The Mustangs are coming off a good season in 2025, but do they have the talent to be knocking on the door again in 2026?
The SMU Mustangs have been there and thereabouts over the past three seasons under head coach Rhett Lashlee.
Two 11-win seasons, followed by last year's 9-4 record, which saw SMU defeat Arizona in the Holiday Bowl 24-19.
As we turn for the new college football season, all of the predictions and rankings are flying off the shelves, and for most, SMU is set to be one of the top teams in football in the ACC.
While Miami takes the crown of the No. 1 team in the conference, overall, SMU feels like it is set to once again play a role in 2026, and who knows, there might be more silverware for Lashlee and his team.
But after winning 11 games in back-to-back years, and then nine last season, the Mustangs are beginning to have some staying power when it comes to being challengers each season.
And as it turns out, that is the goal for Lashlee and one that he thinks is more than obtainable.
"We have a chance to have staying power, to be a great member of this league, to compete for this league year in, year out, to compete for the College Playoff year in, year out," Lashlee said via asapsports.com. "That's our goal."
Considering how good the Mustangs were last season, three of their four losses were by three points or less, that's easily doable.
They were in every game, and had the ball bounced one way or the other, maybe SMU would be talked about in the same breath as Miami.
Still, as we gear up for the 2026 season, the Mustangs look to have the staying power Lashlee is craving, but just being around the rim year in, year out isn't enough, not for most fans.
They want a legitimate shot in the College Football Playoff.
Whether or not that manifests itself in 2026 is unknown, but SMU does have the talent to make some serious noise. With some thinking they are the second-best team in the ACC, that is a starting point.
They have the talent on both sides of the ball to be right in the mix come later in the season, and in doing so, will be close to achieving Lashlee's goal.
And that's to have playoff staying power for as long as possible.
