Ohio State's At-Large Chances Ahead of Big Ten Tournament

The Buckeyes are in a good spot despite being inconsistent all season long.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team is in a strong position to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, despite being one of the most inconsistent teams in the Big Ten all season. The Buckeyes ended the regular season on a three-game winning streak, including a victory over Indiana, and they now have three Quad 1 wins after a win over Purdue. Additionally, several bubble teams suffered losses this past week, improving Ohio State's chances.

Why it matters

Ohio State has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2022, and earning an at-large bid this year would be a significant accomplishment for the program. The Buckeyes' inconsistent play throughout the season had put their tournament hopes in jeopardy, but the team's strong finish and the struggles of other bubble teams have boosted their chances.

The details

The Buckeyes ended the regular season by winning three straight games, including a victory over Indiana. This was the first time they had won three in a row since early in the season. Additionally, Purdue's loss to Wisconsin turned Ohio State's previous loss to the Badgers into a Quad 1 win, giving the Buckeyes three such wins heading into the Big Ten Tournament. Most bracketologists now have Ohio State projected as an 11-seed, and analytics site Bart Torvik gives them a 100% chance of earning an at-large bid.

  • The regular season ended on March 7, 2026.
  • Ohio State won three straight games to end the regular season.
  • Purdue lost to Wisconsin on March 7, 2026, improving Ohio State's resume.

The players

Bruce Thornton

Ohio State Buckeyes guard who became the program's all-time leading scorer during the final regular season game.

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What’s next

If Ohio State can win a game or two in the Big Ten Tournament and avoid a blowout loss to an inferior opponent, the Buckeyes seem destined to earn an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time since 2022.

The takeaway

Ohio State's inconsistent play throughout the season had put their NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy, but the team's strong finish and the struggles of other bubble teams have boosted their chances of earning an at-large bid. This would be a significant accomplishment for the program, which has not made the tournament since 2022.