2026 SMU Football Preview
Jake Wimberly
Abby Boyd Contributing-
What’s to like:
SMU has adjusted well to life in the ACC, and one of the biggest reasons has been its aggressive approach to the transfer portal. The Mustangs have consistently identified experienced players who fit their system, allowing them to remain competitive despite moving into a more challenging conference. That strategy has helped strengthen the roster without relying solely on high school recruiting.
The offense also continues to be one of the team's biggest strengths. SMU has several playmakers capable of creating explosive plays, and the coaching staff has done a good job building an offense that takes advantage of their speed and athleticism. If the Mustangs continue playing efficiently, they should once again be one of the better offensive teams in the conference.
What’s not to like:
One area that still needs improvement is the team's overall physicality against the ACC's top opponents. While SMU has plenty of speed, matching the size and strength of some of the conference's better teams remains a challenge. Improving in the trenches will be important moving forward.
The offensive line is another position group to watch. Consistency up front will be important against stronger defensive fronts, particularly in conference play. Better protection and a more reliable running game would make the offense even more effective.
What does the Hourglass say?
SMU- ACC (10-2)
Power ranking 70.75.
2026 SMU Analytics
National recruiting rating (three year metric): #22- outside the boundary of a National Championship Roster.
National Coaching Ranking:
Rhett Lashlee- 31st in Power 5 and 7th in the ACC.
2026 coaching value= 22.8 (average 2026 Power 5 coaching value=21.93) Rhett Lashlee is ranked lower of the pack for coaches in the Power 5.
Quarterback Play: Kevin Jennings- ranked 22nd in the Power 4, 3rd in the ACC; 2026 QB value= 38.3 (Power 4 average- 26.43).
Impact Ball Catcher Metric: SMU has an Impact Ball Catcher Metric of 3. This puts the Mustangs at the higher tier for the ACC in this metric.
Final Thoughts:
SMU has adjusted well to life in the ACC and continues to build around an explosive offense. The Mustangs have used the transfer portal effectively to strengthen the roster, but improving their play in the trenches against the conference's top teams remains an important step. If the offensive line becomes more consistent, SMU should remain a factor in the ACC race.
2026 Schedule analysis:
Projected Hourglass W/L record: Games in red denote games that could be a one possession game or even a different outcome than projection.
9/7/26 At Florida State- Loss
9/12/26 UC Davis- Win
9/19/26 At Louisville- Win
9/26/26 Missouri State- Win
10/3/26 Boston College- Win
10/17/26Virginia- Win
10/24/26 California- Win
10/30/26 At Syracuse- Win
11/6/26 Virginia Tech- Win
11/14/26 Wake Forest- Win
11/21/26 At Notre Dame- Loss
11/28/26 At Stanford- Win
