The Mustang Mood - SMU Sports Podcast

Visit https://www.ponchooutdoors.com/mustangmood to get the most comfortable, useful, and stylish SMU shirt this season!SMU football is back, and The Mustang Mood is looking ahead to the 2026 season with one big question: can the Mustangs make another run at the College Football Playoff?SMU enters the season ranked No. 20 in the coaches poll and once again has its sights set on the top of the ACC. The crew breaks down the 2026 roster, Kevin Jennings entering his third season as SMU's starting quarterback, the revamped skill positions, the offensive line, and the biggest questions facing a retooled defense.Can Kevin Jennings take the next step and put himself in the Heisman conversation? Will SMU's young receivers and new additions on defense provide enough production? And does this roster have what it takes to compete with the best teams on the schedule?The crew also goes game by game through the 2026 SMU football schedule, including Florida State, Louisville, Cal, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and the massive road matchup at Notre Dame.After reaching the College Football Playoff in 2024, can SMU get back to the CFP in 2026 and make an even deeper run? The season is almost here, and the Mustangs have much bigger goals than simply competing for the ACC.#SMU #SMUFootball #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #ACC

Check out https://themustangmood.com/ for all things The Mustang Mood!SMU volleyball enters the 2026 season ranked No. 11 in the country, and the Mustangs have one of the most challenging schedules in college volleyball.George breaks down the 2026 SMU volleyball roster, projected starters, key returners and newcomers, and the biggest storylines heading into the season. He also takes a closer look at the schedule, the toughest stretches of the season, the biggest games at Moody Coliseum, and what SMU will need to accomplish to make another run in the NCAA Tournament.The episode finishes with a preview of the season opener against defending national champion Texas A&M and what to expect from SMU in its first match of the year.The 2026 season is here, and expectations are high for SMU volleyball.

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Suli Davis joins The Mustang Mood to talk about her first season at SMU after transferring from BYU, her experience playing for Team USA, and what the Mustangs are looking to accomplish in 2026.

Davis had a standout freshman season at BYU, earning Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors before entering the transfer portal and choosing to come back home to Dallas and play for SMU. She talks about what went into that decision, why SMU felt like the right fit, and how the team's new transfers and freshmen have come together.

We also talk about her experience with Team USA and winning gold at the U21 Pan-American Cup, her goals for the future, playing in front of SMU fans at Moody Coliseum, and what it's like being part of one of the most athletic teams she's played on.

Suli also gives us a look at the team's goals for the upcoming season, the challenging non-conference schedule, Spikes Under the Lights, the Bahamas tournament, and SMU's chances of competing for an ACC championship and national championship.

Pony Up!

Follow Suli Davis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suliane.td?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Get $10 off your first order at ponchooutdoors.com/mustangmood when you enter your email.Join Jay, Walker, and Yonnic as they sit down with SMU football Co-Defensive Coordinator and Play Caller Maurice Crum Jr. to preview the Mustangs’ 2026 defense.Crum Jr. discusses his journey from Notre Dame linebacker and two-time team captain to coaching at SMU, taking over play-calling duties, and preparing the Mustangs for a new-look defense in the ACC.The conversation covers SMU’s defensive identity heading into the 2026 season, how the scheme is being built around the team’s personnel, replacing key pieces up front, and the leadership of Alexander Kilgore, Ahmad Booker, and Brandon Miyazono. Crum also talks about the influence of Scott Symons, the culture of SMU football, and how the program has evolved since he joined Rhett Lashlee’s staff.With SMU opening the season at Florida State and traveling to Notre Dame later in the year, Crum shares what it will mean to return to South Bend and how his experience as a player at Notre Dame continues to influence him as a coach.Crum also reflects on the end of the 2025 season against Cal, the lessons from that game, and what the Mustangs need to do to take the next step in the ACC.#SMU #SMUFootball #Mustangs #CollegeFootball #ACC #NotreDame

