SMU’s transition from a Group of Five conference to one of the Power Four is proving to be a significant step forward. The Mustangs have achieved a notable milestone by reaching No. 13 in The Associated Press college football poll, their highest ranking in 39 years. Even more impressive, they stand at 5-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play after a commanding 48-25 victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday.
This remarkable success has made SMU the team with the best start ever for a first-year entrant in a power conference. With three regular-season games remaining, the Mustangs are in control of their fate for the ACC championship game and the valuable College Football Playoff spot awarded to the conference winner.
The Mustangs’ only setback came from a narrow three-point loss to Big 12-leading BYU. As the first College Football Playoff Top 25 is set to be released on Tuesday night, SMU is expected to be the second-highest ranked ACC team, right behind unbeaten and AP No. 4 Miami.
“Don’t get me wrong, we’ve been humbled to be ranked in the AP poll and the coaches’ poll. That’s a big deal for our program any time, definitely in year one (in the ACC),” said head coach Rhett Lashlee. “Now Tuesday night you find out what the group whose rankings matter now the rest of the way think about you. We’re going to find out where we are Tuesday. We know we have a lot to play for these last three games.”
With an open date this week, SMU is preparing to play Boston College at home, visit Virginia, and host California, all of whom hold losing records in the ACC.
The Mustangs previously spent 11 seasons in the American Athletic Conference, going unbeaten in league play last year and winning the championship game against Tulane, although they fell to Boston College in the Fenway Bowl. Their 11 victories were the most since the celebrated 1982 “Pony Express” team.
In September 2023, SMU joined Cal and Stanford in the expanded Atlantic Coast Conference, marking a significant step up. The move represents a return to prominence for SMU, which had bounced through three Group of Five leagues since the Southwest Conference dissolved in 1995 after the NCAA “death penalty” sanctions shut down its program in 1987. Play resumed in 1989.
The Mustangs’ high-powered offense has been nothing short of electric, scoring 40 points per game and amassing over 450 yards in each of their five ACC contests. Quarterback Kevin Jennings has thrown an 80-yard touchdown in three consecutive games, while Miami transfer Brashard Smith averages 100 yards rushing per game. Not to be outdone, the defense ranks among the ACC’s best.
“I think it means SMU, our program, belongs at this level and our program is capable of competing at a high level at this level,” Lashlee stated. “We’re not done and we’ve not accomplished anything yet. But we’ve put ourselves in position in the middle of November that we’re competing for a conference championship in the ACC in our first year in the league. Our players and staff deserve a ton of credit for that.”
Turning to other top teams, Oregon continues to dominate, holding the No. 1 spot for the third consecutive week. The Ducks boast a 9-0 record after a decisive 38-17 victory over Michigan, outgaining the Wolverines 470-270. They face Maryland next.
Miami, ranked No. 4, showed resilience in a 53-31 win over Duke. This marks the Hurricanes’ best start in seven years, driven by quarterback Cam Ward’s 400-yard, five-touchdown performance.
Indiana remains unbeaten at 9-0, achieving the longest win streak in program history with a 47-10 victory over Michigan State. QB Kurtis Rourke appears fully recovered from a thumb injury.
Mississippi routed Arkansas 63-31, tying their highest point total against an SEC opponent and setting a single-game record with 562 passing yards. Jaxson Dart threw for 515 yards and six touchdowns, while the defense led with eight sacks ahead of their matchup with No. 2 Georgia.
Louisville, ranked No. 25, rebounded with a crucial 33-21 win over Clemson, their first victory in nine encounters with the Tigers. Isaac Brown led the charge with 156 rushing yards and a game-sealing 45-yard touchdown. The Cardinals, now 6-3, are gearing up for upcoming ACC games against Stanford and Pittsburgh, followed by a nonconference rivalry game at Kentucky.
Notably, Miami, Indiana, and Army remain undefeated without facing a ranked opponent. Indiana is set to meet Ohio State on Nov. 23, while Army will face Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium. Miami may encounter a ranked Syracuse if the Orange win their next three games. Oregon’s recent game against Michigan marked the 19th instance of a No. 1 team playing the defending national champion, with the top-ranked team winning 12 times. Army’s No. 18 ranking is its highest since 1962, when they were last ranked No. 10.
