$159 million worth backing for SMU to ACC move as Mustangs prepare to join new conference ahead of 2024 football season
The state of college athletics is intriguing but there is one team that is making a significant jump: the SMU Mustangs. Last year, they were a Group of Five team that won their first American Athletic Conference Championship.
It was their first conference title since winning the Southwest Conference Championship in college football in 1984.
However, they are making the jump to becoming a Power Four program as they are one of the newest members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The university is joining the conference with the Stanford Cardinal and the California Golden Bears. The Mustangs have forgone ACC media rights revenue for the first nine years as part of their membership agreement.
However, they are still going to be financially prepared as the SMU boosters have raised $159 million for the athletic programs to be competitive in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The school's official entrance into the ACC does not happen until July 1, 2024. But the program and the university are prepared for the new challenges that will face them in its new conference.
What does the SMU Mustangs college football schedule look like in 2024?
The SMU Mustangs are likely not going to be competitive in terms of the ACC Championship as they get adjusted to a new level of competition. Below is their 2024 college football schedule for their initial season in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
- 8/24: at Nevada Wolf Pack
- 8/31: vs. Houston Christian Huskies
- 9/6: vs. BYU Cougars
- 9/21: vs. TCU Horned Frogs
- 9/28: vs. Florida State Seminoles
- 10/5: at Louisville Cardinals
- 10/19: at Stanford Cardinal
- 10/26: at Duke Blue Devils
- 11/2: vs. Pittsburgh Panthers
- 11/16: vs. Boston College Eagles
- 11/23: at Virginia Cavaliers
- 11/30: vs. California Golden Bears
What should people expect out of the SMU Mustangs?
It could be a bit of a rude awakening for the SMU Mustangs this season, but they are coming into it with three-fifths of a new offensive line.
Preston Stone is expected to return as the starting quarterback after a good first season as the starter. He finished last season going 206-of-344 (59.9%) for 3,197 yards with 28 touchdowns to just six interceptions.
This team has a lot of exciting players but with the change in competition, expect 2024 to be more of a learning curve. If they can win seven games, the SMU Mustangs should be thrilled.