TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, Editor
The SMU Mustangs should be entering the 2025 season on a high note after finishing the 2024 season 11-3. However, the Mustangs have a bad taste in their mouths, as SMU dropped its final two games last season. Losses to Clemson in the ACC Championship game and at Penn State in the College Football Playoff are still stinging.
The 2025 squad lost some production on both sides of the ball, but star quarterback Kevin Jennings returns for his junior season. Head coach Rhett Lashlee hit the transfer portal to plug some holes with Power 4 talent. Below is the prediction for each of SMU’s games in 2025.
FCS opponent that is located just over an hour’s drive from Dallas. The Lions will be no match for SMU, who should have the backups in after halftime. SMU wins, 1-0
SMU & Baylor have announced a 2 game series
— Texas Football Life (@txfblife) May 14, 2024
2025: Baylor @ SMU
2026: SMU @ Baylor
This will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2016 pic.twitter.com/CK73ukkPh9
These former Southwest Conference rivals are meeting for the first time since 2016. The Bears have one of the best QBs in the Big 12 in Sawyer Robertson. With the number of key players back from last year, Baylor is the pick by many to win the Big 12. The Mustangs will be tested all game long and will scrape out a home victory against Baylor. SMU wins, 2-0
Making the jump to the Football Bowl Subdivision, the game against SMU is by far the best game on the Bears’ home schedule. Missouri State was an offensive juggernaut last season, getting over 3,600 passing yards and over 1,400 rushing yards. But the jump from FCS to FBS will be a difficult transition for Missouri State. SMU will pull away in the second half, winning big. SMU wins, 3-0
Story on #TCU pausing the Battle for the Iron Skillet against #SMU after 2025…
— Billy Embody (@BillyEmbody) August 16, 2023
Rhett Lashlee this summer: "We’re always willing to play them."
Sonny Dykes this summer pointed to the CFB Playoff and "taking care of season ticket holders."
More: https://t.co/uJiyNA4LSh pic.twitter.com/OjvUIth4bL
The final meeting in the Battle for the Iron Skillet comes in week 4. QB Josh Hoover threw for almost 4,000 last year in head coach Sonny Dykes’ pass-happy offense. With a similar style to SMU this has all the markings of a high-scoring affair. TCU will be looking for revenge after last year’s whooping and I think they get it in the final Battle for the Iron Skillet. SMU loses, 3-1
Following a bye, the Mustangs return home to host the Orange. This is not last year’s 10-win Syracuse squad. All QBs who attempted a pass last year are gone. As is the top rusher and the top three receivers. On defense, Syracuse loses 7 of its top 10 tacklers. Coming off a bye, SMU will be rested and will take it to the Orange. SMU wins, 4-1
Back in March, Stanford fired head coach Troy Taylor after two investigations into the mistreatment of staff. Former Carolina Panthers’ coach Frank Reich took over and will only coach this season. They return 14 starters, and the depth has been helped through the transfer portal. However, the Cardinal are heavily outmatched on both sides of the ball and will take their lumps in Dallas. SMU wins, 5-1
Rhett Lashlee raves about the program Dabo Swinney’s built at Clemson as SMU looks for a better result in 2025. More at link below. pic.twitter.com/569YI28hqD
— Billy Embody (@BillyEmbody) July 22, 2025
The rematch of last season’s ACC Championship game sends the Mustangs on the road to Death Valley. Clemson is 102-17 at home under head coach Dabo Swinney. QB Cade Klubnik is being mentioned on the short list of players with legitimate chances to win the Heisman Trophy. The only question on the Clemson roster is at running back, but that position should be figured out by the time the Tigers host the Mustangs. This game will have the same result as last year’s ACC Championship game. SMU loses, 5-2
Former Washington State head coach Jake Dickert replaces Wake Forest’s legendary coach Dave Clawson. A lot of last season’s players left after the coaching change. Dickert landed a good crop of replacements via the transfer portal. Former South Carolina QB Robby Ashford takes over the offense. Last year’s leading rusher, Demond Clairborne, returns after rushing for 1,049 yards and 11 TDs. This will be another game where SMU outmatches its opponent. SMU wins, 6-2
As usual, the hype train for the Hurricanes is out in full force. Miami was one win away from making the CFP last year. However, they were also three plays away from a 7-6 record. Former Georgia QB Carson Beck transferred in to replace No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Cam Ward. The Hurricanes have to replace their top rusher, top five receivers and five of their top six tacklers. Head coach Mario Cristobal is a great recruiter, but his game-day decisions are sometimes head-scratchers. SMU’s offense will be firing on all cylinders and will dominate Miami at home. SMU wins, 7-2
Head coach Bill O’Brien enters year number two at Boston College looking to replace his QB. The Eagles played SMU tough in Dallas last season, dropping a 38-28 decision. O’Brien brought in QB transfer Dylan Longeran from Alabama to compete with junior Grayson James. A November game in Boston is going to be cold. But this Mustang squad will be battle-tested and ready for the challenge. SMU wins, 8-2
Kevin Jennings DART for the long TD and SMU takes the lead 🔥
— Always College Football (@AlwaysCFB) November 16, 2024
pic.twitter.com/UcAvYmsflU
Senior day after a bye week brings the Louisville Cardinals to town. Louisville is a trendy pick by some to make the ACC Championship game. Head coach Jeff Brohm added former USC QB Miller Moss via the transfer portal. Brohm lost a lot of players from the 2024 team but has landed some solid transfers on both sides of the ball. SMU pulls out an emotional victory in what could be the final game in Dallas for QB Kevin Jennings. SMU wins, 9-2
The Bears lost an incredible 43 players from last season’s roster. Many of those who departed came in the Spring transfer portal window. Head coach Justin Wilcox has his work cut out for him. In comes Ohio State transfer QB Devin Brown, whose 48 career pass attempts are the most among Cal’s rostered QBs. It’s going to be a long year for the Bears, bowl eligibility would be a massive win for Cal. SMU wins, 10-2
