SMU’s transition to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has not hindered their performance in the slightest.
The Mustangs have achieved an impressive streak of 13 consecutive victories in conference play, which includes the last eight games of the American Athletic Conference last season and four wins thus far in the ACC this season.
With an overall record of 7-1 and a conference record of 4-0, SMU currently stands as one of four teams maintaining an unbeaten record in the ACC, a number that will change following their upcoming game against Pittsburgh, which has a record of 7-0 and 3-0 in the conference.
“Our aim has been to demonstrate that we can compete at this level,” remarked SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee.
“We wanted to go out there and establish our place, assess our abilities, and see how we align with the competition. Our players have embraced this challenge.”
The ACC restructured its divisions last year, opting to forgo the Atlantic and Coastal divisions and instead sending the top two overall teams to its championship game.
With the addition of SMU, California, and Stanford to create a total of 17 teams this season, it has primarily been the Mustangs who have made their mark.
As the college football season approaches its final month, the competition within the ACC has narrowed to four undefeated teams: No. 20 SMU, No. 18 Pitt, No. 11 Clemson, and No. 5 Miami.
Notably, Virginia Tech has one loss in the conference, while four other teams are sitting with two defeats.
“Miami is having an exceptional season, and Clemson is looking like their typical self,” Lashlee acknowledged, reflecting on last year’s loss to Boston College during SMU’s time in the American Athletic Conference.
“However, several teams still have a shot at qualifying for bowl games, and there are still six or seven schools firmly in the race for the conference with a month remaining.”
Both Miami and Pitt remain unbeaten, while Clemson has only lost to then-No. 1 Georgia in their season opener.
SMU’s sole defeat came against an undefeated BYU on September 6.
The path for an unbeaten ACC champion is becoming clearer, as they are almost guaranteed a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Phil Mafah, a running back for Clemson, emphasized the importance of perseverance during this pivotal mid-season period.
“This is the time when teams and players might start feeling fatigued and a bit down,” he explained.
“But it’s essential to tighten our focus on our goals because we’ve put in so much effort over the past 10 months, and now it’s time for that hard work to pay off.”
The pivotal match between Pittsburgh and Clemson on November 16 could result in yet another undefeated team being eliminated from the ACC, but first, SMU is gearing up for a crucial showdown against the Panthers this Saturday night in Dallas as they enjoy a remarkable debut season in the conference.
Reflecting on their performance, Lashlee expressed confidence in the team’s ability to compete, albeit with caution about the physical toll of the season.
“I had a belief that we could compete, but how well, I wasn’t sure,” he noted, drawing on his previous experience as an offensive coordinator at Miami.
“We’ll see if we can sustain our performance week to week as the season progresses, but we’re excited for the challenges ahead.”
Pitt’s head coach, Pat Narduzzi, noted that while he has yet to coach a game at SMU, he remembers the days of legendary player Eric Dickerson, who led the Southwestern Conference in rushing yards during the early 1980s.
“He was an exceptional talent,” Narduzzi reflected.
“It’s great to have a strong football program in the conference with good coaching, and I look forward to experiencing the atmosphere in Dallas.”