The SMU Mustangs have gone from football obscurity to ACC contenders in a single season, now sitting at 8-1 overall and an undefeated 5-0 in conference play. Saturday night’s commanding 48-25 win over the Pittsburgh Panthers at Gerald J. Ford Stadium showcased just how far SMU has come—and how high its potential might be.
For SMU’s supporters, the final moments of the game were sweet, as second-string players took the field and fans celebrated their team’s dominance. SMU president R. Gerald Turner, coach Rhett Lashlee, and athletic director Rick Hart shared an embrace, with Turner exclaiming, “How about this?” echoing the amazement of fans and college football followers alike.
The victory over previously undefeated Pitt solidified SMU’s place at the top of the ACC standings, with their path to the conference championship game now firmly within reach. Despite Lashlee’s cautious optimism, he acknowledged the team’s potential: “We’re not done, and we haven’t accomplished anything yet, but we’ve positioned ourselves to be competing for a conference championship in the ACC in our first year.”
Sophomore quarterback Kevin Jennings, initially a game-time decision due to injury, led the Mustangs with 306 passing yards and two touchdowns before stepping aside for the backups. SMU’s high-speed offense ran smoothly, consistently overpowering the Panthers’ defense, with standout performances from players like tailback Brashard Smith and wide receiver Key’Shawn Smith. “We were just going fast like we normally were,” said Brashard Smith. “They just couldn’t keep up.”
Meanwhile, Pitt struggled to keep pace, gaining many of their yards late in the game, long after SMU had secured their lead. Head coach Pat Narduzzi could only watch as SMU kicker Collin Rogers sealed the first half with a 50-yard field goal, further igniting the Mustangs’ home crowd.
Beyond the immediate game, SMU’s journey to the ACC championship would mark an unprecedented milestone. No team has entered a Power Five conference and started better than 2-0, making SMU’s 5-0 debut an outlier in college football history. The program has spent decades rebuilding since the Southwest Conference era, going through years of reinvention and persistence. Now, with just a few games left, the Mustangs have their sights set on a potential ACC title—and they’re ready to continue making history.
“It’s been a long journey, but it’s so rewarding,” Turner said. “To be here, to have a chance at the championship game, is just incredible.”
