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SMU preseason On3 bowl projection: Mustangs face Big 12 foe

On3 imageby: Billy Embody08/25/25BillyEmbody
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SMU HC Rhett Lashlee. (Matt Visinsky / On3)

The SMU Mustangs are ready to open its season with its Saturday matchup in Gerald J. Ford Stadium against East Texas A&M. On3’s Brett McMurphy revealed his preseason bowl projections and he has the Rhett Lashlee & Co. headed out west.

In McMurphy’s projection, he’d have SMU facing Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl out in San Diego, Calif. SMU’s of course part of one of the most famous Holiday Bowls, the 1980 edition where BYU stunned SMU, 46-45.

That said, SMU has high expectations entering the season. Both teams projected for the Holiday Bowl made the College Football Playoff last season.

“I think we got a long way to go. I see a lot of potential,” SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee said this month. “I mentioned a lot of guys on the D-line. I think both sides of the ball have the potential to be good units. I think on special teams, we have the potential to be the best we’ve been just because I think our depth is better, and a lot of our young guys are good enough to play now on teams, but potential just means you have an ability that you haven’t accomplished yet.”

College Football Playoff projection

McMurphy didn’t have SMU making the College Football Playoff this season, but did reveal his field in the story as well.

First Round (Dec. 19-20)
No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Clemson
No. 9 Miami at No. 8 Alabama
No. 11 Utah at No. 6 Texas
No. 10 Michigan at No. 7 Oregon

Quarterfinals
Cotton Bowl (Dec. 31)
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Clemson

Orange Bowl (Jan. 1, 2026)
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
No. 1 Notre Dame vs. 8 Alabama

Rose Bowl (January 1, 2026)
Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif.
No. 2 Penn State vs. No. 7 Oregon

Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1, 2026)
Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La.
No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Texas

Semifinals
Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 8, 2026)
State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 8 Alabama

Peach Bowl (Jan. 8, 2026)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.
No. 2 Penn State vs. No. 3 Georgia

National Championship (Jan. 19, 2026)
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State (Georgia winner)

SMU opens the season Saturday at 8 p.m. CT against East Texas A&M on ACC Network.

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