Friday night in Oxford, Ohio, was nothing short of magical for the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks and their roaring fanbase. With a packed Millett Hall and a national television audience tuning in, the RedHawks delivered yet another statement victory, dispatching their rivals from Ohio 90-74 and pushing their record to a pristine 25-0. It’s a run that’s turned heads across college basketball, even as some skeptics point to the team’s schedule and conference. But make no mistake: Miami (Ohio) is the last unbeaten team standing in Division I men’s basketball, and the story unfolding on this brick-laden campus has become the talk of the sport.
The RedHawks’ 25th win was more than just another notch in the win column—it was a celebration of a team that has defied expectations at every turn. As coach Travis Steele reflected after the game, "We're just enjoying the ride. Our guys, we have a lot of fun together. We do it for each other, man, not for ourselves. And I think that's why we don't feel any pressure." That sense of camaraderie and joy has been evident all season long, and it’s helped Miami (Ohio) weather every challenge thrown its way.
Friday’s crowd of 10,640 was a testament to the newfound energy coursing through the program. For a school whose average attendance over the past five non-COVID years hovered between 1,494 and 2,656, the surge in support is nothing short of remarkable. Students lined up more than two hours before tip-off, racing for the best seats as soon as the doors opened. The upper decks, once sparsely populated, are now brimming with fans eager to witness history. Even the rafters have come alive, with banners honoring past glories and legends like Wally Szczerbiak and Ron Harper making appearances to soak in the atmosphere.
But it’s not just the fans who have returned. The team’s success has also drawn back alumni and rekindled memories of Miami’s storied past. The campus itself, with its iconic brick buildings and the famous “Cradle of Coaches” statues, serves as a daily reminder of the school’s rich athletic history. Eleven statues at the south end of the football stadium honor Miami products who went on to greatness, including John Harbaugh, Sean McVay, Bo Schembechler, and Paul Brown. The tradition of excellence is palpable, and the current RedHawks are adding their own chapter to that legacy.
The Miami-Ohio rivalry, known as the Battle of the Bricks, is steeped in tradition, and Friday’s game lived up to its billing. The RedHawks, led by forward Brant Byers, who poured in 21 points, put on an offensive clinic. The team entered the contest with the nation’s highest scoring average (92.6) and best field goal percentage (53.6 percent), and they didn’t disappoint, shooting 51.7 percent and placing five players in double figures. As Byers put it, "To see the amount people that are here before our warmups start is insane. Because we weren’t even getting that amount of people to our games."
Miami’s dominance hasn’t come easily. The RedHawks have survived three overtime games and several nail-biters decided by a single possession. Yet, their experience and unselfish play have kept them on track. Remarkably, Miami returned 10 letter winners this season—a rarity in the transfer portal era—and the chemistry has translated into on-court success. "We’re a mature group, we’ve been together, we know each other, we love each other we can have those honest conversations with each other without somebody being sensitive," Coach Steele explained. "Our guys don’t collect stats. Our guys play for one another."
The RedHawks’ 12-0 record in the Mid-American Conference is something not seen in Oxford since 1958. Their 28-game home winning streak is the longest in school history, and the buzz around the program is unlike anything the campus has experienced in decades. Miami (Ohio) hasn’t appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 19 years, and before last March, the program had managed just one winning season since 2009. The turnaround has been swift, and the RedHawks are now projected as an 11-seed in the NCAA Tournament by ESPN. National rankings have followed, with Miami sitting at No. 23 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings as of February 14, 2026.
As the only unbeaten team left in the nation, the RedHawks have drawn comparisons to the 2020-21 Gonzaga squad, which started 31-0. If Miami can win its next game—on the road at UMass, where KenPom.com projects a narrow 84-79 victory—they’ll be the first Division I team to reach 26-0 since that memorable Gonzaga run. The stakes are high, but the team’s approach remains refreshingly grounded. "It allows us to enjoy the ride," Byers said. "I know that not all places are like that. He keeps us focused without overdoing it."
Coach Steele’s philosophy is simple: keep it fun, keep it loose, and keep it about the team. "Everybody wants to take fun out of stuff. You only live life once. We’ve got a great group and they’re doing extraordinary things. We want to have fun. When you have fun and you do it for others you don’t feel the pressure. That’s how you get better. When you stop having fun and you’re not excited about going to practice, you’re not excited to lift, you’re not excited to watch film, then all of a sudden you’re just going to flatline. Our group has fun and I don’t ever want to take that away from our guys."
Miami’s path to perfection is far from guaranteed. Six games remain in the regular season—two at home and four on the road. The most daunting challenge appears to be the upcoming trip to Massachusetts, where the RedHawks narrowly edged the Minutemen earlier this season. A return date with Ohio at the end of the schedule could also prove tricky. But as Steele noted, "Our guys have the ultimate belief, which is so powerful, that we’re going to win every game."
The RedHawks’ improbable rise has inspired not just current students and alumni, but also former athletes like Buddy Schultz, who still holds the NCAA record for most strikeouts in a baseball game (26, set in 1971). Schultz summed up the significance of this season: "It will last them a lifetime." That sense of legacy and the potential for history is not lost on anyone connected to the program.
With each victory, the excitement in Oxford grows. The RedHawks have transformed Millett Hall from one of the quietest arenas in the MAC into a raucous fortress. Old heroes have returned, new ones are being made, and the fairy tale continues to unfold. As the final weeks of the regular season approach, all eyes are on Miami (Ohio) to see if they can keep the dream alive and cement their place in college basketball lore.
For now, the RedHawks are savoring every moment, determined to make the most of a season no one saw coming. The story is still being written, and the next chapter promises even more drama as Miami (Ohio) chases perfection.