This move from a Group of Five conference to the Power Four is working out all right for SMU. Better than all right, actually.
The Mustangs (8-1) were No. 13 in The Associated Press college football poll Sunday, their highest ranking in 39 years. More important, they are 5-0 in ACC play following their 48-25 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday.
That’s the best start ever for a team in its first year in a power conference, and the buzz is palpable in Dallas. With three regular-season games left, SMU controls its destiny in the race for the ACC championship game and the College Football Playoff spot that goes to the winner.
The Mustangs’ only loss was by three points to Big 12-leading BYU, and they likely will be the second-highest ranked ACC team, behind unbeaten and AP No. 4 Miami, in the first CFP Top 25 to be released Tuesday night.
“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),” coach Rhett Lashlee said. “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.”
SMU has an open date this week, then plays Boston College at home, visits Virginia and hosts California. All three have losing records in the ACC.
The Mustangs played the previous 11 seasons in the American Athletic Conference. They went unbeaten in league play last year, beat Tulane in the championship game and lost to Boston College in the Fenway Bowl. Their 11 wins were their most since the 1982 “Pony Express” team won the same number.
The Atlantic Coast Conference in September 2023 invited SMU to join Cal and Stanford in the expanded conference. SMU celebrated the move as a return to the big-time. The Mustangs had played in three Group of Five leagues since the Southwest Conference folded in 1995, its demise starting when the NCAA “death penalty” shut down SMU’s program in 1987 for rampant rules violations. The program restarted in 1989.
The Mustangs’ big-play offense is scoring 40 points per game and has than 450 yards of total offense in all five ACC games. Kevin Jennings has thrown for a touchdown of at least 80 yards in three straight games and Miami transfer Brashard Smith averages 100 yards rushing per game. The defense ranks among the best in the league.
“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 said. “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.”
Checking in on five of the Top 25:
No. 1 Oregon
The Ducks continue to show they’re a cut above. They’re No. 1 in a third straight poll and this week are a unanimous choice. They’re 9-0 for the third time in program history, with the two other occasions in 2010 and 2012 when they also spent time atop the poll. Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Dillon Gabriel and a balanced attack produced a dominant 38-17 win at Michigan. The Ducks outgained the Wolverines 470-270 and converted 10 of 15 third downs. Next up is a home game against Maryland.
No. 4 Miami
Say this about the Hurricanes, they make it exciting. Their 53-31 win over Duke marked the third time in their nine wins that they had to erase a double-digit deficit in the second half. Miami is off to its best start in seven years and has its highest ranking since 2017. Cam Ward passed for 400 yards and five touchdowns. His 29 TD passes are tied with Steve Walsh for the school single-season record.
No. 8 Indiana
Another week, another milestone for the unbeaten Hoosiers. Indiana’s 9-0 start is the longest win streak in program history. The Hoosiers trailed for the first time this season when Michigan State got out to a 10-0 lead Saturday. The Hoosiers did the rest of the scoring and won 47-10. QB Kurtis Rourke showed no lingering effects from his surgically repaired right (throwing) thumb injury.
No. 16 Mississippi
Known for putting up ridiculous offensive numbers, the Rebels outdid themselves in a 63-31 win over Arkansas. Their point total tied their most ever against an SEC opponent, their 694 total yards were a season high and their 562 passing yards set a single-game record. Jaxson Dart threw for 515 yards and six of Ole Miss’ school record-tying seven TDs. Overshadowed was a defense that recorded eight sacks, raising its nation-leading total to 41. That’s good mojo heading into No. 2 Georgia’s visit this week.
No. 25 Louisville
Losses in three of four games after a 3-0 start put a damper on Louisville’s season. The Cardinals have rebounded to win two straight, none bigger than their 33-21 victory at Clemson. Louisville went into the game 0-8 all-time against the Tigers. Isaac Brown carried the load for Louisville, running for 156 yards on 20 carries and scoring the game-breaking, 45-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Cards (6-3, 4-2) are fifth in the ACC and wrap up league play at Stanford and at home against Pittsburgh before their nonconference rivalry game at Kentucky.
Extra Points
Miami, Indiana and Army have not played a ranked opponent while going unbeaten. Indiana and Army are on track to meet Top 25 teams Nov. 23, the Hoosiers at Ohio State and the Black Knights against Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium. Miami could play at a ranked Syracuse on Nov. 30 if the Orange win their next three games to get to 9-2. … Oregon’s game at Michigan marked the 19th time the No. 1 team played the defending national champion. The No. 1 team has won 12 of those meetings. … Army’s No. 18 ranking is its highest since it was No. 10 on Oct. 1, 1962. Only 10 teams were ranked in that era, and the Black Knights dropped out after losing at Michigan. They weren’t ranked again until 1985.
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