Note: This story is featured in the 2026 edition of Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Summer Magazine, which you can order here.

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BEHIND ENEMY LINES  

“Keeping Rhett (Lashlee) was a huge accomplishment for SMU because there were a lot of SEC jobs open and I’d imagine he was in the mix at Arkansas and Auburn. He’s an excellent coach and he’s probably done the most impressive job of any coach in Texas over the last couple of years.” 

“It’ll be interesting to see them transition from a roster full of portal mercenaries to more of a balanced roster with a bunch of high school talent. That puts pressure on development and that’s not something we’ve seen a ton from SMU in their rise under Sonny (Dykes) or Rhett (Lashlee).” 

“The QB (Kevin Jennings) turns the ball over a lot but I like the last couple of recruiting classes, especially at wide receiver and in the secondary. I’m not sure about the offensive and defensive line, though. I don’t think they’re as good in the trenches as they were in 2024.”   

SCHEDULE AND PREDICTIONS  

Sept. 7 at Florida State W  

Sept. 12 UC Davis W 

Sept. 19 at Louisville L 

Sept. 26 Missouri State W  

Oct. 3 Boston College W  

Oct. 10 IDLE 

Oct. 17 Virginia W 

Oct. 24 Cal W 

Oct. 31 at Syracuse W  

Nov. 7 Virginia Tech L 

Nov. 14 Wake Forest W 

Nov. 21 at Notre Dame L 

Nov. 28 at Stanford W 

Record: 9-3 (7-2)  

BIGGEST GAME – Nov. 21 at Notre Dame   

This game won’t count in the ACC standings but it provides SMU with another chance for a program-defining win. The Mustangs have beaten Clemson, Miami, and Florida State since moving to the Power Four ranks. These types of games are why SMU wanted to move up in the first place.   

TRAP GAME – Nov. 28 at Stanford  

SMU lost a chance to return to the ACC championship last year because of a season finale road loss to Cal. The Mustangs could face a similar test with a West Coast trip to Stanford to close out the season a week after traveling to Notre Dame.  

UPSET ALERT – Sept. 19 at Louisville  

We’ll know if SMU is a legit ACC contender before the last weekend of September. SMU plays two ACC road games in the first three weeks of the 2026 season. The first is a trip to Florida State in Week 1. The second takes place two weeks later when the Mustangs head to Louisville.  

BEST CASE/WORST CASE 

Best Case: 11-1  

The Mustangs win early-season road games at Florida State and Louisville to propel them back to the ACC Championship game for the second time in three seasons behind third year starting quarterback Kevin Jennings and a defense that improves against the pass under DC Maurice Crum Jr.   

Worst Case: 6-6  

An inexperienced supporting cast around QB Kevin Jennings and the loss of defensive coordinator Scott Symons prevent SMU from competing for the ACC championship. Early road trips to Florida State and Louisville, as well as a late season visit to Notre Dame, prove too much for the Mustangs.   

2025 RESULTS 

Aug. 30 East Texas A&M W 42-13  

Sept. 6 Baylor L 48-45 (2OT) 
Sept. 13 at Missouri State W 28-10 

Sept. 20 at TCU L 35-24 

Oct. 4 Syracuse W 31-18 

Oct. 11 Stanford W 34-10 

Oct. 18 at Clemson W 35-24 

Oct. 25 at Wake Forest L 13-12 

Nov. 1 Miami W 26-20 (OT) 

Nov. 8 at Boston College W 45-13 

Nov. 22 Louisville W 38-6 

Nov. 29 at Cal L 38-35 

Jan. 2 Arizona (Holiday Bowl) W 24-19 

Record: 9-4 (6-2)