A Monday night road trip to Florida State to open the year. A road test at Louisville right behind it. And a closing stretch that runs through South Bend and Stanford. The 2026 SMU Football Schedule front-loads a difficult opener before settling into a home-heavy middle. SMU Mustangs football faces two true road games in the first three weeks, then leans on Gerald J. Ford Stadium for much of the ACC slate. Here is the complete 2026 SMU Football Schedule with dates, locations, times and television information.
2026 SMU Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | at Florida State SeminolesDoak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL | 7:30 PM ETESPN | Win 27-24 | |
| Saturday | vs UC Davis AggiesGerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX | 4:00 PM ETACCNX | Win 56-10 | |
| Saturday | at Louisville CardinalsL&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | 3:30 PM ETESPN2 | Loss 41-31 | |
| Saturday | vs Missouri State BearsGerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX | 9:00 PM ETACCN | Win 34-24 | |
| Saturday | vs Boston College EaglesGerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX | 12:00 PM ETThe CW | Win 25-16 | |
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | vs Virginia CavaliersGerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | Homecoming | |
| Saturday | vs California Golden BearsGerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Syracuse OrangeJMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Friday | vs Virginia Tech HokiesGerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX | 7:00 PM ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | vs Wake Forest Demon DeaconsGerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | Homecoming | |
| Saturday | at Notre Dame Fighting IrishNotre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN | 7:30 PM ETNBC/Peacock | ||
| Saturday | at Stanford CardinalStanford Stadium, Stanford, CA | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs ACC ChampionshipBank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC | 12:00 PM ETABC |
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Monday Night Road Start and Early Gauntlet
Florida State opener, then Louisville on the road
- Florida State on a Monday night
- UC Davis at home
- Louisville on the road
The SMU Football Schedule begins with a Monday night road game at Florida State. UC Davis provides a home date before the Mustangs face Louisville on the road — two true road tests in the first three weeks.
Home Dates Dominate the Middle
Missouri State and Boston College, then a long home stretch
- Missouri State at home
- Boston College at home
- Bye week
- Virginia for Homecoming
- California at home
- Syracuse on the road
- Virginia Tech under the lights
- Wake Forest for Homecoming
Missouri State and Boston College visit before the bye. The SMU ACC schedule 2026 then keeps the Mustangs in Dallas for four of the next five games.
Notre Dame Night Game and Closing Road Pair
Virginia Tech home, then SMU vs Notre Dame 2026
- Virginia Tech at home
- Wake Forest at home
- Notre Dame on the road
- Stanford on the road
A Friday night home game against Virginia Tech opens November. SMU vs Notre Dame 2026 follows on November 21 at Notre Dame Stadium. The regular season then closes at Stanford.
SMU Football Home Games 2026
Eight home dates at Gerald J. Ford Stadium:
- UC Davis
- Missouri State
- Boston College
- Virginia
- California
- Virginia Tech
- Wake Forest
The 2026 SMU Football Schedule starts hard on the road, leans heavily on Dallas in the middle, and finishes with two demanding road trips. How the Mustangs handle the Monday night opener at Florida State, the early trip to Louisville, and the late swing through Notre Dame and Stanford will shape the entire season.
FAQ
When does SMU football play its first game in 2026?
SMU opens the 2026 SMU Football Schedule on the road against Florida State on Monday, September 7, at Doak Campbell Stadium.
When is SMU vs Notre Dame 2026?
SMU vs Notre Dame 2026 is set for Saturday, November 21, on the road at Notre Dame Stadium, kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock.
How many home games does SMU play in 2026?
SMU has eight SMU football home games in 2026 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium: UC Davis, Missouri State, Boston College, Virginia, California, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
What is SMU’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
The closing run from Notre Dame (road) to Stanford (road) — November 21 and November 28 — ranks as the toughest stretch on the SMU ACC schedule 2026, alongside the September road trips to Florida State and Louisville.
