Miami (OH) went 31-0 in the regular season, lost in the MAC Tournament, and is now headed to the First Four, and the college basketball world has plenty to say about it.
College Hoops World Responds to Miami (OH) Earning First Four Berth
The RedHawks entered the 2025-26 season and ran the table in the MAC, finishing the regular season with a perfect 31-0 record and ranking No. 20 in the country. Then came the MAC Tournament quarterfinals, where a 16-15 UMass team that had recently lost six in a row stunned Miami and sent the RedHawks’ undefeated season to its end.
With no automatic bid, Miami was left at the mercy of the selection committee, and on Selection Sunday, they got in, but not without controversy.
The committee placed them in the First Four as an 11-seed, forcing the team that went undefeated all regular season to play a play-in game just to reach the round of 64. The reaction across college basketball was swift and sharp.
Miami (OH) make it into March Madness‼️
The RedHawks take on SMU in the First four 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PcXdKsyisn
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) March 15, 2026
CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander criticized the decision, writing: “MIAMI UNIVERSITY IS GOING TO DAYTON. … An atrocity that it was this close. Means Miami U would’ve missed the field with just one more bid thief.”
MIAMI UNIVERSITY IS GOING TO DAYTON.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 15, 2026
Podcaster Roto Brady echoed the frustration, saying: “And Miami (OH) gets screwed as we all expected. … Just to reemphasize the point: it’s a joke that the Redhawks have to win a game just to get to the Round of 64🤡.”
And Miami (OH) gets screwed as we all expected.
The Cats get Santa Clara—also not a shock. Michigan, Iowa State, and Virginia are all very tough but doable🤷🏻♂️.
Couldn’t help but notice Tennessee & Miami (OH) are both in our bracket…👀.
Just to reemphasize the point: it’s a…
— RotoBrady (@rotobrady) March 15, 2026
The Field of 68’s Sam Lance added his perspective, noting: “I get the whole resume metrics argument but I hate the fact Miami OH goes to Dayton after an undefeated regular season.”
I get the whole resume metrics argument but I hate the fact Miami OH goes to Dayton after an undefeated regular season.
— Sam Lance (@slancehoops) March 15, 2026
Basket Under Review writer Brian Rauf was blunt, posting: “A damn SHAME Miami OH is in Dayton.”
A damn SHAME Miami OH is in Dayton
— Brian Rauf (@brauf33) March 15, 2026
YouTuber Cole Adams emphasized the rarity of the situation, writing: “Miami Ohio lost one game and is in the first four. Dayton is going to be absolutely electric.”
Miami Ohio lost one game and is in the first four
Dayton is going to be absolutely electric
— Cole Adams (@coleadamss) March 15, 2026
The case for Miami was always complicated. On one hand, they had one of the most impressive regular-season records in the country, and an eligible team with just one loss had never missed the modern tournament. On the other hand, the RedHawks finished outside the top 90 in predictive ratings and played just the 303rd-toughest schedule in the nation.
The MAC commissioner had publicly expressed confidence that the conference would receive multiple bids regardless of the tournament loss, and the selection committee ultimately agreed, but the First Four placement has been the source of most of the outrage.
MARCH MADNESS: Fill In Your Bracket Now!
The committee’s reasoning appears rooted in résumé-based metrics. Miami ranked 38th in Wins Above Bubble heading into Selection Sunday, which measures a team’s victories against what an average bubble team would be expected to produce against the same schedule.
That number placed them comfortably among teams projected to make the field. But their predictive profile told a different story, and the committee threaded the needle by giving them a spot while forcing them to earn their way into the bracket.
Whether the First Four placement is fair or not, the RedHawks will have their chance. Miami tips off in Dayton on Tuesday or Wednesday, and a win would push them into the round of 64. The college basketball world will be watching.
