SMU fortifies its NCAA Tournament position. While others tumble, the Mustangs' consistent play and avoided bad losses secure a stable spot.
As February arrives and the NCAA Tournament picture sharpens, the SMU Mustangs find themselves in an increasingly stable position - something that couldn’t be said for many teams hovering near the cut line.
While national attention has focused on the four projected No. 1 seeds separating themselves at the top, the movement underneath them has been just as telling.
Bubble teams are rising, falling, and scrambling for position, but SMU has quietly held its ground. According to Hoops HQ projections, the Mustangs currently sit as a No. 9 seed in the South Region, a strong spot that reflects consistent results rather than flashy headlines.
That stability matters. As teams like Miami (FL) and Ohio State slide toward the wrong side of the bubble due to thin resumes and missed opportunities, SMU continues to benefit from balance and quality wins that hold up under scrutiny.
The Mustangs haven’t relied on a single marquee victory to prop up their case; instead, they’ve stacked results that keep them safely in the field while others fight for survival.
However, the overall tournament landscape remains volatile.
Texas A&M has emerged as a surprise SEC contender, Indiana surged back into relevance with a massive week, and UCF continues to build one of the cleanest seasons in the country.
Meanwhile, losses like Miami’s home defeat to California have created new openings - but also more competition - for at-large bids. In that chaos, SMU’s ability to stay projected comfortably inside the field is no small accomplishment.
What helps the Mustangs is the absence of damaging losses as SMU has avoided the kind of setbacks that derail selection profiles in February. With predictive metrics holding steady and bracket projections remaining favorable, the Mustangs are no longer fighting just to be noticed; they’re playing to improve positioning.
That doesn’t mean the work is done. Seeding remains fluid, and every result from here forward impacts bracket geography, potential matchups, and travel.
A strong closing stretch could push SMU into a more favorable seed line, while complacency could quickly invite pressure from teams sitting just outside the field.
Still, as the bracket picture evolves, one thing is clear: SMU is no longer a fringe conversation.
While others scramble to stay alive, the Mustangs enter February playing from a position of strength - exactly where teams want to be as March inches closer.
If SMU continues to handle business, the discussion won’t be about whether the Mustangs are in the field, but how dangerous they could be once they get there.