Anonymous ACC coach sees SMU as a 'top-end program in the league'

SMU had their best season in program history during their debut year in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Mustangs could be here to stay now too if some coaches around the league are right.

The preview magazine at Athlon Sports included anonymous quotes from coaches about the other programs around the ACC. Of the ones talking about Southern Methodist were plenty of compliments of how well they made the transition from being a mid-major to a power program last fall.

“This program is a case study on how to move up in college football,” one said. “You invest first, have your NIL ready and shop the portal, and it helps to be in arguably the best state for high school recruiting.”

Put all that together and SMU has had one of their best-ever two-year stretches, which were years two and three for the program under Rhett Lashlee. They went 11-3 in 2023 in winning the AAC Championship before realigning and going 11-3 in 2024, playing for the ACC Championship, and making the College Football Playoff.

As for taking the next step, SMU hasn’t had an issue on offense as they’ve been Top-15 in scoring each of the past six seasons – with QB Kevin Jennings back as the starter as well. The defense has been at least respectable as well each of the past two seasons with more work to do. One coach just thinks they need to continue to build on the interior like a power program, which they did with several additions, in the portal and in recruiting, being on both lines offensive and certainly defensively.

“Kevin Jennings doesn’t get enough attention,” one coach said. “Unless (Jennings) is injured, I don’t think (Tyler) Van Dyke will see the field this season.”

“This offense is playoff-caliber; the real place where they’re still a step from legitimacy is defense,” said another. “You really saw it against Penn State. The only spot where they didn’t look Power 4-ready was up front, and they’ve reworked that line with personnel.”

SMU made it look really easy to move up from the Group of Five to what is the Power Four. They could now become a mainstay in the league in the coming years if they follow any of that, whether 10-plus wins, being in the ACC Championship, or making the CFP, up again in 2025.

“They’re a threat to go back to the championship game, and right now it looks like they’re a top-end program in the league for the near future,” a coach said.