Monday, September 7, 2026 – 6:30 p.m. CT
[19/20] SMU (0-0, 0-0 ACC) vs. [-/RV] (1-0, 0-0 ACC)
Doak Campbell Stadium – Tallahassee, Fla.
TV: ESPN
Radio: KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM & SiriusXM 
Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
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SETTING THE SCENE

• The Mustangs head to Tallahassee to open the year in primetime against Florida State on Labor Day.

• SMU enters the year ranked 19th in the AP Poll and 20th in the Coaches Poll.

• This marks the second straight year the Mustangs have been ranked in the top 20 in the preseason polls, the first since the 1984 and 1985 seasons.

• Kevin Jennings enters the season as one of the premier players in all of college football, earning numerous accolades from national publications throughout the country and being placed on several watch lists.

QUICK HITS

• SMU has posted a 27-4 record against conference opponents since 2022, highlighted by the 20-game winning streak that lasted from 2022-25.

• The Mustangs have gone 14-2 in ACC play since joining the conference in 2024, the most wins by an ACC team during that span.

• SMU has won its last seven season openers dating back to 2019, the longest since a program-record 15-game stretch from 1972-1986.

• Since 2024, the Mustangs have forced 50 turnovers, which ranks tied for seventh most in the country, second most in the ACC, during that span.

• Jennings has posted a record of 19-7 as the starter for the Mustangs, the 19 wins are tied for third most by a returning Power 4 quarterback (Rocco Becht 26, Noah Fifita 20) prior to the start of the 2026 year.

• Jennings is the ACC active leader in career passing yards (7,709) and career total yards (8,267).

• Jennings is just one of four FBS quarterbacks with at least 8,000 career total yards and a QB efficiency rating of at least 145+. 

• The Mustangs are 28-8 in their last 36 games, and 27-5 in their last 32 regular-season contests.

• SMU has posted a record of 32-4 during Lashlee's four 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 40 of the past 43 games.

• SMU recorded 15 offensive scoring drives in 2025 that resulted in touchdowns in under two minutes.

• Rhett Lashlee boasts a 27-5 conference record in his career, best in program history.

• Jennings has racked up the preseason accolades, being named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, the Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, the Manning Award Watch List and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List. 

THE SERIES

• This is the second meeting in the series.

• The Mustangs took the first meeting, 42-16 back in 2024 in Ford Stadium.

ABOUT THE SEMINOLES

• Florida State is coming off 34-17 win at home against New Mexico State on August 29.

• The Seminoles were led by Ousmane Kromah's 115 yards rushing and a touchdown.

• Ashton Daniels threw for 202 yards and a touchdown along with an interception in the victory.

OPENING STATEMENT

• The Mustangs have a recent history of starting the year right.

• SMU has won its last seven season openers dating back to 2019, the longest since a program-record 15-game stretch from 1972-1986.

SEASON OPENERS SINCE 2019

Aug. 30, 2025     East Texas A&M                W, 42-13

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