DALLAS — Eric Dickerson, a notable figure from SMU’s illustrious past, expressed that, at one point, he believed the university should permanently discontinue its football program due to the embarrassment it had caused. Reflecting on the aftermath of the NCAA’s infamous “death penalty,” which was imposed on SMU, he reminded everyone of a disheartening 95-21 defeat against Houston and the many other crushing losses that plagued the team after its reinstatement in 1989, marking the beginning of a long stretch of poor performances.
Now, however, Dickerson, a Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, stands as a passionate supporter of the current “Pony Express,” which is rapidly climbing the ranks in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The eighth-ranked Mustangs are set to make their league debut in the ACC championship game against No. 18 Clemson, scheduled for Saturday night in Charlotte, North Carolina. The victor of this matchup will earn a spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
“I would have never, ever dreamed this,” said Dickerson, who expressed immense pride in the program’s resurgence. SMU has achieved back-to-back 11-win seasons for the first time in history, having claimed the American Athletic Conference (AAC) championship last year without losing a single league game.
In addition to this success, the Mustangs are enjoying their sixth straight winning season, a feat not accomplished since the conclusion of the seven seasons before play was suspended in 1987 and 1988. Over a span of three decades, the Mustangs only boasted a winning record five times. Their last winning seasons occurred during the final years of the Southwest Conference before they transitioned through several other leagues, finally rejoining one of the major conferences just this past summer.
Rhett Lashlee, the third-year head coach of the Mustangs, has described this transition to the ACC as akin to a boxer advancing to a higher weight class, indicating aspirations for greater success. “We’ve got to be like Roy Jones Jr. — we want to win multiple weight classes,” said Lashlee, who holds an overall record of 29-10.
SMU is notably the ninth institution to elevate from a Group of Five to a power conference since 2011. Historically, previous teams making this leap have struggled, with none starting their conference journeys better than a 1-1 record. Only Louisville managed to finish with a winning record, going 5-3 in the ACC after their transition from AAC in 2014. Despite this trend, the Mustangs have maintained their undefeated status against ACC opponents thus far.
“I’d be fooling myself if I said I wasn’t surprised because no one’s ever done it before,” remarked athletic director Rick Hart regarding the team’s impressive performance. “But I’m not surprised at the qualities that have led to the success, that our team has exhibited consistently throughout the season. They have shown a confidence, not an arrogance, in their abilities.”
Lashlee has yet to reflect on the rapid success experienced in the ACC or all that the Mustangs have achieved since his return to the Hilltop. “It’s been pretty cool for us to realize to some degree our potential fast,” noted the coach. “But, we’re going to live in the moment now and try to see how far this year can go.”
During their ongoing nine-game winning streak, which began following an 18-15 loss to BYU, the Mustangs have averaged over 40 points per game. This streak includes a commanding 42-16 victory over Florida State, the undefeated team from the previous season, marking a significant achievement in their inaugural ACC matchup.
Although Dickerson never imagined that SMU would reach the ACC championship game in its debut season, he felt a sense of optimism after attending a practice last year. “When I saw the athletes that we had… I was excited because I hadn’t seen that in so long,” he recounted. “That’s what it takes, and that’s what made me feel we had a shot.”
