Eric Boggs 
A New Era for Mustangs Football.
Quick turnarounds are common for college football coaches, but recent history shows that quickly moving to a new conference doesn’t usually lead to immediate success. This is especially true for football programs moving from mid-major to power conferences. With only a year to prepare for the jump from the AAC to the Big 12, four new teams ended with losing records in 2023 (18-31 combined).
SMU will make a similar move to the ACC this fall. As of July 1, the Mustangs are official members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. SMU has had a challenging past, including the NCAA’s death penalty in 1987, but now they seem to be on solid ground thanks to big investments in athletics ($400 million since 2013). One question is if SMU can avoid the struggles of other programs that jumped to big conferences without enough time to strengthen their rosters.
In just 10 months, SMU had to prepare for this move. As they were getting ready for their final AAC season, they also had to speed up their recruiting efforts.
“We’ve done everything we could to build depth. We know where we’re going. We’re moving up a level, so we have to raise our expectations. You can’t have an off week and expect to win, and the intensity in recruiting is higher.””
SMU coach Rhett Lashlee via CBS Sports.
SMU appears more prepared than other teams. Last season, SMU won 11 games for the first time in 41 years, won the AAC title, and almost beat Oklahoma. They return many starters, including quarterback Preston Stone and their top seven receivers. On defense, 10 of the top 11 tacklers return, and their pass rush, led by Elijah Roberts, was strong.
SMU also added depth through the transfer portal, especially on the offensive and defensive lines. Thirteen of their 19 new transfers are linemen, and 12 of them played for power conference teams last season. SMU’s transfer class ranks 31st nationally and seventh in the ACC.
SMU has a few weeks before jumping into the ACC on September 28, when they play reigning ACC champion Florida State in Dallas.
For more than 30 years, SMU has been trying to recover from the NCAA “death penalty” they received for repeated violations, including paying players. The Mustangs have spent a lot of time struggling since then but are now set to join the ACC this fall, even though they won’t receive conference revenue for nine years.
In 1987, SMU’s football program was shut down due to severe NCAA sanctions. The program returned in 1989 but struggled for years. The Southwest Conference, which SMU had been part of since 1918, dissolved after the 1995 season. SMU then played in the WAC and Conference USA before joining the AAC in 2013.
SMU’s move to the AAC was a step forward, but early years were tough. SMU’s fortunes changed with coaches like Chad Morris and Sonny Dykes, who led the team to several successful seasons. In 2023, under coach Lashlee, SMU won 11 games and their first conference championship since 1984.
On July 1, SMU’s efforts to join a power conference paid off as they officially joined the ACC. The school has a strong booster base and recently broke ground on a new $100 million complex at their stadium, thanks to a record $50 million donation.
SMU has also embraced the new NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) rules, which allow players to earn money. In August 2022, it was revealed that SMU football and basketball players could earn $36,000 annually through the Boulevard Collective, supported by SMU alumni and donors.
About The Author
