As the 2026‑27 college basketball season looms, the SMU Mustangs are trading the familiar confines of Dallas for a far‑flung adventure abroad. The team will kick off its campaign with a trio of exhibition games in Rome, Italy, turning the Eternal City into a living laboratory for both sport and scholarship.
Beyond the hardwood, the players will wander through centuries of art and faith, stepping inside the vaulted halls of the Vatican, marveling at Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, and standing beneath the towering dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Their itinerary also includes a walk through the ancient arches of the Colosseum, a reminder that competition has always been a Roman staple.
A Global Prelude to the Season
The journey is not purely tourist‑driven. A select group of student‑athletes will receive academic credit for a course that examines global perspectives, human diversity, community engagement, and ethical decision‑making, weaving classroom learning directly into the fabric of the trip.
Guiding this ambitious venture is Head Coach Andy Enfield, now in his third year at the helm. Under his direction, SMU has assembled one of the nation’s most coveted transfer classes, a group ranked ninth overall and third in the ACC by On3, promising a fresh infusion of talent and depth.
Last season marked a turning point: the Mustangs captured their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2017, notched two top‑25 victories, and broke into both the AP and Coaches Poll for the first time in nine years. Their performance earned them a share of the ACC lead with three All‑ACC selections and placed them among the country’s top 30 in several key offensive metrics.
The upcoming schedule reads like a showcase of ambition. Before diving into the 18‑game ACC grind, SMU will test itself against Oklahoma, DePaul, and UNLV in marquee non‑conference matchups, each game serving as a benchmark for the team’s evolving identity.
Looking Ahead
With a roster poised to make noise and a schedule designed to challenge, the Mustangs are poised to turn a European excursion into a catalyst for success on the national stage.