Miami (OH) RedHawks to Face Tennessee Volunteers in March Madness 2026 First Round

The RedHawks look to pull off the upset as 10.5-point underdogs against the No. 6 seed Volunteers.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:54am

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The Miami (OH) RedHawks, who finished the regular season with a 31-1 record, will take on the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Tennessee opens as a 10.5-point favorite, with the game total set at over/under 148.5 points.

Why it matters

This matchup features a Cinderella story in the RedHawks, who are looking to make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1999, against the more established Volunteers program. The outcome could have major implications for both teams' tournament runs.

The details

Miami (OH) earned its spot in the tournament by taking down SMU in the First Four, while Tennessee finished fourth in the SEC during the regular season before losing in the conference tournament quarterfinals. The Volunteers rank 16th in power rating, led by the 13th-ranked defense in the country. However, the Selection Committee was not overly impressed by Miami (OH)'s 31-1 record, citing the RedHawks' 69th-ranked offense and 150th-ranked defense.

  • The game will tip off on Friday, March 21, 2026 at 4:25 p.m. ET.

The players

Tennessee Volunteers

The No. 6 seed in the Midwest Region, the Tennessee Volunteers finished the regular season with a 22-11 record and lost in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.

Miami (OH) RedHawks

The RedHawks enter the tournament with a 31-1 record after defeating SMU in the First Four. This is Miami (OH)'s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1999.

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What’s next

The winner of this first-round matchup will advance to face the winner of the game between the No. 3 seed and the No. 14 seed in the Midwest Region.

The takeaway

This game features a classic David vs. Goliath scenario, with the upstart RedHawks looking to pull off the upset against the more highly-touted Volunteers. The outcome could have major implications for both teams' tournament hopes and legacies.