There is one certainty for No. 25 SMU if the Mustangs are going to get into the College Football Playoff again. They would have to win the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game this time.

Two nonconference losses in September and then a game-ending field goal by Wake Forest in October put the Mustangs (8-3, 6-1 ACC, No. 21 CFP) in a much different position than their impressive ACC debut last season. They didn’t lose a league game during the regular season in 2024, and made the 12-team playoff even after losing to Clemson in the title game.

“A long journey, honestly,” quarterback Kevin Jennings said. “I think each and every one of those games tested us as a team, and I think it just made us better and stronger. And we’ll see how this is going to play out.”

SMU returned to the AP p

See Full Page