Ohio State women’s basketball regained some momentum ahead of the Big Ten Tournament, defeating Michigan State 87-68 to close out the regular season. However, the Buckeyes still need a strong start to the postseason to hold onto hosting rights in the NCAA Tournament.
The victory over Michigan State on March 1 helped boost the Buckeyes two spots in the latest AP poll. They now rank No. 11, despite falling to Michigan 88-86 in overtime on Feb. 25.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Michigan Wolverines head coach Kim Barnes Arico yells as guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) saves the ball in front of Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Michigan Wolverines head coach Kim Barnes Arico yells as guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) saves the ball in front of Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) drives around Michigan Wolverines guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Michigan Wolverines forward Ashley Sofilkanich (15) and Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) react during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) fights for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard Te’yala Delfosse (33) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) fights for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard Te’yala Delfosse (33) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) shoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Michigan Wolverines guard Mila Holloway (3) fouls Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Kylee Kitts (1) sghoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Syla Swords (12) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) passes around Michigan Wolverines forward Ashley Sofilkanich (15) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) shoots a three pointer over Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) celebrates a three pointer during the NCAA women’s basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) dribbles around Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) dribbles around Michigan Wolverines guard Mila Holloway (3) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) drives past Michigan Wolverines guard Syla Swords (12) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) looks to pass in front of Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) shots during the NCAA women’s basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
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Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women’s basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) reacts to a shot at the end of the first half during the NCAA women’s basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
With a regular-season conference record of 13-5 (24-6 overall), the Buckeyes finished outside of the top four in the Big Ten, with three of their losses coming in their final five games. As the No. 5 seed, Ohio State received one bye for the league tournament instead of a double-bye.
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The Buckeyes open in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on March 5, facing the winner between the No. 12 seed Nebraska and No. 13 Indiana.
For the Buckeyes to host in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament, they have to be a top-four seed in one of the four regions. Ohio State has hosted each of the last three years.
Ohio State guard Ava Watson (left) is introduced before the Buckeyes’ 88-86 overtime loss to Michigan on Feb. 25.
More: Ohio State women’s basketball players earn Big Ten honors for standout seasons
Ohio State women’s basketball standing in latest bracketology
The Buckeyes are projected to be the No. 4 seed in the Sacramento 4 region in USA Today’s latest bracket, released on March 4. USA Today has Ohio State opening against the No. 13 seed Murray State (26-3), with Kentucky (21-9) and San Diego State (25-4) also traveling to Columbus as the projected No. 5 and No. 12 seeds in the region, respectively.
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ESPN projects Ohio State as the No. 4 seed in the Fort Worth 3 region, while The Athletic has the Buckeyes as the No. 5 seed in the Sacramento 4 region.
Ohio State guard Chance Gray drives through Michigan’s defense on Feb. 25 at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.
According to The Athletic’s bracket, which went out on Feb. 27 before the Buckeyes’ win over Michigan State, Ohio State would travel to Minneapolis, with Big Ten opponent Minnesota holding the No. 4 seed.
The Buckeyes will face the Golden Gophers if they advance to the Big Ten Tournament’s quarterfinals on March 6.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How Ohio State women rank, latest bracketology before Big Ten Tournament