SMU a legitimate ACC contender following road win over No. 22 Louisville

SMU joined the ACC this offseason after 11 seasons in the AAC.

The program, which received a "death penalty" from the NCAA in 1987, is in the midst of its most successful run since being banned from competition for paying players during the 1980s. The Mustangs entered 2024 with five consecutive winning seasons and they have been impressive in winning five of their first six games this year.

SMU scored 66 points against TCU in Week 4, its most against a power conference opponent under head coach Rhett Lashlee. Then, in Week 5, the Mustangs handed Florida State (1-4, 1-3 in ACC) its most lopsided loss of the season in a 42-16 romp.

SMU's remaining schedule is manageable. It has a bye in Week 7, followed by a road game against Stanford (2-2, 1-1 in ACC). Its toughest stretch will then follow with back-to-back games against surprising undefeateds Duke (5-0, 1-0 in ACC) and Pitt (5-0. 1-0 in ACC).

Per ESPN's Football Power Index, the Mustangs rank 51st in remaining strength of schedule, boasting the sixth-easiest slate in the ACC.

The Mustangs avoid the conference's two top-ranked teams, Miami and Clemson. The Hurricanes and Tigers don't play each other, either, setting up the possibility for a chaotic scenario with a three-way tie atop the ACC at the end of the regular season.