Predicting ceiling, floor for SMU in 2024 season

Andy Staples was joined by ACC Network’s Roddy Jones on the latest episode of the Andy Staples On3 show on YouTube, where they discussed the SMU Mustangs.

“Alright, let’s talk about one of the newbies, the Southern Methodist University Mustangs,” Staples prefaced. “The Pony Express rides into the ACC, and they get Florida State right out of the gate at home, and then they go to Louisville. So they get baptized pretty quick here.”

As the Mustangs enter their first season in the ACC, the schedule isn’t exactly kind to them off the bat, but Staples and Jones believe the ceiling is a lofty one for SMU in 2024.

Ceiling: 10-2 (Staples), 9-3 (Jones)

“I am bullish on SMU this year,” Jones started. “I am excited to see what they do in the ACC. They’ve got the biggest positions, not figured out, but they seem better equipped than a lot of the other teams that we’ve seen make that transition from the Group of Five to the Power Five. They’ve got the quarterback figured out, and they’ve got an offensive line that’s full of a lot of Power Five transfers that is going to be pretty cohesive going into next year. And it was one of the best offensive lines in the Group of Five, maybe the best offensive line in the Group of Five a year ago. So look at the opening slate in the ACC, Florida State, Louisville, that’s tough. But then it gets much more manageable on the back end.

“At Stanford’s not going to scare anybody, at Duke’s not going to scare anybody. Right now, Pittsburgh is coming off of a really down year. I don’t really know what to make of Boston College. We’ll talk about that a little bit later. At Virginia is a plucky team, but I think SMU is better, and Cal. Like, they should be able to run the back half of that schedule pretty well. So I don’t think this is a team that’s going to make an ACC Championship Game. Those first two games probably prevent that. But I do think it’s a team that could end up 9-3 at the end of the year, very realistically, especially if they get off to a good start in the non-conference.”

As for Staples, he believes the Mustangs could end up in the ACC Championship Game if it all goes right for SMU.

“Yeah I have them at 10-2 for the ceiling, if it all goes right,” Staples stated. “If everything goes right, and then maybe you are in the ACC Championship Game, depending on the two.”

Floor: 5-7

As for their floor, both Jones and Staples agree that it’s 5-7, but they’re expecting a good season from SMU during their move to the ACC.

“I have their floor at 5-7, just in case the depth is not where it needs to be, and it catches up to them toward the end of the season,” Staples added. “But I think it’s going to be a much better season than that. Like I said 10-2 is the ceiling for me. You had 9-3. I think this could be a very good team.”

Time will tell, but it’s evident there’s some confidence around SMU entering 2024, and the Mustangs could surprise some people during their first season in the ACC.