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SMU Football recruiting surge signals power shift in DWF

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Steven Corder | Last updated May 5, 2025 10:00 PM ET

Once seen as a regional program on the outside looking in, the SMU Mustangs have transformed into a recruiting juggernaut, especially in the high-stakes Dallas-Fort Worth battleground. With high-level talent flowing into their locker room, it’s no longer a surprise when SMU beats out SEC programs.

Rhett Lashlee and his staff are winning in their own backyard. The DFW is one of the most fertile recruiting grounds in the country, long dominated by schools like Texas, Oklahoma, and LSU.

But that tide is turning fast. SMU’s aggressive push for top-tier talent is forcing traditional powers to rethink their strategy. As Locked In Oklahoma’s Grayson Singleton put it, “SMU is getting the blue chippers in DFW. And that’s a problem… not just for Oklahoma, that’s a problem for Texas, LSU, Arkansas… This is the fastest rising program in the country.”

My thoughts on #Sooners 2026 target Aljour Miles picking SMU over Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/b3EtxBOFyQ
— Grayson Singleton (@gray_singleton2) May 5, 2025

In the heart of a top-five media market, SMU is leveraging its access to NIL funding and elite facilities. The university recently made waves by securing over $100 million in NIL pledges, which is a staggering show of financial backing. That Combine with a College Football Playoff appearance in its first year in a Power Four conference, and you get what Singleton called “a team on the steepest ascent in the United States of America.”

The recruitment of wide receiver Aljour Miles shocked fans across the region when he chose SMU over Oklahoma. This pivotal moment has signaled a shift in perception. Miles, a texas native, was considered a near-lock for the Sooners. Instead, he chose to stay home, a growing trend among local football stars.

SMU isn’t just on the rise, they’re redefining what’s possible. With elite talent choosing to stay local, a war chest of NIL support, and a proven on-field product, the Mustangs are here to stay. Singleton said, “Keep an eye on SMU to be in the championship conversation within the next decade.”

For the rest of the college football world, it’s time to stop underestimating SMU or risk getting left behind.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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