Saturday, August 30, 2025 – 8 p.m. CT
[16/16] SMU (0-0, ACC) vs. East Texas A&M (0-0, SLC)
Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas
TV: ACC Network
Radio: The Ticket - KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM | Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
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SETTING THE SCENE
• The Mustangs open the year by hosting East Texas A&M at home in Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Saturday. 
• SMU is coming off an 11-3 record last year, resulting in its first-ever bid to the CFP by earning an at-large selection and the 11th seed during the playoff's first year with a 12-team format, and becoming one of 21 schools to ever make the playoff.
• The Mustangs posted 11 victories for a second straight season in 2024, the first time in program history it has recorded back-to-back 11-win years. 
• SMU enters the year ranked 16th in both the US LBM Coaches and Associated Press Preseason Polls, its highest preseason rank since 1985.
• The Mustangs were selected third in the conference's annual preseason poll on July 30, garnering 2,612 points and two first-place votes.

QUICK HITS
• SMU has been explosive on offense in Ford Stadium in its last 15 home games dating back to 2022, scoring 731 points, an average of 48.7 points per game during the 15-game span with a 14-1 record. 
• SMU has won its last six season openers dating back to 2019, the longest since a program-record 15-game stretch from 1972-1986.
• The accolades have come pouring in during the preseason with 20 Mustangs earning a preseason honor. 
• Isaiah Nwokobia has been recognized as one of the premier safeties in the country heading into 2025, being named preseason All-America by multiple publications (Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Sporting News and Walter Camp). 
• Nwokobia has also appeared on numerous watch lists including the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Bronco Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl. 
• Kevin Jennings looks to build on his breakout campaign last year, being selected to several premier watch lists that include the Maxwell Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Manning Award, East-West Shrine Bowl and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.
• Jennings posted the highest passer efficiency rating in conference games only last year at 171.5.
• SMU's 54 wins in the last six years are the most by any FBS Texas team. In addition, the Mustangs have won 24 of those on the road, tops for any team in the state since 2019.
• The Mustangs are 20-4 in their last 24 games, and 19-1 in their last 20 regular-season contests.
• Rhett Lashlee boasts a 21-3 conference record in his career. His 21-3 record in his first 24 league games on the Hilltop is the best in SMU history.
• SMU has posted a record of 26-2 during Lashlee's three seasons in charge when they score 30-or-more points in a game.
• The Mustangs have had at least seven receivers catch a pass in 27 of the past 30 games.

THE SERIES
• This is the first meeting in the all-time series. 

ABOUT THE LIONS
• East Texas A&M finished the 2024 season with a 3-9 record and a 2-4 conference mark.
• The Lions return one of their four players who received all-conference honors, wide receiver Christian Jourdain.
• In 2017, East Texas A&M became NCAA DII National Champions after defeating West Florida 37-27.

THE COACHES
• Rhett Lashlee is in his fourth season as the head coach at SMU and has a 29-12 career record, with the 29 wins the second most for a head coach in his first three years in program history. Lashlee, who served as offensive coordinator for the Mustangs for two seasons (2018-19), also served as the offensive coordinator at Miami in 2020 and 2021. A one-time finalist (2013) and two-time semifinalist (2019, 2020) for the Broyles Award, Lashlee has the distinction of being the only coach ever nominated for the Broyles Award four different times at four different schools (Arkansas State, Auburn, SMU, Miami).

• Lashlee was named a finalist last season for the prestigious Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award, handed out the nation's top coach as voted on by the National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards' Executive Leadership Team, and the Bryant Family. The Arkansas native was also named Coach of the Year by Dave Campbell's Texas Football publication, a finalist of the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, and a semi-finalist for the George Munger National Coach of the Year.

• Clint Dolezel, a 16-year football coaching veteran, was appointed East Texas A&M's 21st head football coach on December 7, 2022, and enters his 3rd season as a collegiate head coach. Dolezel's all-time record as East Texas A&M's head coach is 4-18. 

MUSTANG CAPTAINS
• Kevin Jennings, Alexander Kilgore, Ahmaad Moses, Isaiah Nwokobia, Logan Parr and PJ Williams were named captains for the 2025 season. 

OPENING STATEMENT 
• The Mustangs have a recent history of starting the year right. 
• SMU has won its last six season openers dating back to 2019, the longest since a program-record 15-game stretch from 1972-1986.

SEASON OPENERS SINCE 2019
Aug. 24, 2024    at Nevada            W, 29-24
Sept. 2, 2023    Louisiana Tech    W, 38-14
Sept. 3, 2022    at North Texas    W, 48-10
Sept. 4, 2021    Abilene Christian    W, 56-9
Sept. 5, 2020    at Texas State    W, 31-24
Aug. 31, 2019    at Arkansas State    W, 37-30

BEST IN TEXAS 
• SMU has enjoyed much success in the past six seasons.
• The Mustangs have recorded 54 wins since 2019, are the most by any of the 13 FBS teams in the state. 
• Of those 54 wins, 24 have come on the road, tops for any team in the state since 2019.

FIREWORKS IN FORD
• SMU has been explosive on offense in Ford Stadium in its last 15 home games, scoring 731 points.
• The Mustangs are averaging 48.7 points per game during the 15-game span dating back in 2022 while posting a record of 14-1. 

LAST 15 GAMES IN FORD STADIUM 
Nov. 5, 2022        Houston        W, 77-63
Nov. 26, 2022    Memphis        W, 34-31
Sept. 2, 2023    Louisiana Tech    W, 38-14
Sept. 16, 2023    Prairie View A&M    W, 69-0
Sept. 30, 2023    Charlotte        W, 34-16
Oct. 28, 2023    Tulsa        W, 69-10
Nov. 10, 2023    North Texas        W, 45-21
Nov. 25, 2023    Navy        W, 59-14
Aug. 31, 2024    HCU        W, 59-7
Sept. 6, 2024    BYU        L, 18-15
Sept. 21, 2024    TCU        W, 66-42
Sept. 28, 2024    Florida State        W, 42-16
Nov. 2, 2024        #18 Pitt        W, 48-25
Nov. 16, 2024    Boston College    W, 38-28
Nov. 30, 2024    Cal        W, 38-6