Tulsa Favored to Finish Atop Conference Standings

Tulsa and USF projected to end regular season with 14-4 and 12-6 records respectively

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

According to the analysis, Tulsa is favored to finish the season with a 14-4 record, two games ahead of USF's projected 12-6 finish. This mirrors a past scenario where a team ranked 32/5 lost to Fresno State multiple times but still earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, despite a third loss.

Why it matters

The projections suggest Tulsa is poised to win its conference by a comfortable margin, which could impact seeding and tournament positioning for both teams. The comparison to a past scenario provides context around how teams can sometimes still earn postseason bids despite multiple losses to lower-ranked opponents.

The details

The analysis compares the projected finishes of Tulsa and USF, with Tulsa favored to end the regular season 14-4 and USF at 12-6. This two-game difference is likened to a past scenario where a highly-ranked team (32/5) lost to Fresno State multiple times but still earned an at-large NCAA Tournament bid, despite a third loss.

  • The regular season is projected to conclude in 2026.

The players

Tulsa

A college basketball team projected to finish the regular season with a 14-4 record.

USF

A college basketball team projected to finish the regular season with a 12-6 record.

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The takeaway

The projections suggest Tulsa is poised to have a strong regular season and potentially earn a favorable postseason seed, while USF is also expected to perform well. The comparison to a past scenario highlights how teams can sometimes still earn tournament bids despite multiple losses to lower-ranked opponents.