Sep 262 min read

SMU Hosts Florida State in a Historic, Big Game

SMU Mustangs RB Brashard Smith — © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

At 8:00 p.m. EST on Sept. 28, the SMU Mustangs (3-1) host the Florida State Seminoles (1-3, 1-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. The game is a historically significant one for Southern Methodist.

From 1918 to 1996, the Mustangs played in the Southwest Conference. It was a prominent conference, with member universities including No. 1 Texas (4-0), No. 24 Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 in the Southeastern Conference), Arkansas (3-1, 1-0 SEC), TCU (2-2, 0-1 in the Big 12 Conference), Baylor (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) and others. The Mustangs won or shared the conference championship 11 times, with the last title in 1984.

NCAA Death Penalty

Infamously, SMU's football program received the college football "death penalty" in 1987, with the NCAA canceling the Mustangs' season. Then SMU voluntarily opted out of the 1988 season, concerned it would be unable to field a competitive team. A few seasons later, the Southwest Conference folded, and the Mustangs, reeling from the devastating impact of the death penalty, joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1996. For the next quarter century, the Mustangs languished in relative obscurity, not playing in a top-tier conference.

SMU's Rebirth

This season, however, marks SMU's return to power conference status. Along with the Cal Golden Bears (3-1, 0-1 ACC) and the Stanford Cardinal (2-1, 1-0 ACC), the Mustangs joined the ACC.

SMU vs. Florida State

While the Mustangs have started off their 2024 campaign relatively well, the Seminoles have endured a disappointing start to the season. The Mustangs are coming off an impressive 66-42 win over their in-state rival, the TCU Horned Frogs. The Seminoles lost their first three games of the season but defeated Cal 14-9 in Tallahassee on Sept. 21.

For the first time this season, the Seminoles are an underdog. Per BetMGM, the Mustangs are favored by 5.5 points, and the over/under is 47.5 points.

SMU's only loss this season came at the hands of the undefeated BYU Cougars, an 18-15 slugfest, in which BYU held SMU to five field goals. That game resulted in coach Rhett Lashlee replacing quarterback Preston Stone with Kevin Jennings. The move apparently worked, as the Mustangs scored 66 against TCU in the following game.

After going undefeated in the regular season last year, and with the acquisition of quarterback DJ Uiagalelei through the transfer portal, the Seminoles began their 2024 campaign with high expectations. However, the FSU offense has yet to get going on a consistent basis. Averaging only 13 points in their last three games, the Seminoles' stout defense has kept the team competitive.

The Mustangs look to pony up for their fans in their first game back in the "big leagues."