The Mustangs aim for redemption in 2026, led by QB Kevin Jennings and a strong offensive line, facing Notre Dame and top-tier opponents.
Head coach Rhett Lashlee is headed into year five at the helm for the Mustangs and is looking to bounce back after a disappointing season in 2025. In 2024, SMU went undefeated in conference play, played for the conference championship and made the first ever 12-team College Football Playoffs. This past season, SMU returned a lot of key pieces from that roster but were quickly removed from the playoff conversation after two early season losses in September to unranked Baylor and unranked TCU.
Now, Lashlee and the Mustangs have their eyes set on 2026 where they return key pieces, once again, on offense and defense. They'll be tested early in the season with games against Florida State on the road to open up the season and Louisville on the road two games later. They also travel to South Bend to take on the Fighting Irish and out to Stanford at the end of the regular season.
Let's take a look at the Mustangs.
2025 Record: 9-4 / 6-2 (Beat Arizona 24-19 in the Holiday Bowl)
2024 Record: 11-3 / 8-0 (Lost to Penn State in the 1st round of the playoffs 38-10)
SMU Offense
Starters Returning - QB Kevin Jennings, WR Yamir Knight, C Joshua Bates, RG Addison Nichols, RT PJ Williams
Starters Lost - RB TJ Harden, WR Jordan Hudson, WR Romello Brinson, TE Matthew Hibner, LT Savion Byrd, LG Logan Parr
Jennings (300-454, 66.1%, 3,641 yards, 8.0 YPA, 26 TD, 13 INT, 146.6 Rating) returns for his third year under center. He struggled early last season, some think it might be due to the carry over from his rough performance against Penn State to end 2024. As the season progressed, he found his footing and began playing like the quarterback we remember from two years ago. Now, he returns for his senior season, but will be playing with a new-look group.
The right side of his offensive line from center to right tackle all return after starting last season. But the only skilled player returning from 2025 is Knight (54 rec., 637 yards, 11.8 YPC, 5 TD). Portal pickups will play a factor here along with the young talent on the roster. Receiver Jalen Cooper also returns; he didn't start many games in 2025 but he ended the year with 19 receptions for 321 yards and two touchdowns.
SMU Defense
Starters Returning - LB Brandon Booker, LB Alexander Kilgore, CB Marcellus Barnes, CB William Nettles,
Starters Lost - EDGE Isaiah Smith, DT Jeffrey M'Ba, DT Terry Webb, DE Cam Robertson, NB Deuce Harmon, S Isaiah Nwokobia, S Ahmaad Moses
The SMU defense returns two of it's four leading tacklers from 2025 including Booker (69 tackles, 0.5 sacks) and Kilgore (60 tackles, 2 passes defended, 2 INT). They will be the leaders and anchor a young defense who is tasked with replacing all four of their starting defensive lineman from last season. Defensive end Jahkai Lang does return in 2026; Lang played 410 snaps last season and ended with 16 total pressures and 25 total tackles.
Their secondary returns both starting outside corners from last season in Barnes (32 tackles, 6 passes defended, 1 INT) and Nettles (37 tackles, 4 passes defended, 1 INT). This defense and coordinator Scott Symons, are tasked with replacing both starting safeties. Rising sophomore Tyren Polley Jr. does return after playing 261 snaps as a freshman and will push for a starting spot this offseason.
Portal Additions
Top Transfers - Offense: RB Kendrick Raphael (Cal), WR Yannick Smith (East Carolina), TE Randy Pittman Jr, (Florida St.), TE Theo Melin Ohrstrom (Texas A&M),
Top Transfers - Defense: EDGE Marques White (UMASS), EDGE Ira Singleton (South Florida), DT Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder (Kansas St.), DT Christian Davis (LA Tech), CB Jarvis Lee (South Florida), S Jimmy Wyrick (UTSA)
This was a solid portal cycle for the Mustangs after keeping their impact losses to a minimum and replacing departures to the NFL with some proven production. Offensively, they lost both running backs and brought in Raphael (232 att., 943 yards, 4.1 YPC, 13 TD) who was the Golden Bear's leading rusher from a season ago. He's expected to step in day-one and be the guy in the backfield beside Jennings.
They also picked up Smith (44 rec., 583 yards, 13.3 YPC, 5 TD) from East Carolina to add experience to this depleted receiving corps. The 6-3, 207-pound receiver is a strong compliment to the 5-8, 186-pound Knight who is the Mustangs lone returning receiver. SMU also picked up two quality tight ends in the portal as well.
Defensively, they picked up several players in the trenches including White (50 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) from UMASS, Singleton (17 tackles, 2.5 sacks) from USF and Alcorn-Crowder (17 tackles, 1.5 sacks) from Kansas State who gives the defensive line some much-needed size at 6-6, 305-pounds. They also snagged Wyrick (62 tackles, 8 passes defended, 1 INT) from UTSA who is entering his sixth year of college football.
2026 Recruiting Class Rankings: No. 25 Rivals/On3 - No. 30 247Sports
2026 SCHEDULE
Notre Dame 2026 Opponent Previews:
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