The SMU Mustangs are on a collision course with the College Football Playoff in 2024. A historic season in 2024 has put the Mustangs in contention, but how does this season compare to previous years?
SMU Playoff Appearances and Results by Year
- 2024
vs. Penn State, TBD
In 2024, SMU will debut in the College Football Playoff, facing the 6th seed Penn State Nittany Lions as the 11th seed. Despite a narrow loss to the Clemson Tigers in the ACC Championship game, where they fell 34-31 on a last-second field goal, the selection committee opted to include SMU in the playoff.
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Since transitioning from the AAC to the ACC, the Mustangs have excelled in their first season in the conference.
SMU Playoff History FAQ
What’s SMU’s Playoff Win/Loss Record?
The Mustangs will compete in the CFP for the first time in the school’s history in 2024. However, SMU regularly makes bowl games. In 21 bowl games, they have a record of 7-11-1, with the Mustangs’ most rescinded postseason victory coming in the 2012 Hawaii Bowl against the Fresno State Bulldogs.
How Many Times Has SMU Been to the College Football Playoff?
The 2024 season is the first time that SMU has played in the College Football Playoff. Under Rhett Lashlee, the Mustangs have been one of the top teams in the nation and made the ACC title game in their first season in their new conference.
How Many National Championship Appearances Does SMU Have?
The Mustangs’ 2024 playoff appearance will be their first in the CFP era. Therefore, they have not competed for a National Championship. SMU hopes that changes in 2024.
How Many National Championships Has SMU Won?
SMU has won three national championships, with designated selectors choosing the Mustangs in 1935, 1981, and 1982. The 1935 win came from the Dickerson System, a formula used to determine the best team in the nation.
Meanwhile, the National Championship Foundation awarded the 1981 title, and the Helms Athletic Foundation awarded the 1982 national championship.
When Was the Last Time SMU Made the National Championship Game?
SMU hasn’t reached a national championship game since the CFP era began in 2014. The program has had a renaissance since 2009, but it took decades to recover from the “death penalty,” which forced the school to shut down football operations in the 1980s.
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