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A new era in SMU football begins this year as the Mustangs are now members of the ACC along with former Pac-12 schools Stanford and Cal.

What to expect from SMU in 2024? It is the defending American Athletic Conference champion.

Expert Prediction: SMU finishes 8-4, no ACC title game.

To reach Playoff: +1100
To win ACC: +1600
Regular-season win total: 8
Odds to Win National Title: +26000

Last Season

SMU finished unbeaten in AAC regular-season action last year at 8-0 and beat No. 22 Tulane 26-14 in the league title game even though star QB Preston Stone was unavailable due to injury.

Kevin Jennings threw a touchdown pass and accounted for 266 yards from scrimmage in his first career start, and Collin Rogers kicked four second-half field goals in the win.

The Mustangs also turned in a stifling defensive performance, limiting Tulane to a touchdown during the final 59 minutes to snap the Green Wave’s 10-game winning streak and dethrone the defending league champs.

It was SMU’s first league title since winning the Southwest Conference in 1984.

Coach Rhett Lashlee’s team earned a spot opposite Boston College in the Fenway Bowl but lost 23-14 – still, the team’s 11 overall wins were its most since 1982.

Ironically, BC and SMU are now co-members of the ACC and will play this year in Dallas.

SMU Quarterback

SMU will have one of the best QBs in the ACC in Stone. Last year, he threw for 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns, with only 6 interceptions.

He also had 4 rushing touchdowns. Stone broke his leg in the Mustangs’ regular-season finale against Navy and consequently missed the AAC championship game and the team’s bowl game but will be ready to go.

Stone’s attempt to balance those two goals — getting healthy and upping his game — is going to be among the most questions ahead of the 2024 season. For him, it comes down to consistency and honest leadership.

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Offensive of the Mustangs

Stone will have one of the country’s top tight ends back in RJ Maryland. He started all 14 games last year and recorded the team’s second most receptions (34), reception yards (518) and reception yards per game (37).

He averaged 15.24 YPC and tied for team’s most receiving TDs with seven. Seven wideouts who caught between 24 and 42 passes, led by senior Jake Bailey, all return.

Three of last year’s starting linemen are gone, but if the new O-Line holds up, Stone should take full advantage of a skill corps that barely lost anyone.

Running back has numerous options. Miami transfer Brashard Smith adds explosiveness to a room that lacked consistency in 2023.

Smith rushed nine times for 132 yards and a touchdown while catching 22 balls for 263 yards and two scores last year for the Hurricanes.

Smith was an All-ACC Second Team selection as a specialist in 2023 at Miami. Over 39 kick returns, he’s averaged 25 yards a return. Smith was an All-ACC Second Team selection as a specialist in 2023 at Miami.

LJ Johnson Jr., Jaylan Knighton and Camar Wheaton are all also potential contributors at tailback.

Trades & Transfers

Other players who transferred to SMU include:

former Arkansas defensive lineman Tank Booker
Texas A&M defensive back Deuce Harmon
Oklahoma offensive lineman Savion Byrd
Ohio State defensive lineman Omari Abor
Oklahoma offensive lineman Nate Anderson
West Virginia defensive tackle Mike Lockhart
Miami pass-rusher Jahfari Harvey
Georgia defensive lineman Jonathan Jefferson
Oregon wide receiver Ashton Cozart

Overall, SMU added 20 transfers through the portal, with 13 playing offensive or defensive line as the team tries to beef up in the trenches with the move up in conference level.

Defensive of the Mustangs

Returning starters on defense are led by linebacker Kobe Wilson, a preseason All-ACC pick.

He led SMU in tackles last season with 80 and helped lead an SMU defense that was one of three FBS teams to rank in the top 12 in the country in sacks (third), scoring defense (11th) and total defense (12th).

The returning safety combination of Isaiah Nwokobia and Jonathan McGill finished third and fourth in stops, respectively, last year.

SMU opens the season on Aug. 24 at Nevada and then hosts Houston Christian, BYU and TCU to finish non-conference play.

The school’s first-ever ACC game is home to defending league champion Florida State on Sept. 28. SMU avoids potential ACC contenders like Clemson and Miami.

SMU went 0-3 against Power Five programs last year and is 1-9 in the last 10 games against teams at that level.

The Mustangs will play 10 of them this year in the regular season, with the shift to the ACC.