CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC/SMU) – The ACC announced on Thursday that the SMU football program is set to appear at the 2025 ACC Football Kickoff event on opening day, Tuesday, July 22.
 
The annual event will be held at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown in Charlotte, North Carolina, the home of the ACC.
 
The Mustangs appearance will feature head coach Rhett Lashlee and select players, including live interviews, press conferences and so much more. ACC Network will provide live coverage of the event.
 
SMU is coming off an immensely successful season, featuring the programs first ever appearance in the College Football Playoff and advancing to the ACC Championship game during its inaugural season in the conference.
 
Thanks to the success, Lashlee earned ACC Coach of the Year accolades and 19 Mustangs garnered All-ACC accolades. Lashlee was also a finalist for the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach Of The Year Award. Brashard Smith nabbed All-America accolades by four major publications, while Isaiah Nwokobia and Kobe Wilson picked up All-America Honorable Mention recognition by Phil Steele.
 
The 11-win season for the Mustangs in 2024 marked the first back-to-back 11-win seasons in program history. The Mustangs climbed as high as seventh in the Coaches Poll and eighth in the AP Poll during the season, the highest ranking since 1985.
 
The full 2025 ACC Football Kickoff appearance schedule can be found below.
 
Tuesday, July 22
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D.
California
Miami
SMU
Stanford
Virginia
 
Wednesday, July 23
Florida State
Georgia Tech
Louisville
Pitt
Syracuse
Wake Forest
 
Thursday, July 24
Boston College
Clemson
Duke
North Carolina
NC State
Virginia Tech