SMU's SP+ ranking drops 11 spots ahead of 2026 season
- Coverage leans near-unanimous belief
- Win total 8.5 — line flat since open
- SMU enters 2026 — the 11-spot SP+ drop from 2024 raises one question: can Rhett Lashlee…
How past storylines turned out
SMU's climb into dynasty-caliber territory held for another season.
SMU's defensive coordinator change has died down — no clear next chapter yet.
SMU's offensive coordinator change has died down — no clear next chapter yet.
How it developed newest first
SMU: coordinator change reshaping a unit.
SMU enters 2026 rated No. 23 in 2025 SP+ (+13.4), down 11 spots from 2024.
why it mattersSMU enters 2026 — the 11-spot SP+ drop from 2024 raises one question: can Rhett Lashlee’s 4th season sustain the 9-4 winning record and Pony Express identity after a CFP appearance? ~ our read
SMU has climbed into dynasty-caliber territory — into the top 8% of FBS by power rating over the last three seasons, up from the top 16% a year ago.
a 29-9 record over the last three regular seasons
why it mattersSMU has reached elite-tier consistency — Rhett Lashlee's fourth season demands whether the 29-9 run is the start of sustained dominance or a fleeting peak. ~ our read
Watch next
The non-obvious thing to track
SMU's drop from No. 23 in 2024 to No. 23 in 2025 SP+ suggests a lack of meaningful improvement despite the same ranking, hinting at stagnation in key areas like depth and consistency. Watch whether SMU's early-season performance against ranked opponents in September matches the 2025 SP+ projection.
~ our read
Rooms tap to switch
The off-field storyline driving the noise right now. Not analysis — the soap opera, and that's the point.
The 'the projection is underselling us' read — fans betting the season beats the preview number.
No coverage in this room yet.
The 'the model has seen the tape' counter — efficiency ratings reward what a program has actually done, not hope.
This event was in 66 of 281 board posts (23%) over the last 60 days — a fanbase consumed by it. Fan text shown verbatim, attributed to the community not the individual poster.
Board health this week (57 posts): 16% positive · 42% neutral · 42% negative. Team-level weekly mood — not specific to this event. The boards ≠ the fanbase: a self-selected vocal slice.
The range consensus, not a gap
“Intel: LSU, Oklahoma, SMU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech are leading for elite 2028 prospects”