The Mustangs are positioning themselves for a serious tilt in the ACC.
We know how close the margins are in college football, and for the SMU Mustangs, as odd as it sounds, Week 3 against Louisville could have a serious impact on their ability to reach the ACC title game.
Seen as one of the better teams in the ACC, and for some, a run below Miami, the Mustangs have started the season 2-0 ahead of the Cardinals clash.
We know that even one loss can seriously dent a team's aspirations not only to make the playoffs but also to secure a seat in the tournament.
All eyes will be on Kevin Jennings and the Mustangs this weekend to see whether they can maintain their momentum after wins over Florida State and UC Davis.
Louisville on the road isn't for the faint of heart, and when it comes to SMU, many will want Rhett Lashlee's team to go in and walk out with a win.
But as ESPN's Heather Dinich writes on the playoff bubble watch, if the season ended today, SMU would face Miami.
However, even before playoffs can be thought of, this week's game has A LOT riding on it.
"We'll learn more about just how good the Mustangs are on Saturday against a ranked Louisville team, as the matchup will help indicate which squad will be Miami's toughest challenger for the ACC title and whether there is a second ACC team with playoff potential," Dinich wrote.
"According to ESPN Analytics, SMU's chances of reaching the CFP will be 40% with a win or sink to 11% with a loss."
So, this clash against Louisville could nearly end SMU's chances of reaching the ACC title game, or give it a real shot at making it with a win.
Yeah, no pressure. But what we've seen from these Mustangs in two weeks is that this is a team that will fight on every play on defense, plus with Jennings at quarterback and the weapons around him, they will fancy their chances against anyone.READ MORE: Grace Jin’s Career-Low 66 Powers SMU Into Contention At Chambers Bay
However, you have got to take care of business each week, and not get caught looking too far ahead.
And if SMU falls to Louisville, well, according to ESPN analytics, reaching the ACC title game becomes extremely tough.
