SMU Football 2025 Season Preview: Way-Too-Early Predictions, Odds & Schedule
It's hard to imagine a better start to SMU's ACC tenure than a second straight 11-win season and a trip to the College Football Playoff, even if turnovers ultimately doomed the Mustangs in a 38-10 loss to Penn State in the first round.
Rhett Lashlee's group won't sneak up on anyone in its second year in a power conference, especially with QB Kevin Jennings leading a talented group of returning players set on restoring this program to its former championship glory.
We're breaking it all down in our SMU football 2025 season preview with way-too-early predictions, odds, schedule, and transfer portal updates.
SMU football title odds 2025
Live updated college football odds from our best college football betting sites.
We're still awaiting the opening odds for next year's college football championship odds, though don't be surprised if SMU is trading among the dark-horse contenders to win it all even after that blowout loss in the College Football Playoff last season.
The Mustangs were +30000 long shots entering the 2024 season, which proved to be an oversight by our best sportsbooks after Jennings and Co. finished as one of the final 12 teams standings. They nearly secured a first-round bye, too, before losing to Clemson by a field goal in the ACC Championship.
With so many key stars returning to Dallas, SMU should be among the favorites to claim the ACC title and secure a first-round bye in 2025, which immediately makes the Mustangs an intriguing bet to win it all once these odds are released.
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2025 SMU football offseason preview
Projected roster movement as of Saturday, Dec. 21 and subject to change. All prospect rankings and positions courtesy of 247 Composite Recruit Rankings.
2025 SMU football key returning players (projected)
- Kevin Jennings, QB
- LJ Johnson Jr., RB
- Jordan Hudson, WR
- RJ Maryland, TE
- Savion Byrd, LT
- Logan Parr, LG
- PJ Williams, RT
- Alex Kilgore, LB
- Deuce Harmon, CB
- Jaelyn Davis-Robinson, CB
- Ahmaad Moses, FS
- Isaiah Nwokobia, SS
The Mustangs have already secured commitments from several key stars to return in 2025 - none bigger than Jennings, who broke out this year with a combined 3,429 yards and 27 touchdowns entering the playoff. He could enter next season among the Heisman Trophy odds favorites depending on SMU's preseason ranking.
Safety Isaiah Nwokobia and left guard Logan Parr, both of whom earned All-ACC honors last season, will be back for the Ponies next season instead of pursuing their NFL draft odds. That leaves plenty of talent in the cupboard for Lashlee to chase another double-digit win total in Dallas.
2025 SMU football key losses, transfer portal updates
- Preston Stone, QB (transfer portal)
- Brashard Smith, RB (graduation)
- Jake Bailey, WR (graduation)
- Key'Shawn Smith, WR (graduation)
- Roderick Daniels Jr., WR (graduation)
- Romello Brinson, WR (graduation)
- Jakai Clark, C (graduation)
- Justin Osborne, RG (graduation)
- Elijah Roberts, DE (graduation)
- Jahfari Harvey, DE (graduation)
- Jared Harrison-Hunte, DT (graduation)
- Ahmad Walker, LB (graduation)
- Kobe Wilson, LB (graduation)
- Brandon Crossley, CB (graduation)
- Jonathan McGill, FS (graduation)
While Jennings returns under center, five of his top receivers will graduate along with top rusher Brashard Smith, who accounted for over half of the team's rushing production in 2024. Edge-rushers Elijah Roberts and Jahfari Harvey and linebackers Kobe Wilson and Ahmad Walker will also be tough to replace across SMU's defense.
The biggest name leaving SMU is QB Preston Stone, who threw for 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns and led the nation in passer rating (161.3) in 2023. He lost his job to Jennings early last season but should compete for a starting role elsewhere.
2025 SMU football recruits, transfer commits
- Dramodd Odoms, OT (No. 168 national, No. 24 TX)
- Ty Hawkins, QB (No. 221 national, No. 33 FL)
- Jalen Cooper, WR (No. 256 national, No. 34 TX)
- Daylon Singleton, WR (No. 322 national, No. 47 TX)
- Christopher Johnson, RB (transfer from Miami)
- Addison Nichols, C (transfer from Arkansas)
- Joshua Bates, C (transfer from Oklahoma)
- Trey Wilson, DE (transfer from Baylor)
- Zakye Barker, LB (transfer from ECU)
- Chasen Johnson, CB (transfer from UCF)
SMU is flirting with a top-30 recruiting class for the first time in decades, led by top-200 prospect Dramodd Odoms up front and three other four-star talents. Of those, Jalen Cooper and Daylon Singleton could enjoy some early playing time in a depleted receiving room.
Much to Lashlee's chagrin, the transfer season is in full swing and the Mustangs have already locked down commitments from multiple contributors who could see the field right away - including two linemen in Joshua Bates and Addison Nichols.
2025 SMU football schedule
Follow the latest college football scores along with our college football picks.
| Date | Opponent | Location | Last meeting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Sept. 6 | Baylor | Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas) | L, 40-13 (2016) |
| Saturday, Sept. 13 | Missouri State^ | Robert W. Plaster Stadium (Springfield, Mo.) | Never |
| Saturday, Sept. 20 | TCU | Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas) | W, 66-42 (2024) |
| TBD | Boston College* | Alumni Stadium (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) | W, 38-28 (2024) |
| TBD | California* | Cal Memorial Stadium (Berkeley, Calif.) | W, 38-6 (2024) |
| TBD | Clemson* | Memorial Stadium (Clemson, S.C.) | L, 34-31 (2024) |
| TBD | Louisville* | Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas) | W, 34-27 (2024) |
| TBD | Miami* | Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas) | W, 7-3 (1965) |
| TBD | Stanford* | Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas) | W, 40-10 (2024) |
| TBD | Syracuse* | Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas) | W, 16-6 (1932) |
| TBD | Wake Forest* | Allegacy Stadium (Winston-Salem, N.C.) | W, 14-7 (1975) |
*Conference matchup | ^FCS opponent
We don't know the full opponent list or dates for SMU's 2025 football schedule, but we can already get a sense of the road ahead for the Mustangs.
After a relatively manageable nonconference slate, SMU will face Clemson on the road but welcome Miami and Louisville to Dallas while avoiding Florida State entirely. The Mustangs also won't have to face North Carolina in its first year with Bill Belichick at the helm.
SMU football 2025 way-too-early prediction & expert analysis
Lashlee has taken the momentum in Dallas that began under Sonny Dykes to another level. The Mustangs are finally out from the shadow of the death penalty, and while a second straight trip to the CFP will be tough, they will be among the ACC's best.
Jennings is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the country and should be in the Heisman conversation for much of 2025, but how far this team goes will depend on how Lashlee and Co. replace their graduating class. Brashard Smith and Elijah Roberts are NFL-level talents, and their losses will be felt.
On the bright side, the offensive line and secondary should be in good shape. SMU will likely have its win total set around 9.5, and with how weak the ACC is, the Mustangs are a team I'd be eyeing the Over on for next season.
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