Notre Dame Upsets Ohio State 83-73 in 2026 NCAA Tournament

Notre Dame vs. Ohio State 2026 NCAA Tournament Breakdown: Irish Eliminate Buckeyes Again in Historic Upset

If you follow women's college basketball, you already know that March is when legends are made — and when dynasties face their reckoning. The No. 6 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish did exactly that on March 24, 2026, walking into Columbus and defeating the No. 3 seed Ohio State Buckeyes 83-73 on their home floor for the third consecutive year. This wasn't just another upset. It was a methodical dismantling of a team that had everything to play for — home crowd, superior seed, and a superstar going off for 41 points — and still couldn't close.

Whether you're a die-hard fan, a bracket enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates elite competition, this matchup delivered one of the most compelling storylines of the 2026 tournament. Below, we break down every key dimension of this game — from individual performances to team tendencies — so you can understand exactly how Notre Dame pulled off yet another March miracle in Columbus.

1. Overall Team Performance: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Key Stats & Features

• Final score: 83 points on 15 turnovers
• Season record entering the game: 24-10
• Outrebounded Ohio State 36-31, including 11 offensive boards
• 13 second-chance points from offensive rebounds
• 13 bench points compared to Ohio State's 2

Strengths

Notre Dame's greatest weapon wasn't any single player — it was their relentless, collective effort. The Irish played with cohesion, discipline, and a defensive intensity that Ohio State simply couldn't neutralize. They controlled the glass on both ends, manufactured extra possessions through offensive rebounding, and got meaningful production from their bench, a luxury Ohio State did not enjoy.

Weaknesses

Notre Dame committed 15 turnovers of their own and were far from flawless. Their start was dismal — Ohio State sprinted out to an 11-0 run before the Irish settled into their game. Had the Buckeyes maintained that energy, this could have been a very different result.

Tournament Advancement: Sweet 16 — fifth consecutive season

2. Overall Team Performance: Ohio State Buckeyes

Key Stats & Features

• Final score: 73 points on 21 turnovers
• Season record entering the game: 27-8
• Only 2 bench points for the entire game
• Outscored 25-19 in the fourth quarter
• First team to lose three consecutive home NCAA Tournament games since 2015 hosting rule began

Strengths

Ohio State entered as one of the most talented teams in the country and showed it early. Their opening 11-0 burst demonstrated real offensive firepower, and Jaloni Cambridge's 41-point performance would have won almost any other game in the country on that night.

Weaknesses

The Buckeyes were dangerously top-heavy. With Cambridge accounting for 56.2% of Ohio State's total offense, opposing defenses could game-plan around a single player. When Notre Dame turned Cambridge into a one-woman show — forcing seven turnovers from their star — the Buckeyes had no secondary options to lean on. Their bench's two combined points is a stat that will haunt Ohio State's coaching staff through the offseason.

Full game recap and highlights via The Columbus Dispatch

Tournament Advancement: Eliminated in Second Round

3. Star Player Showdown: Hannah Hidalgo vs. Jaloni Cambridge

Key Stats & Features

• Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame): 26 points, 13 rebounds, 8 steals
• Jaloni Cambridge (Ohio State): 41 points (career-high tied), 7 turnovers

Hidalgo's Edge

Hannah Hidalgo delivered what may be the signature performance of the 2026 tournament's early rounds. A 26-point, 13-rebound, 8-steal stat line is almost unfathomable — that level of multi-dimensional impact across scoring, rebounding, and especially defense is extraordinarily rare. Her 8 steals mirrored the same total she had recorded in Notre Dame's first-round win over Fairfield, signaling that this wasn't a fluke but a pattern of elite defensive playmaking.

Cambridge's Heartbreak

Jaloni Cambridge put up a performance that would be celebrated in most contexts. Forty-one points — matching her career-high — is a staggering individual achievement. But her seven turnovers at critical junctures, and the sheer weight of carrying more than half her team's scoring output, illustrates the burden she shouldered. Against a defense as disruptive as Notre Dame's, Cambridge needed help that never materialized.

Analysis of Ohio State's turnover problems vs. Notre Dame via USA Today

Edge: Hidalgo — complete, two-way dominance over Cambridge's one-dimensional brilliance

4. The Turnover Battle: A Game-Defining Disparity

Key Stats & Features

• Ohio State turnovers: 21
• Notre Dame turnovers: 15
• Net turnover margin: Notre Dame +6

Why It Mattered

In tournament basketball, turnover differential is often the margin between advancing and going home. Ohio State's 21 turnovers against a Notre Dame team renowned for its defensive pressure was effectively a self-inflicted wound that no amount of individual scoring could overcome. Cambridge alone accounted for seven of those giveaways — each one a momentum-killer against a team built to capitalize on exactly those situations.

Notre Dame's Defensive Identity

Head coach Niele Ivey has cultivated a defensive culture in South Bend that is among the most disruptive in the country. The Irish don't just pressure the ball — they swarm, rotate, and create havoc in passing lanes. Hidalgo's eight steals are the individual highlight, but the team's collective defensive effort forced Ohio State into uncomfortable situations all night long.

