Honestly, if you spent the last thirty years ignoring southern methodist university football, nobody would really blame you. For decades, the program felt like a ghost story told to keep other NCAA schools in line. You know the one—the "Death Penalty." In 1987, the NCAA didn't just slap SMU on the wrist; they basically deleted the program for two years. It was the first and last time a major Division I team was executed in public. The Hilltop went quiet. The "Pony Express" era of Eric Dickerson and Craig James, which saw the Mustangs go 11-0-1 in 1982, felt like ancient history or a fever dream.
But something shifted in 2024. Actually, everything shifted.
When SMU officially joined the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) on July 1, 2024, it wasn't just a conference move. It was a $200 million statement of intent. The school literally agreed to forego nine years of TV revenue just to get a seat at the big kids' table. Think about that. Most schools are chasing the biggest check; SMU wrote one. They bet on themselves, and in their first year in the ACC, the Mustangs didn't just show up—they set the house on fire.
The Rhett Lashlee Era and the 2024 ACC Explosion
Rhett Lashlee is the guy who finally figured it out. He isn't just a coach; he's a Dallas guy who understands that you can’t win at SMU by playing "old school" football. You win with speed, NIL deals, and a relentless offense. In 2024, Lashlee led the Mustangs to a staggering 11-3 record. They went 8-0 in their first year of ACC play. Let that sink in for a second. A team coming up from the American Athletic Conference (AAC) walked into a Power Four league and didn't lose a single regular-season conference game.
They beat Florida State. They handled Louisville. They crushed TCU in the Iron Skillet.
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Quarterback Kevin Jennings became the heartbeat of that 2024 run. He wasn't even the starter to begin the season—Preston Stone was the guy—but Jennings took over and turned the offense into a highlight reel. He threw for over 3,200 yards and rushed for five scores. He’s elusive. He’s smart. He’s exactly what a modern Power Four quarterback looks like. Then you’ve got Brashard Smith, the Miami transfer who moved to running back and looked like he was shot out of a cannon every time he touched the ball.
Lashlee’s success earned him the 2024 ACC Coach of the Year award. It was well-deserved. He managed to keep a locker room focused while the administration was basically rebuilding the entire university’s athletic identity in the background.
More Than Just a Game: The Business of the Hilltop
You can't talk about southern methodist university football without talking about money. It’s Dallas. The boosters here aren't just fans; they are heavy hitters with deep pockets and a long memory. The move to the ACC was fueled by people like David Miller and the late Garry Weber. Weber’s foundation put up $50 million for the new Garry Weber End Zone Complex at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
It’s a 192,500-square-foot beast.
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This complex isn't just about luxury suites, though those are nice. It’s about recruiting. When a kid from DeSoto or Duncanville walks into that building, they see a program that spends like Alabama or Georgia. SMU is currently leveraging its "Mustang Partners" division to maximize NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities. They aren't hiding from it. They’re leaning in. In the 2025 fiscal year, the Mustang Club raised a record $65 million.
People are actually showing up now, too. Season ticket sales doubled between 2023 and 2024. Revenue from those tickets jumped 157%. The Hilltop is finally loud again.
Why 1987 Still Hangs Over Dallas (Sorta)
Look, the 1987 scandal—the "Pony Excess"—is the elephant in the room. For thirty years, the narrative was that SMU cheated, got caught, and died. The NCAA found a slush fund used to pay players. They found out administrators knew. The punishment was so severe that it nearly killed the school’s entire athletic department.
For a long time, SMU was the "cautionary tale."
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But the world changed. What SMU got the death penalty for in 1987 is basically a Tuesday afternoon in 2026. Paying players? That’s called NIL now. Boosters involved in recruiting? That’s called a "Collective." There is a delicious irony in seeing SMU rise to power again in an era where the very things they were destroyed for are now the legal pillars of the sport.
The 2025 Roster and Recruiting Heat
If you thought 2024 was a fluke, look at the 2025 recruiting class. Lashlee and his staff are raiding the DFW area like never before. They landed Dramodd Odoms, a massive offensive tackle out of Houston, and Jalen Cooper, a wide receiver who could probably outrun a cheetah. They also snagged Ty Hawkins, a four-star quarterback from IMG Academy who chose SMU over several "blue blood" programs.
The 2025 roster is a mix of high-end high school talent and strategic portal adds.
- Kevin Jennings (QB): The returning leader.
- Brashard Smith (RB): The lightning bolt.
- Dramodd Odoms (OT): The future of the line.
- Justin Medlock (LB): The defensive anchor.
They are building a team that is deep enough to survive the grind of an ACC schedule. The 2025 season saw them finish 9-4, which some fans felt was a "step back," but they still went 6-2 in the conference and won the Holiday Bowl against Arizona. Maintaining that level of play while moving into the deep end of the pool is impressive.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Investors
If you're following southern methodist university football, here is what you actually need to keep an eye on over the next twelve months:
- Monitor the Garry Weber Complex completion: The facility upgrades are the primary reason SMU is winning recruiting battles against Big 12 and SEC schools. If the facility stays top-tier, the talent will keep coming.
- Watch the 2026 Season Ticket Renewals: The "honeymoon phase" of the ACC move is ending. Continued sellouts at Ford Stadium are necessary to prove to the ACC that SMU brings a massive TV market and a loyal fanbase.
- The Jennings-Hawkins Transition: Kevin Jennings is the man right now, but Ty Hawkins is the future. How Lashlee manages this transition will determine if SMU stays in the Top 25 or slides back into the middle of the pack.
- NIL Sustainability: With the launch of Mustang Partners, SMU is trying to professionalize their NIL approach. This is the "arms race" of 2026. Support the local collectives if you want to see the Mustangs stay competitive with the Clemsons and Florida States of the world.
The Mustangs are no longer a ghost story. They are a problem for the rest of the ACC. And honestly? It’s about time.