Miami's Sweet Sixteen Shocker Takes Down Top-Twenty Elite Records: 31-1 Isn't Cutting It
Here's why the 31-1 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks have to play an additional game before potentially appearing in the Round of 64.
Why Miami (Ohio) has to play in First Four for 2026 March Madness despite 31-1 record originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Miami (Ohio) RedHawks were one of the most talked-about teams heading into Selection Sunday.
The 31-1 team, coached by Travis Steele, was undefeated up until their OT loss in the Mid-American Tournament to the UMass Minutemen. The RedHawks have gone on to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, but they still have to play a game before being a part of the Round of 64 teams. The team qualified as an at-large team and will play a First Four matchup against the SMU Mustangs.
Miami's lack of strength in their schedule is what attributed to their low seed, despite their first loss coming just less than a week ago. This First Four matchup will have a lot of eyes watching in order to see how Miami's fate will play out. Here is what a First Four matchup means for the RedHawks.
MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket | Full TV schedule | Printable bracket Why Miami (Ohio) has to play in First Four Miami (Ohio) is required to play in the preliminary First Four because they qualified as one of the four lowest-seeded at-large teams (lower-seeded teams that did not automatically receive a bid for winning their conference tournament). After originally being reported as the lowest seed in the First Four, Committee chair Keith Gill stated that the RedHawks actually qualified ahead of NC State, Texas and SMU, the other 11 seeds to play in the First Four. NCAA Tournament committee chair Keith Gill: "Miami (Ohio) was not the last team selected into the field.