The end of the 2025-26 Big Ten regular season is on the horizon. Sunday afternoon, the last games of the campaign end and the final 15 teams to enter the Big Ten Tournament will know their seeds.
For some, like the No. 2 nationally ranked UCLA Bruins, they are already a lock for the No. 2 seed in the conference. After that, it is fair game from seeds two through 15.
What seeds can No. 13 Ohio State women’s basketball get? Is there a chance for a double-bye? Here are the situations for the Buckeyes,
which teams need to help the Scarlet and Gray, and possible opponents for each seed.
The Tiebreakers
Before all the situations, here is how the Big Ten decides tournament tiebreakers. The conference starts at the top item and goes down the list until the situation applies for one team over the other:
- Head-to-head record
- Record against teams at the top of the conference
- For example, if Ohio State and Maryland had the same record, they go down the standings look at how the teams did against UCLA, then Michigan and then Iowa, until one team did better than the other. In this case, if Maryland wins on Sunday against Michigan, Maryland owns the tiebreaker because the Buckeyes lost to the Wolverines.
- Win/loss percentage against all Division I opponents
- Highest NET Ranking through the final Big Ten regular season games
Those are the tiebreakers for two teams. For situations that go into three or more sides, the Big Ten lays it all out on its online tournament central,
Note: All possible opponents are based on standings as of publishing. They are likely to change after the weekend of games.
No. 4 Seed
There is only one possible top-4 spot remaining in the tournament. The Michigan Wolverines and Iowa Hawkeyes still have a lot to play for between the second and third places, but the fourth seed has four teams fighting for it.
Sunday’s game against Michigan State is a must win for the Buckeyes if they have a double-bye on their minds. The matchup has extra intrigue because Sparty has a chance to hop over three teams and get the No. 4 seed if Ohio State, Maryland and Minnesota all lose.
This week, Illinois lost guard Gretchen Dolan for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. Even so, the Fighting Illini went to Iowa City on Thursday and nearly beat the Hawkeyes. Illinois is at home too, where the side has a 5-3 record. So, a loss for the Golden Gophers is a possibility.
How it happens: Ohio State win over Michigan State AND Minnesota loss to Illinois
Possible Opponents: Seed 5, 12 0r 13 (Minnesota (if the two flip), Indiana or Nebraska)
Schedule: Friday, March 6 at approximately 2:30 p.m. ET
No. 5 Seed
Before the situation is outlined, getting a four of five seed means that a trip to the semifinal likely leads to a matchup against the UCLA Bruins. While no team wants to lose, it is a nice consolation prize for whoever drops to either the sixth or seventh spots.
How it happens: Ohio State win AND Minnesota win
Possible Opponents: Seed 12 0r 13 (Indiana or Nebraska)
Schedule: Thursday, March 5 at approximately 2:30 p.m. ET
No. 6 Seed
Should Ohio State lose, it cannot go higher than a No. 6 seed because it would mean the first tiebreaker (head-to-head record) against Minnesota and Michigan State goes against the Buckeyes. If the Scarlet and Gray lose, they need help from the Wolverines, which is getting caught between a rock in a hard place for Buckeye fans.
If previous results mean anything in the tournament, if the Buckeyes lose on Sunday, a No. 6 seed goes through the Michigan Wolverines. That makes for an entertaining quarterfinal, should the Buckeyes move on from their first game.
How it happens: Ohio State loss AND Maryland loss to Michigan
Possible Opponents: Seed 11 or 14 (Oregon or Wisconsin)
Schedule: Thursday, March 5 at approximately 9:00 p.m. ET
No. 7 Seed
The lowest seed available for the Buckeyes is No. 7, which, if Ohio State wins on Thursday, means a matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The same Hawkeyes who gave the Buckeyes a lopsided defeat in Iowa City back on Jan. 25, 2026. Since then, redshirt forward Kylee Kitts returned from injury, but is still not 100% and comes into games off the bench.
In this case, a win for Maryland against Michigan and an Ohio State loss gives the Terps the advantage since the Buckeyes lost to the Wolverines. Should Ohio State lose, Minnesota lose and Maryland win, it creates a fun three-team tiebreaker that the Buckeyes still lose.
How it happens: Ohio State loss AND Maryland win
Possible Opponents: Seed 10 or 15 (Washington or Penn State)
Schedule: Thursday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. ET
Ohio State’s seed will be known after the Minnesota and Illinois game that starts at 2:00 p.m. ET, which is around the same time the Buckeyes and Spartans finish their noon start. Saturday’s matchup between the Terps and Wolverines will not only be an exciting game for any basketball fan but also key in seeing where the dominoes can fall for the Buckeyes on Sunday.
However, opponents will not be known for sure until after the 6:00 p.m. ET start between the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans.
Sit back and enjoy the final weekend of regular season basketball with full knowledge of where Ohio State can land.
