Here comes a new challenger
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Based on how low we ranked SMU in our ACC Preview it felt only fair that I write an article about how the Mustangs have a good chance at winning the ACC. SMU is getting buzz around their record last year and their incredibly talented offense. SMU will be facing tougher opponents than they saw last year in the American Conference, but fans and players alike feel excited for the challenge.
Brief History
SMU isn’t the strangest addition to the “Atlantic Coast” Conference this year, but I do want to give some insight incase my readers are unfamiliar with the program. For those familiar with college football history SMU was a prominent member of the South Western Conference and has won 3 football national championships in their history. SMU is probably best known for receiving the “death penalty” for paying players in 1987. This penalty completely shut down the SMU football program for 2 years, the penalty left the program in shambles for years. The Mustangs have stabilized in the past 5 years consistently winning 7 games in the American Conference.
SMU had their best season in a long time last year. The Mustangs won 11 games and the American Conference Championship ending the regular season ranked as #22 football team in the nation. Last time they won a conference championship was in 1984 as a member of the southwest conference.
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In the offseason following their Championship run the SMU Mustangs decided to make a big move to the ACC. For those wondering why The Mustangs reached out to join the ACC instead of the BIG 12, the BIG 12 has given some vague statements about talent level and academic prestige but for the real reason… well lets just say there is plenty of bad blood between SMU and the other Texas schools. Regardless, with the move to the ACC the Mustangs are hoping to regain prominence as part of a power 5 conference.
Players
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SMU is all about the offense. The obvious highlight is Preston Stone at QB. Preston threw for 3,197 yds and 28 touchdowns last year while only throwing 6 interceptions. Preston is getting hyped as one of the top QBs in the ACC this season, however it has yet to be seen if we will be able to perform as well against ACC opponents as he did against teams in the American Conference.
Preston likes to spread the ball around as 8 of his receivers last year had over 300 yds receiving and 7 of those receivers had at least 2 receiving touch downs. Moochie Dixon and Romello Brinson are likely to be the top receiving targets, but you really have to keep an eye on RJ Maryland at Tight End who has a way of finding extra yards and is good at sneaking out for a touchdown.
SMU fully believes in Running Back by platoon as they had 3 running backs with over 400 yds on the ground last year. Jaylan Knighton is likely to be the starter, but LJ Johnson Jr, and Brashard Smith to have big impacts on the field this year.
The biggest weakness for the offense is the O-line. Not the talent on the O-line, by all accounts this is one of the best O-lines in the ACC currently. The issue lies with depth. If injuries occur there are few options outside of some new freshmen at the position to take over the blocking roles. Time will tell if the depth issue will impact SMU.
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SMU had a fantastic defense last year ranking in the top 20 across the board in scoring defense, passing defense, total defense, redzone defense… the list goes on. As you will continue to hear, its hard to say how this defense will translate now that they are coming to the ACC. SMU is returning the majority of their starters, so they will have a chance to prove themselves. Keep an eye out for defensive edge Elijah Roberts and line backer Kobe Wilson to have big impacts on the field.
The Schedule
By Pat McDonogh / USA TODAY NETWORK
SMU starts off their season with all 4 of their non-conference games. They get Nevada, HCU, BYU, and their big rival TCU in the first four games of the season. Then comes the most important 2 games on the conference schedule. the Mustangs get FSU at home followed by Louisville on the road. Those two games will really define where SMU will stand at the end of the season as the rest of their season is pretty easy going. The last 6 games of the season are Stanford and Duke on the road, Pitt and Boston College at home, and then another road trip to Virginia and ending on a home game against Cal. There’s a good chance that SMU will end their season with a conference record of 6-2 or 7-1 depending on how they perform against FSU and Louisville.
2024 Outlook
As stated above SMU really has two games that they need to handle, and of course they need to dodge some ACC chaos. SMU certainly has the talent to be competitive, and even if they don’t win against both FSU and Louisville there is still a chance that they could wind up in the ACC championship with a 6-2 conference record if other teams stumble. Weirder things have happened in the ACC.
Critics will point out that SMU ended last season with a loss in their bowl game to Boston College. I would note that Preston Stone did not play in that game due to an injury, and while backup Kevin Jennings is talented it is fair to say SMU was not playing at full strength. I would say that the early season game against TCU last year ended in a 34-17 loss for SMU, so the Mustangs will need to perform above that level if they expect to contend with mid to top tier ACC opponents.
SMU needs to prove themselves this year for the sake of their fanbase and their standing in the future ACC. I don’t expect SMU to come in and win the ACC, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see SMU in the running as the season comes to a close. I am excited to see what SMU can do once things kickoff.