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March Madness bubble watch: Miami (OH), Ohio State, Auburn face must-win games
Several teams are fighting to secure their spot in the NCAA tournament with the regular season winding down.
Published on Mar. 5, 2026
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As the final week of the regular season approaches, there are several teams on the NCAA tournament bubble that need to pick up key wins to solidify their spot in the Big Dance. Miami (OH), Ohio State, TCU, VCU, UCLA, and Auburn are all facing must-win situations in their remaining games.
Why it matters
With Selection Sunday right around the corner, these teams are in a precarious position and need to prove they deserve an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. An undefeated season for Miami (OH) could be in jeopardy, while Ohio State, Auburn, and others are fighting to avoid being left out of the field of 68.
The details
Miami (OH) is the last undefeated team in the country, but their NCAA tournament spot is not guaranteed due to a lack of impressive wins. Ohio State has bounced back with some big wins but needs to beat Indiana to solidify their resume. TCU is surging and may have already done enough, while VCU, UCLA, and Auburn all have crucial games remaining to boost their tournament chances.
- The final week of the regular season is here, with Selection Sunday just around the corner.
- Miami (OH) plays their final regular season game on March 6 against Ohio.
- Ohio State faces Indiana on March 7 in a must-win game.
- TCU plays Cincinnati on March 7 in their final regular season contest.
- VCU takes on Dayton on March 6 before the A-10 tournament.
The players
Miami (OH) RedHawks
The last undefeated team in the country, the RedHawks have yet to lose a game this season but still need to prove themselves to secure an NCAA tournament bid.
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes have bounced back with some big wins but need to beat Indiana on March 7 to solidify their tournament resume.
TCU Horned Frogs
TCU has won seven of their last eight games and may have already done enough to secure an at-large bid, but a win over Cincinnati on March 7 would go a long way.
VCU Rams
VCU is sitting in second place in the A-10 standings and has a clear path to the NCAA tournament if they can beat Dayton on March 6 and pick up a win or two in the conference tournament.
Auburn Tigers
Auburn has lost seven of their last nine games and needs to win at Alabama on March 7 and pick up multiple wins in the SEC tournament to have a chance at an at-large bid.
What’s next
The teams on the bubble will need to take care of business in their final regular season games and then make a strong showing in their respective conference tournaments to solidify their NCAA tournament bids.
The takeaway
The final week of the regular season is crucial for several teams on the NCAA tournament bubble, as they look to pick up key wins and avoid being left out of the Big Dance. These teams have one last chance to prove they deserve a spot in the field of 68.
