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As the 2025 Men’s March Madness tournament tips off, basketball fans are rallying behind their favorite teams in hopes of cutting down the nets. But beyond buzzer-beaters and bracket busters, many of the schools competing this year have also produced stars who shine far from the court — in Hollywood, music, television, and beyond.

From Oscar-winning actors to chart-topping musicians and beloved TV personalities, here’s a look at the celebrity alumni who once walked the same halls as today’s student-athletes — proving that March Madness schools don’t just build champions, they build icons. And hey, when you’re torn between two teams, knowing which school produced your favorite celeb might just help you break that bracket tie.

East Regional

Duke University

  • Ken Jeong – Actor and comedian (The Hangover, Community)

University of Alabama

University of Wisconsin–Madison

  • Carrie Coon – Actor (The White Lotus, The Leftovers)

University of Arizona

  • Jerry Bruckheimer – Legendary film and TV producer (Pirates of the Caribbean, CSI)

University of Oregon

  • Ty Burrell – Actor (Phil Dunphy on Modern Family), Emmy Award winner

Brigham Young University

  • Ken Jennings – Jeopardy! champion and host

Saint Mary’s College of California

  • Mahershala Ali – Oscar-winning actor (Moonlight, Green Book)

Mississippi State University

  • John Grisham – Bestselling author (The Firm, A Time to Kill)

Baylor University

  • Angela Kinsey – Actor (The Office)

Vanderbilt University

  • Dierks Bentley – Country music singer

Virginia Commonwealth University

  • Jay Pharoah – Comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member

Liberty University

  • TobyMac (Toby McKeehan) – Grammy-winning Christian rapper and former member of DC Talk

University of Akron

University of Montana

  • J.K. Simmons – Oscar-winning actor (Whiplash, Spider-Man)

Robert Morris University

  • Wale – Rapper, born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin

American University

  • Giuliana Rancic – Entertainment reporter and television personality

Mount St. Mary’s University

  • Rory Bourke – Country music songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Charlie Rich, Elvis Presley, and Olivia Newton-John

West Regional

University of Florida

  • Faye Dunaway – Oscar-winning actor (Network, Bonnie and Clyde)

St. John’s University

  • Gardner Fox – Legendary comic book writer who created Barbara Gordon, the original Flash, and Hawkman

Texas Tech University

  • G.W. Bailey – Actor (M*A*S*H*, Police Academy)

University of Maryland

University of Memphis

  • Kathy Bates – Oscar-winning actor (Misery)

University of Missouri

  • Jon Hamm – Actor (Mad Men)

University of Kansas

  • Paul Rudd – Actor (Ant-Man, Clueless, Friends)

University of Connecticut

  • Bobby Moynihan – Actor, former Saturday Night Live cast member

University of Oklahoma

  • James Garner – Actor (The Rockford Files, Maverick), known for TV and film roles

University of Arkansas

  • Nic Pizzolatto – True Detective creator

Drake University

  • Steve Allen – Comedian, musician, and the first host of The Tonight Show

Colorado State University

  • Leslie Jones – Actor, comedian, and former Saturday Night Live cast member

Grand Canyon University

  • Bill Engvall – Comedian and actor

UNC Wilmington

  • Martha Cheney – Author, Gifted & Talented book series

University of Nebraska Omaha

  • Karrin Allyson – Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist

Norfolk State University

South Regional

Auburn University

  • Octavia Spencer – Oscar-winning actor (The Help, Hidden Figures)

Michigan State University

  • Tyler Oakley – YouTuber, social media personality

Iowa State University

  • Chris Soules – The Bachelor Season 19

Texas A&M University

  • Lyle Lovett –Grammy-winning country singer

University of Michigan

University of Mississippi

  • Tate Taylor – Director (The Help, The Girl on the Train)

Marquette University

  • Chris Farley – Iconic comedian (SNL, Tommy Boy)

University of Louisville

  • Sue Grafton – Detective fiction author

Creighton University

  • Matt Oberst – Frontman of the indie band Sorry About Dresden

University of New Mexico

  • Penny Marshall – Actor (Laverne & Shirley)

San Diego State University

  • Kathy Najimy – Actor (Hocus Pocus, Sister Act)

University of North Carolina

  • Andy Griffith – Legendary actor (The Andy Griffith Show, Matlock)

UC San Diego

  • Mike Judge – Creator of Beavis and Butt-Head, King of the Hill, Office Space

Yale University

  • Meryl Streep – Oscar-winning actor (Sophie’s Choice, The Devil Wears Prada)

Lipscomb University

  • Kelsea Ballerini – Country music star, The Voice judge

Bryant University

  • Mikayla Nogueira – Social media influencer

Alabama State University

  • 2 Chainz (Tauheed Epps) – Grammy-nominated rapper

St. Francis

  • Paul Boyton – Showman and adventurer known as “Fearless Frogman”

Midwest Regional

University of Houston

  • Jim Parsons – Emmy-winning actor (The Big Bang Theory)

University of Tennessee

  • Kurt Vonnegut – Author and satirst

University of Kentucky

  • Ashley Judd – Actor (Double Jeopardy, Divergent)

Purdue University

  • Jim Gaffigan – Actor and comedian

Clemson University

  • Nancy O’Dell – TV host (Entertainment Tonight)

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  • Nick Offerman – Actor (Parks & Recreation)

UCLA

Gonzaga University

  • Bing Crosby – Legendary singer and actor (White Christmas), attended but did not graduate

University of Georgia

  • Wayne Knight – Actor (Seinfeld, Jurassic Park)

Utah State University

  • Mark Walton – Storyboard artist (The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Tarzan)

University of Texas at Austin

  • Matthew McConaughey – Oscar-winning actor (Dallas Buyers Club, Interstellar)

Xavier

  • Ryan Nemeth – Professional wrestler known as Briley Pierce

McNeese State University

  • Bobby Kimball – Frontman of the band Toto

High Point University

  • Donna Fargo – Grammy-winning country music singer/songwriter

Troy University

  • James “J.T.” Thomas, Jr – Winner of Survivor: Tocantins
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Wofford College

  • Craig Melvin – TODAY co-anchor

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

  • Kathleen Madigan – Stand-up comedian
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