SMU vs. Northern Iowa: How to watch, channel, stream, spread

No. 1 seeded SMU hosts Northern Iowa in the first round of the NIT on Wednesday inside Moody Coliseum at 8 p.m. CT. The Mustangs and Panthers come into postseason play without much familiarity between the programs, head coach Andy Enfield said Tuesday.

“Not a whole lot,” Enfield said. “Their coach is outstanding, great guy, know him and their team looks very good on video. Did not see them play once this year other than the video we just saw this past two days. So, they’re very good, very talented, shoot the ball at a high level and they have some size. So any team that comes in here, it’s gonna mean a lot to them. We understand that, that they’re gonna come ready to play and we have to play a good game to try to beat them.

“We’re excited to play another basketball game on our home court on national TV on ESPN2. It’s great for our five seniors to extend their career. Our underclassmen, gives them a chance to keep improving. It’s against a quality basketball team. So we’re looking forward to the home court, playing in front of our fans.” 

How to watch SMU vs. Northern Iowa

NIT – First Round
No. 1 seed SMU (23-10) vs Northern Iowa (20-12)
David B. Miller Court at Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 – 8 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN2
SMU Radio: SMU Mobile App | The Varsity Network | SiriusXM 193, 955

Spread for SMU vs. Northern Iowa

Ahead of the matchup, SMU is listed as a 10.5-point favorite vs. Northern Iowa, per FanDuel on Wednesday. The Mustangs are also currently listed at -600 for the moneyline. As for Northern Iowa, the Panthers are at +430 on the moneyline. The total is set at 148.5 points.

Despite not being in the NCAA Tournament, Enfield expects his group of Mustangs to play hard. It’s an opportunity to send SMU’s seniors out the right way.

“In this particular season, tying for fourth in the ACC, normally at 13-7 in the league, you’re a lock for the NCAA Tournament,” Enfield said. “I know there were some things that went on this season a little different than previous years. We played very hard against Clemson in the ACC Tournament. That came down the last second, Chuck missed a three to take the lead with five seconds left. Now the bounce call that didn’t go our way. We had our chances. We played very, very hard. Very proud of our players and our team, but the NIT is a chance to extend your season, and so with five seniors, to allow them to continue to play on national television every game, on ESPN, ESPN2, it’s a big deal. 

“I know sometimes the mentality is a little different because we compete at the ACC level all season, playing some of the best teams in the country, and now you’re not in the NCAA Tournament. So, it is mentally a little challenging, but we expect our players to come — it’s a basketball game on your home court, on national television against a quality opponent, so your competitive spirit has to take over and go play as hard as you can and play well together as a team.”

Enfield’s viewpoint of postseason play is to build the brand up for SMU as the program looks to go up notches in recruits’ viewpoints. The NIT is a chance to play more nationally televised contests.

“It’s a big year for SMU, first year in the ACC, and you look at what all the other sports have done, how good the football team was. We had a great season of basketball being tied for fourth in the ACC in our first season. Very, very proud of our players,” Enfield said. “We were picked 13th. So to develop a program at the power conference level and to get more national exposure, it only helps. A lot of recruits thought of SMU as a mid-major school going into the recruiting period last year. We heard a lot of that because that’s kind of what they grew up with in the American or Conference USA or even in the WAC many, many years ago.

“So, I think it’s important for recruits not only regionally, but nationally to see SMU on national television, which they did during the ACC season. Any type of exposure like we’re getting now only can help build a program for the future. That’s what we’re looking forward to.”

This is the seventh postseason berth for the Mustangs in the past 11 possible postseasons, including two NCAA bids and five NITs. The Mustangs have earned a spot in the NIT in four of the past five seasons.