SMU Climbs To No. 23 In AP Top 25 After Virginia Victory

DALLAS - SMU isn't generating the national headlines that Miami is getting, but the Mustangs keep doing something that matters considerably more: winning football games.

Following Saturday's 23-13 victory over Virginia, SMU climbed one position to No. 23 in Sunday's Associated Press Top 25, improving to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

MORE: SMU Defense Dominates Virginia As Mustangs Make Statement In ACC Race

For head coach Rhett Lashlee, the latest rankings provide another indication that the Mustangs remain legitimate contenders in the ACC championship race.

But the modest one-spot improvement also reveals something about national perceptions of SMU.

The Mustangs are winning, yet they haven't completely convinced poll voters that they belong among the country's elite programs.

Saturday's performance against Virginia was hardly an offensive masterpiece.

Quarterback Kevin Jennings completed 23 of 36 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Kendrick Raphael powered the rushing attack with 124 yards on 22 carries.

SMU finished with 404 yards of total offense but managed just 23 points against a Virginia defense battling significant personnel losses.

The difference came on defense.

The Mustangs held the Cavaliers to 258 total yards, limited quarterback Beau Pribula to 137 passing yards and shut out Virginia in the fourth quarter.

Virginia managed just three points after halftime.

That defensive performance helped SMU secure its 10th consecutive home victory against ACC competition since joining the conference in 2024.

More importantly, it demonstrated that the Mustangs can win without relying on an offensive shootout.

Still, SMU faces a challenging path to national recognition.

Miami took over the No. 1 ranking following Saturday's dramatic victory over Florida State, becoming the ACC's first top-ranked team since Clemson in 2020.

Wake Forest climbed to No. 17, leaving SMU as the conference's third-ranked program.

That positions the Mustangs within striking distance of the ACC's upper tier but also creates pressure to keep winning.

SMU's lone defeat came against Louisville, meaning another conference loss could complicate its championship hopes.

The Mustangs have proven they're capable of producing explosive offensive performances behind Jennings. Saturday showed they can also rely on defense, field position and timely scoring.

That combination becomes increasingly important as conference play intensifies.

For SMU, the immediate goal isn't necessarily a dramatic leap in the rankings.

It's continuing to build a résumé strong enough to force the College Football Playoff selection committee to pay attention.

At 5-1, the Mustangs are still very much alive in the ACC race. But if they want national respect, they'll need to do more than simply survive against middle-of-the-pack opponents.

MORE: SMU Women's Golf Sits Fifth At Stanford Intercollegiate Entering Final

SMU has established itself as a winner.

Now comes the harder part: proving it belongs among the nation's best.