SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee and his players are ready to run onto the field before an NCAA college football game against the California at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
UNIVERSITY PARK — SMU’s players learned their lesson twice last season about not getting ahead of themselves.
Twice, the Mustangs had road games against teams they were favored to beat ahead of high-stakes matchups a week later, and twice the Mustangs were upset, which ultimately cost them a return to the ACC Championship.
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 17: Umari Hatcher #2 of the Syracuse Orange runs for a touchdown against Brycen Scott #25 of the Louisville Cardinals during the first quarter at JMA Wireless Dome on October 17, 2026 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rebecca Villagracia/Getty Images)
Rebecca Villagracia/Getty Images
This time last year, SMU lost 13-12 to Wake Forest on the road a week before upsetting No. 10 Miami at home in overtime. The loss cost them “College GameDay” coming to their campus.
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Related: How Lashlee is planting a coaching tree on the Hilltop.
Then, a few weeks later, with their eyes on the ACC title game, SMU lost its last game of the season to California, knocking them out of the championship.
As SMU travels to Syracuse this week ahead of the most important three-week stretch of its season, the Mustangs are trying to ensure they don’t fall into the trap this time.
“We know they’re a really good team,” SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings said. “The games that they lost have been a one-score game. We’re not looking ahead of ourselves.”
Syracuse’s 3-4 record and 1-4 conference mark may not be all that impressive, especially as two of its wins, over UConn and North Carolina, came by a single point in overtime.
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But three of its four losses were by one score, showing the Orange have been competitive in almost every game they’ve played.
“They’ve got a lot of confidence,” SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee said. “They really had Virginia on the ropes on the road, then had Louisville on the ropes at home and then put it all together last week and beat a good North Carolina team. We’re going to get their best.”
Quarterback Steve Angeli is back and healthy after suffering a season-ending torn Achilles injury last season and battling another injury earlier this month.
“He’s a really good player,” Lashlee said. “He gives the ball out. He gives guys chances, and they’ve got weapons. Offensively, they’re similar to Louisville except the quarterback’s not a runner, but he’s a better thrower.”
His top target, Umari Hatcher, is the second-leading receiver in the conference, trailing only Miami’s Malachi Toney, with 887 yards and eight touchdowns on the year.
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Lashlee acknowledged that, just as he didn’t overlook underdog Cal a week ago, he’s not discounting Syracuse despite being 9.5-point favorites. The Mustangs have a Friday night game against James Franklin’s Virginia Tech squad in a week. Then, they’ll face two top-15 opponents in back-to-back weeks — No. 14 Wake Forest and No. 5 Notre Dame.
Their ACC Championship and College Football Playoff hopes are still in play.
But none of that will matter if they can’t get past Syracuse on the road.
“Good teams can win on the road, and they can win on the road late in the season,” Lashlee said. “We’ve got to find a way to do that.”
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