SMU joins ACC, Power Five ranks in 'historic milestone'

SMU announced in a release on Friday its joining the Atlantic Coast Conference along with Cal and Stanford. The move puts the Mustangs into the Power Five ranks, a goal that’s long been in the making for the university.

“Joining the Atlantic Coast Conference is an historic milestone in our institution’s history, and the start of a new chapter in SMU Athletics,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. “From early on in my tenure here on the Hilltop, we had a vision to reestablish SMU Athletics as a nationally recognized and relevant program, one to complement our outstanding academic reputation.

“We set out to return SMU Football to campus and to build Ford Stadium, and later to increase operating support with the Circle of Champions and the Vision 2025 Fund – things we could not have done without the support of our Board of Trustees and the financial support of so many generous donors. It is truly an exciting time on the Hilltop.”

The Mustangs will join in time for the 2024 season, which coincides with the opening of the Garry Weber Endzone Complex in Gerald J. Ford Stadium. SMU Board Chair David B. Miller spent countless hours campaigning for the university.

“This is such an important day for SMU. Becoming a member of the ACC will positively impact all aspects of the collegiate experience on the Hilltop and will raise SMU’s profile on a national level,” Miller siad in a release. “SMU is committed to excellence in everything we do, and this move will strengthen that commitment. I want to thank everyone who has helped position SMU for this important moment because a moment like this doesn’t just happen. It is the culmination of the collective investments made by many over a long period of time – investments in infrastructure, in programs, and in people.

“We made these investments because while doing so did not guarantee an outcome, not doing so almost certainly would. Now, we are thrilled to have this opportunity and are excited for our future. SMU is ready to bring ACC Championships home to Dallas.”

SMU will forgo nine years of revenue from the ACC to make the move. Donors are expected to contribute heavily to the university to ensure the athletic programs have the tools to compete.

Bill Armstrong, who has keyed support of the football program, is excited for the move to the ACC. Armstrong also pointed to SMU’s conference being a roadblock for recruiting that’s now expected to reach new heights.

“This was all David Miller and president Gerald Turner. At the end of the day, those two drove it,” Armstrong told On3. “I think it was really cool that we were the only non-P5 school that was even considered for expansion with the ACC. Says a lot about Dallas, SMU, our academics, quality of our kids, our university. Really is exciting.

“We’re in the bigs. If you’re not in the game, you’re not in the game. So, we’re in a big game now, which is really, really fantastic.”

Rick Hart discusses SMU’s move to ACC

SMU Director of Athletics Rick Hart said having the support the university needed throughout the process was key. From donors funding facilities was a key piece to making the move from the American Athletic Conference happen.

“Arriving at this point required vision, commitment, action and leadership,” Hart said. “For nearly three decades, President Turner and our Board of Trustees have provided just that. Under their direction and through the generosity of our alumni and donors, SMU built Gerald J. Ford Stadium, the Loyd All-Sports Center, the Miller Event Center, Armstrong Fieldhouse, the Crum Basketball Center, the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex, the Payne Stewart Golf Training Center, Washburne Stadium, the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium and the Holt Hickman Outdoor Pool and completely renovated Moody Coliseum.

“President Turner embraced and supported our commitment to a student-athlete experience that rivals the best in the country – access to meaningful degree programs; degree completion aid; medical and mental health support; full cost of attendance; mentors, internships, and career preparedness. He was also a driving force, alongside Mike Aresco, in the establishment and rise of the American Athletic Conference. 

“We can also never repay our Board Chair and basketball letterwinner David Miller for his support, guidance and commitment to this journey,” added Hart. “The Miller name adorns many of SMU’s best-in-class facilities because of his family’s long-standing and ongoing financial support of both academic and athletic progress, but many may not realize the countless hours of travel, meetings, phone calls and other work he performed to get us across this finish line.