SMU Opens NCEA Championship Against Kansas State
Mar 31 | Equestrian
DALLAS (SMU/NCEA) -- SMU will face Kansas State in the opening round of the 2015 National Collegiate Equestrian Association Championship on Thursday, April 16, at the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas. The Mustangs enter the championship as the eighth-seed while Kansas State is ninth.
SMU is making its fourth consecutive and 10th overall appearance at nationals. The Mustangs have advanced to the second round in each of the last three seasons. This is the first meeting between SMU and Kansas State at the national event.
The Mustangs have not faced the Wildcats since the 2013-14 season when Kansas State won 13-6 in Martin, Tennessee. KSU is coming off a second place finish at the Big 12 Championships. The Wildcats went 8-8 during the season, including wins over South Carolina, Oklahoma State, TCU and Baylor. However, Kansas State was 0-5 on the road and 1-3 in neutral site competitions.
Georgia, the defending champion, is the top seed. Baylor, South Carolina and Texas A&M follow. Those top four get an opening round bye while seeds No. 7-12 compete on the first day. The winner of SMU and Kansas State will face Georgia, on April 17, in the quarterfinals.
The NCEA Selection Committee determined and invited the 12 team field.
2015 NCEA Championship Seeds
1. Georgia
2. Baylor
3. South Carolina
4. Texas A&M
5. Auburn
6. Fresno State
7. TCU
8. SMU
9. Kansas State
10. Oklahoma State
11. New Mexico State
12. UT-Martin
Opening-Round Matchups
(8) SMU vs. (9) Kansas State
(5) Auburn vs. (12) UT-Martin
(6) Fresno State vs. (11) New Mexico State
(7) TCU vs. (10) Oklahoma State
Quarterfinals
(1) Georgia vs. (8) SMU or (9) Kansas State
(2) Baylor vs. (7) TCU or (10) Oklahoma State
(3) South Carolina vs. (6) Fresno State or (11) New Mexico State
(4) Texas A&M vs. (5) Auburn or (12) UT-Martin
