Best Case, Worst Case for 2024: SMU Mustangs

SMU Mustangs move from G5 ranks to AAC contender in 2024 with a myriad of scenarios on the table for Rhett Lashlee's program

With spring football and the portal movement slowing down (fingers crossed) forecasting the 2024 season becomes an easier proposition. The 13 FBS programs in the Lone Star State share a common feeling heading into June: Hope. New faces and new opportunities provide a fresh slate for rosters and coaching staff. 

The 2024 season is a new day for the Great State. Texas reunites with Texas A&M in the SEC and SMU joins the P4 as ACC members. But what are the best- and worst-case scenarios for each team in the upcoming season? We’ll breakdown at each one.

Previous best/worst case scenario pieces for 2024: Texas | Texas A&M | UTSA | Texas State | TCU | Rice | Texas Tech 

SMU MUSTANGS 

2023 record: 11-3, AAC champions, loss to Boston College in Fenway Bowl 
2024 schedule 
Aug. 24                 at Nevada         
Aug. 31                 Houston Christian      
Sept. 6                  BYU       
Sept. 21                TCU      
Sept. 28                Florida State   
Oct. 5                   at Louisville     
Oct. 19                 at Stanford       
Oct. 26                 at Duke                
Nov. 2                   Pitt         
Nov. 16                 Boston College              
Nov. 23                 at Virginia          
Nov. 30                 Cal

Best case for 2024: No team in the country reinforced the trenches more than SMU since the end of 2023. And that’s sound strategy. The Ponies are moving from the middleweight to heavyweight by joining the ACC, and that move requires big bodies. Because as they say in boxing, “big guys beat up little guys. It’s why you weigh in.” SMU added 20 transfers through the portal with 13 playing offensive or defensive line. All 13 are from Power Five programs. 

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