SMU athletics generated nearly $100 million in donor support, fueling scholarships, facilities and a bold push to become a national ACC powerhouse.
SMU athletics just put the rest of the ACC on notice with a number that’s impossible to ignore.
The Mustangs generated nearly $100 million in athletic donor investments during the 2025-26 fiscal year, marking the biggest fundraising year in school history.
That kind of money doesn’t simply cover expenses. It changes what a department believes it can become.
For SMU, the message is clear ... competing in the ACC isn’t enough. The Mustangs want to win it.
Director of Athletics Damon Evans called philanthropy one of the most important competitive advantages in modern college sports, and SMU’s supporters have backed that vision with serious financial muscle.
“Our supporters continue to demonstrate what makes SMU different,” Evans said. “We remain committed to building on this momentum as we continue to position SMU for sustained success.”
The biggest spark came through the Boulevard Society, SMU’s new leadership giving group launched in 2026.
Four families combined to make a $50 million commitment, immediately giving the initiative credibility and turning it into a major force inside the athletic department.
That gift also builds on the thousands of Mustang Club donors who have helped fund SMU’s rise.
“The launch of the Boulevard Society marked an exciting new chapter in philanthropic leadership,” Deputy Athletic Director Alex Gary said, while crediting longtime Mustang Club supporters as the foundation of the department’s growth.
SMU has already started turning that support into visible expansion.
The school partnered with Epoch Wines to create a premium wine bar inside Moody Coliseum for the 2026-27 men’s basketball season.
SMU also launched Mustang Studios with College Sports Co., giving athletes a new media platform built around storytelling, branding and modern college sports exposure.
The off-field investment follows real athletic momentum.
SMU joined the ACC two years ago, reached the 2024 conference championship game in football and earned a College Football Playoff berth in its first season.
The Mustangs captured their first ACC championship in 2025 when the men’s soccer team beat Virginia 1-0.
Now the university is pouring more resources into scholarships, student-athlete support and program development.
The old SMU was fighting to regain relevance. This version has money, ambition and a growing ACC presence.
Nearly $100 million later, the Mustangs aren’t asking for permission to sit at the big table. They’re buying a bigger one.
