Mustangs Announce 2026 Football Schedule

Via Mustang Wire

CHARLOTTE (SMU/The ACC) – SMU Mustangs Football announced its 2026 schedule on Monday in conjunction with the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Mustangs open the season with a marquee Monday night ACC showdown on Labor Day, traveling to face Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee on Sept. 7. SMU returns home five days later for its home opener at Ford Stadium, hosting UC Davis Aggies on Sept. 12.

September continues with a road conference game at Louisville Cardinals on Sept. 19, followed by a nonconference matchup against the Missouri State Bears in Dallas on Sept. 26.

October keeps SMU home for most of the month, beginning with Boston College Eagles on Oct. 3, before the program’s lone bye week on Oct. 10. Conference play resumes at home versus Virginia Cavaliers on Oct. 17, then California Golden Bears on Oct. 23 or Oct. 24. The Mustangs close October on the road at Syracuse Orange on Oct. 30 or Oct. 31.

November opens with back-to-back home games against Virginia Tech Hokies (Nov. 6 or Nov. 7) and Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Nov. 14). SMU then heads to South Bend for a highly anticipated matchup with Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Nov. 21, before closing the regular season at Stanford Cardinal on Nov. 28.

The ACC Championship Game is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5 in Charlotte, with kickoff set for 11 a.m. CT on ABC.

Game times and television designations will be announced at a later date.

2026 SMU Football Schedule

• Mon., Sept. 7 – at Florida State*

• Sat., Sept. 12 – vs. UC Davis

• Sat., Sept. 19 – at Louisville*

• Sat., Sept. 26 – vs. Missouri State

• Sat., Oct. 3 – vs. Boston College*

• Sat., Oct. 10 – OPEN

• Sat., Oct. 17 – vs. Virginia*

• Fri., Oct. 23 or Sat., Oct. 24 – vs. Cal*

• Fri., Oct. 30 or Sat., Oct. 31 – at Syracuse*

• Fri., Nov. 6 or Sat., Nov. 7 – vs. Virginia Tech*

• Sat., Nov. 14 – vs. Wake Forest*

• Sat., Nov. 21 – at Notre Dame

• Sat., Nov. 28 – at Stanford

  
  

*ACC game

SMU and Coach Lashlee Welcomes Kyle Ward to SMU Football Staff

Via Mustang Wire

DALLAS — SMU head football coach Rhett Lashlee announced Tuesday the addition of Kyle Ward to the Mustangs’ coaching staff. Ward joins the program as safeties coach.

Ward arrives on the Hilltop after an impressive tenure at South Oak Cliff High School, where he served as defensive coordinator since 2015. During that span, he established himself as one of the top defensive minds in Texas high school football.

“We are excited to welcome Coach Kyle Ward to our defensive staff,” Lashlee said. “He has been one of the top coaches in our state and the city of Dallas for years, winning multiple state championships as the defensive coordinator at South Oak Cliff. His football mind, ability to build relationships, and passion for recruiting and developing young men will help our program continue its upward trajectory.”

South Oak Cliff captured three Class 5A Division II state championships over the past five seasons, including back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. Most recently, the Golden Bears finished the 2025 season with a 15-1 record and another state championship. Under Ward’s leadership, the defense allowed just 10.1 points per game and recorded seven shutouts during district play.

Ward has also demonstrated a strong track record in player development, most notably coaching Ja’Marcus Ingram, who currently plays for the Houston Texans.

“I’m excited to join the staff at SMU and contribute to the momentum they’ve built in pursuit of greatness,” Ward said. “Coach Lashlee is one of the best in the business.”

Prior to his success at South Oak Cliff, Ward gained collegiate coaching experience as a graduate assistant and cornerbacks coach at Texas A&M, along with a graduate assistant role at Boise State. A Dallas native, Ward also played collegiately at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he spent two seasons at cornerback and recorded 63 total tackles.

Top RB Cam Newton Commits to Colorado

Colorado landed a major addition to its 2026 recruiting class on the offensive side of the ball as three-star running back Cam Newton (Walnut Grove HS, Texas) announced his commitment to the Buffaloes.

Newton, one of the most productive backs in the state of Texas, chose Colorado over a competitive offer list that included Air Force, Army, Navy, Temple, Sam Houston, Tulsa, and UTEP. His decision gives head coach Deion Sanders and the CU staff a proven, high-volume playmaker with a complete skill set.

At Walnut Grove, Newton established himself as a true workhorse back, rushing for back-to-back 2,000-yard seasons and helping lead the program to consecutive playoff appearances. During his senior campaign, Newton totaled 2,042 rushing yards, 44 total touchdowns, and added 413 receiving yards out of the backfield, while averaging over seven yards per carry.

On film, Newton shows a well-rounded profile that translates to the college level. He combines quickness and elusiveness in space with the power to finish runs between the tackles, and he has the breakaway speed to turn routine carries into explosive plays. As a receiver, he is comfortable catching the ball and creating yards after contact, giving him true three-down potential.

Newton’s production, durability, and versatility make him one of the top rushers in Texas in the 2026 class, and a strong schematic fit for Colorado’s offense. His ability to shoulder a heavy workload while also impacting the passing game positions him as a player who can compete early and grow into a key contributor in Boulder.

This is a significant pickup for the Buffaloes, adding a battle-tested back with proven production and upside as Colorado continues to build momentum on the recruiting trail.