The Mustangs had a good 2025 season, and now, as we look ahead to 2026, some think they will be among the ACC's best.
The SMU Mustangs are coming off a 2025 season that saw them finish with a 9-4 record (6-2 ACC), and many think that Rhett Lashlee's team is again poised for a good year in 2026.
With Kevin Jennings at quarterback, Kendrick Raphael at running back, Jalen Cooper and Yannick Smith at receiver, along with tight end Theo Melin Ohrstrom, there is plenty of firepower.
But when looking at the rest of the conference that features Miami, Clemson, and Louisville, SMU won't exactly have it easy in 2026.
So, how are the Mustangs viewed ahead of the new season? Granted, this is all a projection, but we can't argue that Miami is ranked ahead of them in the conference, right?
But what about the others?
Well, in the recent ACC media poll, when it came to ranking the top teams in the ACC, the Mustangs were looked at very favorably.
In fact, per smumustangs.com, Lashlee's side finished second in voting, meaning many of the media members see them as the second-best team in the conference.
But wait, there's more.
According to the site, the Mustangs also managed to receive six first-place votes, meaning there are some who see them as the best team in the ACC.
So that is quite the feather in the cap for Lashlee and his team, but as we know, preseason rankings mean absolutely nothing.
Still, for SMU, after a 2025 season that saw them win the Holiday Bowl over Arizona 24-19, there is plenty of build-up, especially with Jennings at quarterback, expecting to take another step.
We know that Lashlee has been on the Jennings hype train for the majority of the offseason, and rightly so, with the quarterback, per USA Today, set to break nearly every SMU passing record this upcoming season.
With Jennings at quarterback and the roster that Lashlee has assembled, it is easy to see why many are bullish on what the Mustangs can do in 2026.
Making noise in the conference for some is what will transpire, but fans might want more; they might want to win it all.
Now, are we getting ahead of ourselves? Maybe, but the ACC media poll tells us exactly what many around college football think of the Mustangs in 2026.
They're among the best in football.
