke | 2 |
| Baylor | 2 |
| NC State | 2 |
Escape artists
Holders who defended by 3 or less
| UConn | 8 |
| Baylor | 6 |
| Texas | 4 |
| Notre Dame | 4 |
| Virginia | 3 |
| Tennessee | 3 |
| California | 2 |
| Stanford | 2 |
| Ohio State | 2 |
| Old Dominion | 2 |
| Texas Tech | 2 |
| LSU New Orleans | 2 |
Latest nail-biters
| 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 |