Why Miami (Ohio) has to play in First Four for 2026 March Madness despite 31-1 record

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.

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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. They came in before NC State, Texas, and SMU... VCU, they would not have been in the field if they had not won the Atlantic 10 automatic qualifier." #MarchMadness https://t.co/K4PsbrOhnz pic.twitter.com/7tQNBeH7nZ

But once all of the teams were selected and the committee scrubbed for seeding, Miam fell behind those teams.

Miami (Ohio) will take on SMU in its First Four matchup. The winner of that game will take on No. 6 Tennessee in the Round of 64.

HISTORY OF UPSETS BY SEED:
16 vs. 1 | 15 vs. 2 | 14 vs. 3 | 13 vs. 4 | 12 vs. 5

What is a First Four game?

The First Four are the first four games played prior to the Round of 64 starting. They are single-elimination games of the NCAA tournaments. The First Four round includes the four lowest-seeded automatic-bid winners along with the four lowest-seeded "at-large" teams.

This year, the First Four will be played at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. This preliminary round will reduce the field of 68 teams down to 64 for the first round.

SN AWARDS: All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year

Miami (Ohio) record

This season, the RedHawks carried a 31-1 record, with their lone loss coming to UMass in the MAC tournament (87-83, OT). In the regular season against their conference, they were 18-0.

Here is a look at how the Mid-American conference shaped up during the 2025-2026 season:

MORE: Why Miami (Ohio)'s strength of schedule ended up hurting the team ahead of March