SMU Loses Former Star Quarterback Ahead of College Football Playoff

The SMU Mustangs came into the 2024 college football season with a chip on their shoulder and hopes to build off of a fantastic 2023 season.

The 2024 season marked the Mustangs' first year in the ACC, which they joined by forfeiting nine years of ACC television revenue valued at over $200 million. As if proving they belonged wasn't motivation enough, the program was also looking to show it could sustain the success that it had in 2023, which saw them win 11 games for the first time since 1982.

A major reason for their success in 2023 was star quarterback Preston Stone, who led them to a 10-2 record as the starter before going down with an ankle injury prior to the AAC title game. With him returning in 2024, there was optimism that the team could make a statement in their first year as a member of the Power 4. While they did make a statement by posting an 11-1 record in the regular season and making the ACC title game, they did so without him at the helm.

He was benched in favor of Kevin Jennings in September, and has played sparingly throughout the year. On Tuesday, On3's Hayes Fawcett reported that Stone was entering his name into the NCAA transfer portal.