# SMU Mustangs ACC football season

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/smu-mustangs-acc-football-season
> Updated: 2026-09-16T01:12:45.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

The SMU Mustangs began their ACC season with a 27-24 road victory against Florida State, a game that was initially delayed by a power outage. 

Following that win and a 56-10 victory over UC Davis, the No. 16 SMU Mustangs moved to a 2-0 record. The team is scheduled to face the No. 23 Louisville Cardinals on September 19, 2026.

Ahead of the matchup at L&N Stadium, Louisville enters the contest following a 59-point victory over Villanova. The Cardinals' offense is led by quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, who has recorded 300 passing yards in each of his first two games. However, Louisville faces injury challenges with eight players listed as out, including tight end Travis Egan and several offensive linemen. 

While SMU holds a historical advantage with four previous wins against Louisville, the Cardinals have maintained a strong home record in ranked-versus-ranked games under head coach Jeff Brohm.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-16: Louisville hosts No. 16 SMU in ranked ACC matchup

No. 23 Louisville hosts No. 16 SMU in a ranked ACC matchup this Saturday, featuring key injury updates for the Cardinals as they begin conference play.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/smu-mustangs-face-louisville-cardinals-in-acc-matchup

### 2026-09-07: SMU defeats Florida State 27-24 in ACC opener

No. 19 SMU defeated Florida State 27-24 in their ACC opener, leaving the Seminoles with a 1-1 record ahead of a difficult schedule.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/smu-defeats-florida-state-27-24-in-acc-opener

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Cite as: SMU Mustangs ACC football season. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/smu-mustangs-acc-football-season