Ohio State basketball falls to No. 2 Michigan in blowout loss

Buckeyes' March Madness hopes take a hit with 82-61 defeat at home

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Ohio State basketball suffered a blowout 82-61 loss to the second-ranked Michigan Wolverines on Sunday, failing to boost its March Madness hopes. The Buckeyes struggled to match Michigan's size and shooting, falling to 0-7 in Quadrant 1 games this season.

Why it matters

This loss is a major setback for Ohio State's NCAA Tournament aspirations, as the Buckeyes have yet to secure a signature win this season. Meanwhile, Michigan continues to solidify its position as a top seed in March Madness.

The details

Michigan jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, dominating the Buckeyes in the paint and from beyond the arc. Ohio State's offense struggled to find consistency, particularly from 3-point range, as the Wolverines' size and defensive pressure proved too much to overcome.

  • The game took place on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

The players

Aday Mara

A 7-foot-3 center for the Michigan Wolverines who posed a significant size mismatch for Ohio State.

Christoph Tilly

A 7-foot center for the Ohio State Buckeyes who tried to match up with Mara but struggled to contain Michigan's size advantage.

Ivan Njegovan

Another 7-foot center for the Ohio State Buckeyes who, along with Tilly, was unable to effectively counter Michigan's size in the paint.

Jake Diebler

The second-year head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, who is trying to guide the team to the NCAA Tournament.

Dusty May

The second-year head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, who has his team positioned for a top seed in March Madness.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The Buckeyes will look to bounce back in their next game against Southern Cal on February 11.

The takeaway

This blowout loss to Michigan is a major setback for Ohio State's NCAA Tournament hopes, as the Buckeyes have yet to secure a signature win this season. The team's inability to match Michigan's size and shooting prowess proved to be their downfall, and they will need to regroup quickly to keep their March Madness aspirations alive.