(Photo: SMU)
2025 Recap: They entered last season a year removed from making the College Football Playoff and I was curious to see what they’d do the following year. This Mustangs offense averaged 32 points per game and the anchor of the offense was no other than Quarterback Kevin Jennings who finished his 2025 season with 26 touchdown passes on the year and threw for over 3,000 yards passing. Their biggest win of the year was when they upset a then-tenth ranked Miami Hurricanes team and they also went into Death Valley and beat the Clemson Tigers. SMU ended their season with a bowl victory over the Arizona Wildcats.
Key Departures: OT Paris Patterson, DT Jeffery M’ba, LB Isaiah Smith, DT Terry Webb.
2026 Prediction: Since joining the ACC in 2024, the Mustangs have a 14-2 record in conference play. They will enter this season with just eight starters from last year returning, but I still like SMU to win a share of the ACC because Kevin Jennings will give them a chance on a weekly basis to win football games. The Mustangs were able to take advantage of the transfer portal and snag both Yannick Smith and Jalen Hale who will both provide experience and playmaking on the outside for Kevin. The defense is where I’m watching because they lost just about everyone on that front. When both sides of the ball can find balance, everything will be just fine for them. Solidifying that defense will be key for Rhett Lashlee.
