SMU is 31-10 since the start of 2023 and 14-2 against ACC teams in the regular season since joining the Power Four. The Mustangs were once a fun redemption story of a program that was long forgotten because of transgressions that now feel small in the world of NIL, revenue sharing, and unlimited transfers.
But SMU is no longer defined by the Death Penalty and the climb back to college football relevance. Rhett Lashlee’s program is a bona fide ACC contender alongside Miami and Louisville. The Mustangs are 5-1 against Miami, Florida State, Clemson, and Louisville since joining the conference and must be mentioned when talking about the College Football Playoff contenders heading into 2026.