SMU Plummets In Coaches Poll After Syracuse Collapse

DALLAS - One devastating loss has sent SMU football tumbling down the national rankings, and the Mustangs suddenly have little room for error in their pursuit of another postseason run.

SMU dropped eight positions to No. 24 in Sunday's US LBM Coaches Poll following its stunning 30-27 loss at Syracuse, one of the biggest slides among ranked teams this week.

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The Mustangs entered Saturday's game ranked No. 16 by the coaches and No. 19 in the Associated Press poll. They emerged with a 6-2 record, a damaging ACC defeat and a considerably more uncertain College Football Playoff outlook.

Even worse, SMU dropped completely out of the AP Top 25.

It's a frustrating reversal for a program that had built momentum with four consecutive victories, including a convincing 59-20 win over California on Oct. 24.

But Saturday's trip to Syracuse exposed just how quickly a promising season can change.

The Mustangs appeared positioned to escape with another ACC victory before Syracuse quarterback Noah Meyers connected with a touchdown pass with just 17 seconds remaining, completing a dramatic comeback.

The 30-27 defeat dropped SMU to 4-2 in conference play, complicating its pursuit of a spot in the ACC Championship Game.

Sunday's Coaches Poll reflected the damage.

SMU received 146 voting points, leaving the Mustangs barely inside the top 25. No. 23 Northwestern finished with 150 points, while No. 25 New Mexico collected 123.

The Mustangs also find themselves looking up at several ACC competitors.

Miami retained the nation's No. 1 ranking after surviving a 38-35 challenge from North Carolina, while Wake Forest climbed to No. 14 following its 51-7 demolition of Virginia.

That creates another significant storyline for SMU, which still has Wake Forest on its November schedule.

The Mustangs won't have to wait long for their next opportunity to respond.

Virginia Tech visits Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Friday, Nov. 6, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.

The Hokies matchup begins a critical stretch that also includes Wake Forest, a road trip to No. 6 Notre Dame and the regular-season finale at Stanford.

Those remaining games provide SMU opportunities to strengthen its resume, but the margin for mistakes has narrowed considerably.

The first College Football Playoff rankings arrive Tuesday, November 3, providing another indication of how the Mustangs are viewed nationally.

At 6-2, SMU's season is far from finished.

But Sunday's poll delivered an unmistakable message.

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The Mustangs can no longer afford the kind of late-game breakdown that cost them a victory in Syracuse.

If SMU hopes to return to the national conversation, the turnaround needs to start Friday night against Virginia Tech.