This move from a Group of Five conference to the Power Four is working out all right for SMU. Better than all right, actually. The Mustangs (8-1) were No.
13 in The Associated Press college football poll Sunday, their highest ranking in 39 years. More important, they are 5-0 in ACC play following their 48-25 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday. That's the best start ever for a team in its first year in a power conference, and the buzz is palpable in Dallas.
With three regular-season games left, SMU controls its destiny in the race for the ACC championship game and the College Football Playoff spot that goes to the winner. The Mustangs' only loss was by three points to Big 12-leading BYU, and they likely will be the second-highest ranked ACC team, behind unbeaten and AP No. 4 Miami, in the first CFP Top 25 to be released Tuesday night.
“Don't get me wrong, we've been humbled to be ranked in the AP poll and the coaches' poll. That's a big deal for our program any time, definitely in year one (in the ACC),” coach Rhett Lashlee said. “Now Tuesday night you find out what the group whose rankings matter now the rest of the way think about you.
We're going to find out where we are Tuesday. We know we have a lot to play for these last three games.” SMU has an open date this week, then plays Boston College at home, visits Virginia and hosts California.
All three have losing records in the ACC. The Mustangs played the previous 11 seasons in the American Athletic Conference. They we.