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The 2026 SMU Mustangs football schedule opens on Labor Day with a marquee road game at Florida State, kicking off a demanding ACC sophomore campaign for head coach Rhett Lashlee and his squad. The Mustangs enter year two in the conference aiming to build on a breakout debut season and prove they belong among the ACC elite.
2026 SMU Mustangs Football Schedule
| Wk | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon, Sep 7 | @ Florida State Seminoles | 7:30 PM | ESPN |
| 2 | Sat, Sep 12 | vs UC Davis Aggies | 4:00 PM | ACCNX |
| 3 | Sat, Sep 19 | @ Louisville Cardinals | 3:30 PM | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| 4 | Sat, Sep 26 | vs Missouri State Bears | TBD | TBD |
| 5 | Sat, Oct 3 | vs Boston College Eagles | TBD | TBD |
| Open Date – Bye Week (Sat, Oct 10) | ||||
| 7 | Sat, Oct 17 | vs Virginia Cavaliers | TBD | TBD |
| 8 | Sat, Oct 24 | vs California Golden Bears | TBD | TBD |
| 9 | Sat, Oct 31 | @ Syracuse Orange | TBD | TBD |
| 10 | Fri, Nov 6 | vs Virginia Tech Hokies | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
| 11 | Sat, Nov 14 | vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons | TBD | TBD |
| 12 | Sat, Nov 21 | @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 7:30 PM | TBD |
| 13 | Sat, Nov 28 | @ Stanford Cardinal | TBD | TBD |
All times Eastern. TBD = kickoff/TV not yet announced. Updated May 27, 2026.
SMU plays four of its first five games away from Dallas, making early road execution a premium for bowl positioning. The midseason bye in October provides a reset before a three-game home stretch featuring Virginia, California, and Virginia Tech at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The season closes with back-to-back road trips to Notre Dame and Stanford, giving the Mustangs two final chances to add a marquee win to their resume.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does SMU open the 2026 season?
SMU opens the 2026 season on Labor Day, Monday September 7, with a road game at Florida State in Tallahassee. The prime-time Labor Day opener is a high-profile ACC game that puts the Mustangs in the national spotlight from day one. SMU enters looking to build on a breakthrough debut ACC season that included a Peach Bowl appearance.
Who is the SMU head coach in 2026?
Rhett Lashlee returns for his fifth season as head coach of the SMU Mustangs in 2026. A former offensive coordinator at Miami and Auburn, Lashlee guided SMU to a stunning debut ACC campaign in 2024 that raised the profile of the program nationally. He is known for an up-tempo, pass-first offensive system that consistently produces big numbers for the Mustangs.
Where do the SMU Mustangs play home games in 2026?
SMU plays home games at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas. The stadium seats approximately 32,000 fans and sits in the heart of the SMU campus. Since joining the ACC in 2024, the Mustangs have used Ford Stadium to display their growing national profile in one of the premier college football markets in the country.
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Resource Hub
SMU Mustangs
Everything you need for the 2026 college football season.
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| → 2026 College Football Schedule Full FBS slate with kickoff times and TV networks. |
| → 2026-27 College Football Playoff Bracket The 12-team bracket, dates, and projected matchups. |
| → 2026-27 Bowl Game Schedule Every bowl game, date, and matchup in one place. |
| → ACC Football Standings Live ACC standings, records, and results. |
