Rhett Lashlee returns for his fifth season after a 9-4 campaign that included a Holiday Bowl victory. A restructured coaching staff is in place as the Mustangs look to stay competitive in the ACC. Offensively, veteran Kevin Jennings returns for his final season at quarterback. With TJ Harden gone, CAL transfer Kendrick Raphael will take over as the lead running back. The Mustangs are happy to have Yamir Knight back at receiver, but will miss the services of Jordan Hudson and Romello Brinson. SMU is high on transfer tight ends Theo Melin Öhrström and Randy Pittman. Up front, the offensive line returns three full-time starters and will look to get more production from Andrew Chamblee this season.

The Mustangs lost their top two tacklers from a year ago, Ahmaad Moses and Isaiah Nwokobia. Five of their top eleven tacklers are now with an NFL team. Even so, the linebacker position is the most sound level of this defense, as Alexander Kilgore and Brandon Booker return. From there, the Mustangs will have fresh faces across the defensive line and secondary, with Marcellus Barnes, Jaelyn Davis-Robinson and William Nettles returning in the back end. The co-defensive coordinators have their work cut out finding a winning formula to keep the defense sound this season.

Punter Wade McSparron returns, as does punt returner Yamir Knight and kick returners Link Rhodes and Daylon Singleton. Also, the Mustangs will break in a new place kicker in New Hampshire transfer Nick Reed. Kevin Jennings brings valuable experience at quarterback, but he will need new targets to step up. Finding a consistent pass rush will be critical for a defense that lost significant production. SMU has the pieces to remain competitive in the ACC if the new combinations come together quickly.