MU coach Rhett Lashlee says the Mustangs’ opener at Florida State will test a roster full of new faces despite lofty expectations entering 2026.
SMU football enters the 2026 season with major expectations, but Rhett Lashlee isn’t pretending everything is already figured out.
During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, the SMU head coach made it clear that Monday night’s season opener at Florida State will reveal plenty about a Mustangs team ranked No. 19 in the AP poll and carrying legitimate ACC championship aspirations.
For Lashlee, the biggest concern isn’t talent. It’s uncertainty.
SMU has experienced players back, led by quarterback Kevin Jennings, but the Mustangs also have transfers, freshmen and new combinations throughout the roster.
That makes the opener in Tallahassee a much different challenge than another week of practice.
“You learn a lot about guys” once the games begin, Lashlee told 105.3 The Fan, noting that even veteran teams deal with unknowns in Week 1.
Those unknowns will be magnified at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Florida State already has a game under its belt after beating New Mexico State 34-17 on Aug. 29. SMU, meanwhile, will be making its first appearance of the season in front of what could be close to 90,000 fans.
That matters to Lashlee.
There’s no preseason in college football, meaning the first live test also counts in the standings.
Coaches are evaluating everything from how newcomers handle pressure to substitutions, sideline communication and special teams execution while trying to win an ACC game at the same time.
That creates a strange dynamic: the opener is part test run, part must-win.
SMU does have one major advantage in Jennings.
The veteran quarterback enters 2026 with 7,709 career passing yards and 55 touchdown passes and owns a 19-7 record as SMU’s starter.
Last season, he threw for 3,641 yards and 26 touchdowns, giving Lashlee one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the ACC.
The Mustangs have also gone 14-2 in ACC play since joining the conference in 2024.
Still, Lashlee’s message on 105.3 The Fan was less about SMU’s resume and more about what remains unknown.
Practice can tell a coaching staff plenty. Monday night in Tallahassee will tell Lashlee much more.
