The Miami (Ohio) RedHawks men’s basketball team continues to capture the imagination of college hoops fans nationwide, as their undefeated run reached a remarkable 25-0 with a dominant 90-74 victory over Ohio on February 13, 2026. It’s a story few could have predicted even months ago, let alone in recent years when Miami was an afterthought in the national conversation. Now, with the nation’s only perfect record, the RedHawks are turning heads and packing arenas in Oxford, Ohio, and beyond.
Friday night’s win was more than just another tick in the victory column—it was a coronation of sorts. For the first time, Miami entered the court as the sole unbeaten team in Division I men’s basketball, thanks to Arizona’s loss to Kansas earlier in the week. The atmosphere was electric: a crowd of 10,640, far surpassing the average attendance of the past five non-COVID seasons, turned Millett Hall into a cauldron of anticipation and noise. Students lined up hours before tipoff, and the upper decks filled with fans eager to witness the RedHawks’ historic charge.
“Being the only unbeaten team is pretty insane. We were all tuned into that game obviously,” forward Brant Byers reflected after the win. Byers played a pivotal role, pouring in 21 points and helping to keep the RedHawks’ offense humming at its usual high-octane pace. Miami entered the night boasting the nation’s highest scoring average (92.6 points per game) and best field goal percentage (53.6%), and they delivered again, shooting 51.7% from the field with five players reaching double figures.
The RedHawks’ journey to this point is nothing short of extraordinary. Before last March, Miami had endured just one winning season since 2009 and hadn’t appeared in the NCAA Tournament for 19 years. The 12-0 Mid-American Conference (MAC) record is a feat not seen at Miami since 1958. The program’s resurgence has reignited interest and pride across campus and the broader Miami community, with alumni like Wally Szczerbiak and Ron Harper making recent appearances to celebrate the team’s success.
Head coach Travis Steele has been the architect of this transformation, emphasizing a fun, pressure-free environment that has allowed his players to thrive. “We’re just enjoying the ride,” Steele told ESPN after the Ohio win. “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 sentiment is echoed by his players, who credit the team’s chemistry and experience—Miami returned 10 letter winners this season—for their ability to weather close games and maintain composure in tense moments.
Indeed, the RedHawks’ path hasn’t been without drama. They’ve survived three overtime games and pulled out three more decided by a single possession. Yet, they always seem to find a way, displaying a belief in each other that has become their hallmark. “Our guys have the ultimate belief, which is so powerful, that we’re going to win every game,” Steele said. That belief has been tested and proven, game after game.
The magnitude of Miami’s run extends beyond the men’s team. The women’s basketball squad is also enjoying a stellar season, sporting a 20-4 record, an 11-0 MAC ledger, and a 13-game winning streak as of February 14, 2026. Their remarkable consistency has made Oxford the epicenter of college basketball excitement this winter. “It’s like Disney World around here. You don’t have bad days,” Steele quipped, capturing the infectious optimism permeating both programs.
Friday’s victory over Ohio was especially significant for the RedHawks’ postseason ambitions. ESPN currently projects Miami as an 11-seed in the NCAA Tournament bracket, a testament to their turnaround and national relevance. The CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 rankings placed Miami at No. 23 as of February 14, 2026, with a strength of record matching their ranking. With six regular season games remaining—two at home and four on the road—KenPom.com projects Miami as the favorite in each, including a looming showdown at UMass on February 17, 2026. Should the RedHawks prevail in that contest, they would become the first Division I men’s team to start 26-0 since Gonzaga’s 31-0 run in the 2020-21 season.
The RedHawks’ story is also about community and tradition. The “Cradle of Coaches” statues outside the football stadium remind fans of Miami’s storied past, while the current team is writing a new chapter of glory. The campus, founded in 1809, buzzes with excitement, and the transformation of Millett Hall from one of the MAC’s quietest arenas to a raucous fortress is emblematic of the team’s impact. “To see the amount people that are here before our warmups start is insane,” Byers said, marveling at the support that has swelled with each win.
Miami’s offensive firepower is undeniable, but Steele is quick to point out that defense will be the key to sustaining their run. “If our defense can take the next step, which I think it has over the last four games, the runs that we can go on are going to be massive,” he noted. The players have embraced this challenge, determined to keep their focus and not let the moment overwhelm them. “Obviously seeing that 23 next to our name is something that probably none of us expected to happen when we first came here. But at the same time we know that if we don’t take it one game at a time, if we have one bad game, most likely it’s gone,” Byers admitted.
As the regular season enters its final stretch, the stakes grow higher. The MAC title, a coveted NCAA Tournament berth, and a place in the history books are all within reach. Yet, the RedHawks remain grounded, guided by a coach who refuses to let pressure eclipse the joy of the game. “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,” Steele explained.
With the Battle of the Bricks against Ohio in the rearview and a critical road trip to UMass on the horizon, Miami’s magical season shows no signs of slowing down. Fans old and new are rallying behind a team that embodies resilience, teamwork, and the thrill of chasing history. Whether the RedHawks can complete a perfect regular season remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the journey has already become the stuff of legend in Oxford and across college basketball.