The SMU Mustangs football team represents Southern Methodist University (SMU) in University Park, Texas. Competing in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the Mustangs are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The team has a long and storied history, dating back to its first season in 1915. Over the years, the SMU Mustangs football team has appeared in several national championships and has won three in 1935, 1981, and 1982.
The Mustangs play their home games at the Gerald J. Ford Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 32,000. The team is recognized for its distinctive red and blue colors and the iconic "Pony Express" offense, which was particularly successful during the early 1980s.
How many Conference Championships have the SMU Mustangs football won?
The SMU Mustangs football team has won a total of 12 conference championships, as of December 2024. This includes 11 titles in the Southwest Conference (SWC) and 1 title in the American Athletic Conference (AAC), before they joined the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 2024.
The Mustangs achieved their first conference championship in the Southwest Conference in 1923 with a conference record of 5-0. As of December 2024, their most recent conference championship win came in 2023 with the American Athletic Conference under head coach Rhett Lashlee. They had a conference record of 8-0 in 2023. The SMU Mustangs first played in the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) from 1915 to 1917. In 1918, they joined the Southwest Conference (SWC), with which they won 11 conference championships. From 1996 to 2004, the SMU Mustangs competed in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), and from 2005 to 2013, they were part of Conference USA (C-USA).
In 2013, they joined the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and won a conference championship in 2023. In July 2024, the SMU Mustangs football team joined the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
| Year | Conference | Coach | Record | Conference Record |
| 1923 | Southwest Conference | Ray Morrison | 9–0 | 5–0 |
| 1926 | Southwest Conference | Ray Morrison | 8–0–1 | 5–0 |
| 1931 | Southwest Conference | Ray Morrison | 9–1–1 | 5–0–1 |
| 1935 | Southwest Conference | Matty Bell | 12–1 | 6–0 |
| 1940 | Southwest Conference | Matty Bell | 8–1–1 | 5–1 |
| 1947 | Southwest Conference | Matty Bell | 9–0–2 | 5–0–1 |
| 1948 | Southwest Conference | Matty Bell | 9–1–1 | 5–0–1 |
| 1966 | Southwest Conference | Hayden Fry | 8–3 | 6–1 |
| 1981 | Southwest Conference | Ron Meyer | 10–1 | 7–1 |
| 1982 | Southwest Conference | Bobby Collins | 11–0–1 | 7–0–1 |
| 1984 | Southwest Conference | Bobby Collins | 10–2 | 6–2 |
| 2023 | American Athletic Conference | Rhett Lashlee | 11–2 | 8–0 |
How many Division championships have the SMU Mustangs football won?
The SMU Mustangs football team has won two division championships. Both of these titles were in the Conference USA (C-USA) West Division. They won the C-USA West Division titles in 2005 and 2006.
| Year | Division | Coach | Opponent | CG result |
| 2009 | Conference USA - West | June Jones | N/A lost the tie-breaker to Houston | |
| 2010 | UCF | L 7–17 | ||
FAQs on SMU Mustangs football
A. SMU Mustangs play their home games at the Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
A. The colors of the SMU Mustangs football team are red and blue.
A. They first played in the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) from 1915 to 1917.
A. SMU Mustangs joined the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in July 2024.
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