College Basketball’s Last Unbeaten Team Falls Before March Madness
The final unbeaten team in college basketball has fallen after an impressive start to the 2025-26 season. The Miami (Ohio) RedHawks won their first 31 games this year, but they were unable to reach college basketball immortality.
The RedHawks lost to UMass in the quarterfinals of the MAC (Mid-American Conference) tournament, a loss that could potentially impact their seeding or participation in this month's NCAA Tournament.
DOWN GOES MIAMI (OH) ????
— ESPN (@espn) March 12, 2026
UMass takes down the formerly undefeated RedHawks in the MAC quarterfinals ???? pic.twitter.com/QW1vI5nvGG
Miami has been impressive all season long, but critics of the team have called them out for playing a weak schedule.
Miami's Tournament Resume Under Scrutiny
Bracket experts like ESPN's Joe Lunardi currently have Miami in the field for the tournament despite this issue, but their fate could rest in the hands of the several conference tournaments that are held throughout Division I basketball.
A surprise run from another team in a conference tournament could effectively steal a bid to the "Big Dance," putting Miami's chances to make the tournament in jeopardy. Some, like ESPN's Jeff Borzello, believe that Miami's loss on Thursday could put them in the NCAA Tournament's "First Four," where they would need to earn entry into the first round.
"RedHawks going 31-0 in the regular season should obviously be enough to get them in the tournament -- and their resume metrics, particularly their WAB and SOR, are very good," Borzello said on social media. "But just two games vs. Q1+2. Now a Q4 loss."
UMASS HANDS 31-0 MIAMI OH FIRST LOSS OF THE SEASON!!! ???????? pic.twitter.com/UcNJvoQoM3
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 12, 2026
Miami lost to UMass on Thursday, a team they struggled with during their two meetings in the regular season. The RedHawks survived a scare in January against the Minutemen, winning 86-84 in the first meeting. In February, they walked away with an 86-77 win over UMass to take the regular season sweep.
Third Time Proves to Be The Charm for UMass
Thursday's game was another tense affair, as UMass entered the halftime break with only a two-point deficit. The Minutemen put up 50 points in the second half to Miami's 44, putting themselves in the second round of the MAC tournament and keeping their own NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
Undefeated no more!#Flagship???? pic.twitter.com/u1ivqwhzEc
— UMass Men's Basketball (@UMassMBB) March 12, 2026
Senior forward Leonardo Bettiol helped save UMass' season with a game-high 25 points, grabbing eight rebounds in the process. Bettiol was one of four Minutemen to score in double figures on Thursday, joining Daniel Hankins-Sanford, Marcus Banks Jr. and Jayden Ndjigue.
Hankins-Sanford made what turned out to be the game-winning layup with seconds left on the clock, security the victory for UMass.
Despite the loss, Miami's head coach was adamant about his players having earned the right to compete for a national title.
"Our guys have earned the right, in my opinion, to play in the NCAA tournament," said RedHawks coach Travis Steele after Thursday's game.
Miami is the first team since Gonzaga in 2021 to enter their conference tournament with an unbeaten record. That Bulldogs team would go on to advance to that season's Final Four, losing in the national semifinal to UCLA.