Edge: Notre Dame — by a significant margin

5. Rebounding and Second-Chance Points

Key Stats & Features

• Notre Dame total rebounds: 36
• Ohio State total rebounds: 31
• Notre Dame offensive rebounds: 11
• Second-chance points for Notre Dame: 13

The Hidden Momentum Swing

Eleven offensive rebounds translating into 13 second-chance points is a quietly devastating stat for Ohio State. On paper, the Buckeyes are a capable rebounding team. But Notre Dame's physicality and effort on the glass essentially created a free bonus possession count — points that Ohio State had no equivalent answer for. In a game decided by 10 points, 13 second-chance points was more than the margin of victory by itself.

Edge: Notre Dame

6. Bench Production: The Depth Divide

Key Stats & Features

• Notre Dame bench points: 13
• Ohio State bench points: 2

Why Depth Wins in March

Tournament basketball is a grind. Teams play on consecutive days, rotations get tested, and starters inevitably hit walls. Ohio State's two bench points represent one of the most alarming depth failures in recent NCAA Tournament history. When Cambridge needed rest, Ohio State's options dried up almost completely. Notre Dame's bench contributors didn't just give starters a breather — they maintained pressure and kept the scoreboard moving.

Notre Dame's path to the Sweet 16 via MSN Sports

Edge: Notre Dame — dramatically so

7. Fourth-Quarter Execution Under Pressure

Key Stats & Features

• Notre Dame Q4 points: 25
• Ohio State Q4 points: 19
• Ohio State scored the game's first 11 points
• Notre Dame outscored Ohio State in the fourth quarter despite the Buckeyes' fast start

Irish Closing Ability

Notre Dame's ability to outscore Ohio State 25-19 in the final quarter — on the road, in a hostile environment, against a team desperate to preserve its season — speaks to the Irish's mental fortitude. They didn't just survive; they pulled away when it mattered most. This is the hallmark of a program built for March, not just the regular season.

Buckeyes' Fatal Start Fade

Ohio State's 11-0 opening surge fooled no one, least of all Notre Dame. The Buckeyes built early fear but couldn't sustain it over 40 minutes. Their inability to close — a recurring theme in this three-year home elimination streak — points to deeper structural issues beyond any single player's performance.

Edge: Notre Dame

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Comparison Summary

Category	Notre Dame	Ohio State	Edge
Final Score	83	73	Notre Dame
Turnovers	15	21	Notre Dame
Total Rebounds	36	31	Notre Dame
Bench Points	13	2	Notre Dame
Star Player Output	Hidalgo: 26/13/8	Cambridge: 41 pts	Notre Dame
Q4 Scoring	25	19	Notre Dame
Second-Chance Points	13	N/A	Notre Dame

Bottom line: Notre Dame was the better team in every measurable category except raw star-power scoring. Ohio State's over-reliance on Jaloni Cambridge, catastrophic bench underperformance, and 21 turnovers were simply too much to overcome — regardless of seed or home-court advantage.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Notre Dame keep beating Ohio State at home in the NCAA Tournament?

Ohio State's three consecutive home losses (to Duke, Tennessee, and now Notre Dame) reveal a troubling pattern: the Buckeyes struggle to leverage home-court advantage when facing elite defensive teams with strong guard play. Notre Dame, in particular, matches up well stylistically — their pressure defense neutralizes Ohio State's ball-dominant offensive tendencies, and their experienced tournament roster doesn't get rattled by a hostile crowd.

How significant is Ohio State's three-game home losing streak in the NCAA Tournament?

Historically unprecedented under the current format. Ohio State is the first program to lose three consecutive home games in the NCAA Tournament since the NCAA granted top-four seeds hosting rights in 2015. That's a remarkable and embarrassing distinction for a program with Ohio State's resources and recruiting profile. Live updates and context via MSN Sports

Will Hannah Hidalgo be a factor in the Sweet 16?

All evidence points to yes. Hidalgo's back-to-back performances of 8 steals — first against Fairfield, then against Ohio State — suggest she is playing the best basketball of her career at exactly the right moment. Her combination of scoring, rebounding, and elite defensive disruption makes her one of the most complete players remaining in the tournament field.

Can Ohio State address its depth issues before next season?

With the transfer portal and recruiting cycle resetting, Ohio State will likely pursue significant reinforcements around Cambridge. Two bench points in an NCAA Tournament game is an offseason alarm bell that demands roster restructuring. The program remains highly attractive given its facilities and fan support — but building complementary depth around their star will be the defining challenge heading into 2026-27.

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What to Watch in Notre Dame's Sweet 16 Run

As Notre Dame advances to its fifth consecutive Sweet 16, here's what analysts and fans should monitor going forward:

• Hidalgo's defensive consistency: Eight steals in back-to-back games is extraordinary. Can she maintain that pressure against higher-caliber Sweet 16 opponents?
• Bench sustainability: Notre Dame's 13 bench points were crucial against Ohio State. Continued depth production will be essential against better-rounded opponents.
• Rebounding emphasis: Notre Dame's 11 offensive rebounds created 13 second-chance points — a blueprint they'll look to replicate.
• Turnover control: The Irish committed 15 themselves. Against elite Sweet 16 defenses, that number will need to come down.
• Seed-line advantages: As a No. 6 seed, Notre Dame may catch higher seeds who underestimate them — exactly the scenario that undid Ohio State.

Notre Dame has proven, now five years running, that they are a program built for the tournament grind. Ohio State, despite Cambridge's heroics, faces genuine questions about roster construction, depth, and the recurring inability to protect home-court advantage when the lights shine brightest.

For the latest bracket updates and tournament coverage, follow the full NCAA Tournament schedule and broadcast information via Yahoo Sports.