Miami (Ohio) to Face SMU in NCAA Men's First Four

The RedHawks and Mustangs will meet in Dayton for a spot in the NCAA Tournament's main bracket

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:39pm

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Miami University of Ohio has earned a spot in the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament and will return to March Madness for the first time since 2007. The RedHawks, an 11 seed, will face off against Southern Methodist University in a First Four matchup in Dayton, Ohio.

Why it matters

This is a crucial game for both teams as they look to advance to the main NCAA Tournament bracket. Miami had a strong 31-1 regular season but lost in the conference tournament, while SMU finished 11th in the ACC with a 20-13 record.

The details

The Miami-SMU game will take place at 9:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 18, at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. Fans can watch the game on truTV and the March Madness Live app. Tickets are available for purchase through the University of Dayton website.

  • The game will be played on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 9:15 p.m. ET.

The players

Miami University of Ohio

The RedHawks earned an 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament after a 31-1 regular season record, but lost in the conference tournament.

Southern Methodist University

The Mustangs finished 11th in the ACC with a 20-13 record and earned a spot in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.

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What’s next

The winner of the Miami-SMU game will advance to the main bracket of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This First Four matchup between Miami and SMU provides an exciting start to the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, as both teams look to punch their ticket to the main bracket and continue their March Madness journeys.