Miami (OH) Earns NCAA Tournament Bid, Faces SMU in First Four

RedHawks look to make Cinderella run with challenging path ahead

Mar. 15, 2026 at 11:22pm

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The Miami (OH) RedHawks, who went an impressive 31-0 this season, have earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament despite losing in their conference tournament quarterfinals. They will face SMU in the First Four round, with a potential matchup against No. 6 seed Tennessee awaiting the winner.

Why it matters

Miami (OH)'s undefeated regular season and tournament bid is a remarkable achievement for the mid-major program, but they face a daunting path to make a deep Cinderella run in the tournament, needing to potentially defeat several higher-seeded power conference teams.

The details

If the RedHawks can get past SMU in the First Four, they would advance to face No. 6 seed Tennessee in the first round. A win there would set up a potential Round of 32 matchup with the winner of No. 3 Virginia and No. 14 Wright State. To reach the Sweet 16, Miami (OH) would likely need to get through one of the following teams in the regional semifinals: No. 7 Kentucky, No. 10 Santa Clara, No. 2 Iowa State, or No. 15 Tennessee State.

  • The RedHawks will play SMU in the First Four on Wednesday, March 13, 2026.
  • The winner of the Miami (OH) vs. SMU game will face Tennessee on Friday, March 15, 2026.

The players

Miami (OH) RedHawks

The men's basketball team from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, who earned an at-large bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament despite losing in their conference tournament.

SMU Mustangs

The men's basketball team from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, who will face Miami (OH) in the First Four round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee Volunteers

The men's basketball team from the University of Tennessee, a No. 6 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament who could face the Miami (OH) RedHawks in the first round.

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What they’re saying

“If they can defeat SMU and then beat Tennessee in the first round, it would set them up with the winner of No. 3 Virginia and No. 14 Wright State in the Round of 32. A win there would push them into the Sweet 16, something their program hasn't done since 1999.”

— Cole Sullivan, Author

What’s next

The winner of the Miami (OH) vs. SMU First Four matchup will advance to face Tennessee on Friday, March 15, 2026.

The takeaway

Miami (OH)'s impressive undefeated regular season has earned them an NCAA Tournament bid, but they face a daunting path to make a deep Cinderella run, needing to potentially defeat several higher-seeded power conference teams just to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in over 25 years.