In January 2026, SMU Athletics announced football season ticket pricing for the 2026 season. The pricing structure reflected attendance trends and program growth, with seating options including general admission and premium experiences.[3]
QuarterbackKevin Jennings returned to the team for his final year of eligibility. It is his third consecutive year as the starter and fifth as a member of the team, uncommon in the era of the transfer portal.[7]SafetyAhmaad Moses, who graduated and declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, is seeking an additional year of eligibility after a court ruling did so for other players who started college in 2022.[8]
SMU defeated Florida State 27–24 on Labor Day. Shortly before the start of the game, Doak Campbell Stadium suffered a major power outage. The outage was unrelated to any inclement weather, creating uncertainty as to if it would be restored quickly enough to play the game that night. Administrators from both schools and the ACC met throughout the outage to discuss contingency plans for a possible postponement, as well as for how to operate the game if the stadium were to have power properly restored. An hour and 40 minutes after the game's scheduled kick time, the game began with no scoreboard, no coach-to-player headset communication, and no video review. Midway through the second quarter, most of the stadium's remaining electrical systems came online, and the game proceeded as any other for the rest of its duration.[9]
SMU's victory came despite several miscues throughout the game. The team trailed the turnover margin 4–0,[a] with two interceptions, a muffed punt, and a lost fumble. The team's defense largely prevented Florida State from capitalizing on these errors, keeping the game close, although an offside penalty on a field goal try allowed Florida State to score a touchdown to tie the game 17–17 in the third quarter.[10] Florida State only managed to convert two out fifteen third down plays.[11] SMU's offense, led by veteran quarterback Kevin Jennings, was explosive throughout the game, totaling nearly 600 yards, including several long touchdown passes. This continued entering the fourth quarter, with SMU quickly scoring to retake their lead, but Florida State quickly answered with their own touchdown to tie the game once again 24–24. SMU's subsequent drive was cut short by Jennings' second interception of the night. After regaining the ball once again with the game still tied, SMU approached field goal range and began running out the clock before kicking a go-ahead field goal with 25 seconds on the clock. Florida State failed to advance at all on their final drive, and the game ended after SMU intercepted a desperation lateral pass, their only turnover of the night.[12]