Join The Mustang Mood as we sit down with SMU linebacker Alexander Kilgore ahead of the 2026 football season.Kilgore, a senior captain and one of the leaders of the SMU defense, discusses his journey from Katy Paetow to the Hilltop, being part of the first recruiting class brought in by Rhett Lashlee’s staff, and why he chose SMU.We also talk about SMU’s bowl win over Arizona, Kilgore’s interception in the game, the transition to Coach Crum calling the defense, and what to expect from the Mustang defense in 2026. Kilgore breaks down the linebacker room alongside Booker and Miyazono, the expectations surrounding SMU after being picked second in the ACC preseason poll, and preparing for a season-opening matchup against Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium.Kilgore also opens up about his work in the community, including his Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognition, youth football camps in Dallas and Houston, and his time working with Children’s Health. Plus, he talks about why he chose to stay at SMU for all four years despite the rise of NIL and the transfer portal, the growth of the program, the Heisman campaign for Kevin Jennings, life after football, and a few fun questions about the SMU locker room.Check out TheMustangMood.com to stay connected and support your favorite SMU podcast!

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Football season is getting closer, and there's finally plenty to talk about.

This week on The Mustang Mood, we're catching up on everything happening around SMU football and the Dallas sports scene. We break down the latest SMU recruiting news, discuss the proposed Gerald J. Ford Stadium expansion, react to the Mavericks' and Stars' offseason announcements, and go down a few rabbit holes along the way.

There's no set agenda, just a fun summer conversation covering the biggest storylines before fall camp begins.

Join Jay, George, and Yonnic as they break down everything happening around SMU athletics in this offseason update.The crew covers SMU’s role as a FIFA World Cup training site, including international teams practicing on the Hilltop, and what it means for the program’s national exposure. They also react to recent headlines across SMU sports, from women’s golf and track & field success to honoring Mustang legend Raymond Berry.On the basketball side, the guys take a deep dive into SMU’s revamped roster, key transfer additions, and what needs to happen for the Mustangs to make a serious run in the upcoming season.Plus, a full breakdown of SMU volleyball updates, transfer portal movement, and why Dallas is becoming a hub for the sport.To close it out, the conversation shifts to one of the biggest questions on the Hilltop right now: Should SMU add lacrosse? The crew explores how it would fit in the ACC, the potential impact on recruiting, and why it might make more sense than you think.Topics include:- SMU as a World Cup training site- Basketball transfer portal and roster outlook- Volleyball updates and Dallas Pulse success- SMU athletes competing at national championships- The case for (and against) adding lacrosse- Favorite moments from the past year in SMU sportsSubscribe for more SMU football, basketball, and full Hilltop coverage. Pony Up.

Join Ben, George, Jay, Walker, and Yonnic as the crew shares their official Mustang Mood preseason list for every team in the Atlantic Coast Conference heading into the 2026 college football season.

Each of us puts together a full ACC order from top to bottom and explains the biggest differences across our lists. We talk through the top tier of the conference, where teams separate in the middle, and which programs land near the bottom.

If you’re looking for ACC football rankings and a complete conference breakdown going into 2026, this episode covers it.

Join Jay, Walker, Yonnic, George, and Ben as we try to fix the College Football Playoff, and things get out of hand fast.We each pitch our ideal playoff format, from some small tweaks to full-on chaos. Should it expand to 24 teams? Does 12 already work? And yes… one of us seriously argues for a 64-team playoff and refuses to back down.The debate gets heated as we go back and forth on conference bias, regular season importance, and what actually makes college football great.If you're into college football, playoff expansion debates, and unfiltered arguments, this episode is for you. Drop your ideal format in the comments and subscribe for more weekly college football content.

Join George, Jay, and Walker as they break down everything from the SMU Football Spring Practice Showcase, including standout players, early takeaways, and what it all means for the Mustangs heading into the upcoming season.

Then, the guys switch gears with a heated grocery store tier list, ranking the best (and worst) places to shop.

From football analysis to off-topic debates, this episode of the Mustang Mood Podcast has it all for SMU fans and beyond. Be sure to like, subscribe, and follow for more SMU football coverage, recruiting updates, and weekly discussions.