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All times Eastern. Kickoff times and networks for TBD games are announced roughly 12 days out. The Virginia Tech game is a Friday night; the Cal and Syracuse dates were originally listed as Friday or Saturday options and have settled on Saturdays.
The Labor Day Opener
SMU and Florida State close Week 1 on Monday night in Tallahassee, the only game on the holiday and a conference game from the first snap. SMU beat the Seminoles 42 to 16 in Dallas in its first ACC season, and the ACC Tailgate show sets up in Tallahassee for this one. Our how to watch page has the details.
Three Games That Define the Season
At Louisville, Sept. 19. The first real ACC test, on the road against a program that finished ranked in 2025 and opens the season 24th. SMU’s conference record over two years is the best in the league, and Louisville is the team most likely to challenge it in the standings.
Virginia Tech, Nov. 6. A Friday night home game on ESPN that was added to the ACC slate in December, giving SMU a fifth conference home game.
At Notre Dame, Nov. 21. A non-conference trip to South Bend on NBC, the highest profile game on the schedule and the one that decides whether a good SMU season becomes a playoff one. Notre Dame is ranked fourth in the preseason.
No Texas Opponents
The ACC’s move to a nine game conference schedule in 2026 cancelled a scheduled trip to Baylor in September, and with TCU, Houston, North Texas and the rest absent, SMU plays a full season without facing anyone from its own state for the first time since the program began in 1915. The non-conference slate is UC Davis, Missouri State and Notre Dame.
How the Schedule Sets Up
The Mustangs play five conference games at home, Boston College, Virginia, Cal, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, and four away, at Florida State, Louisville, Syracuse and Stanford. The bye on October 10 splits the season almost exactly in half, and October ends with Cal at home followed by the long trip to Syracuse.
The last three weeks are the hardest stretch: Wake Forest at home, Notre Dame away, Stanford away to close. The ACC championship game is December 5 in Charlotte at noon, and SMU reached it in 2024. Our Week 1 schedule has the full opening weekend.
The Bottom Line
SMU opens Monday, September 7 at Florida State and closes November 28 at Stanford. Seven home games, a nine game ACC schedule, a November trip to Notre Dame and no Texas opponents. The Mustangs start the season ranked 19th with Kevin Jennings back at quarterback and a bowl win behind them.