In the modern era, college football is constantly changing.
First, the Name, Image and Likeness policy for 2021, then the expansion of the College Football Playoff, and now teams switching conferences.
On September 1, 2023, the ACC announced that it would add UC, Stanford and SMU to the conference for the 2024-25 season, just one of many conferences that have added teams and become known as “super conferences.”
With that change comes growth and adaptation.
The Boston College Eagles will get their first taste of the change in Week 12 when they travel to Dallas, Texas to take on the SMU Mustangs, the team's first and only new conference opponent of the season.
Let's take a look at the upcoming matchups:
attack
The biggest question for the team is who will be their quarterback leader, but fortunately for SMU, last year's starting QB, Preston Stone, will remain in the fold. Stone completed 206 of 344 attempts for 3,197 yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2023.
As for offensive weapons, the Mustangs continued to use starting rusher Jaylan Knighton, who rushed 136 times for 745 yards and seven touchdowns last year.
The Mustangs also have last season's top wide receiver, Jake Bailey, and tight end RJ Maryland. Bailey didn't score, but he led the team in receiving yards with 42 receptions for 528 yards. Maryland was one of two weapons to record seven touchdowns, tied for the most on the team, and he also had 34 receptions for 518 yards.
defense
The Mustangs defense will look similar to last season as the team's top three tacklers remain in safety Isaiah Nwokobia and linebackers Ahmad Walker and Kobe Wilson. In 2023, the trio recorded a combined 206 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, five interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
schedule
The Mustangs will be well-rested coming into this game as they have just their second bye week of the season leading up to this weekend, while the Eagles are scheduled to travel to Dallas immediately following a home game against Syracuse.
Outlook
Although these two teams don't meet often, this game will be a competitive one. In the two previous meetings, the margin of victory was within 11 points. Additionally, in 2023, SMU had a perfect record of 6-0 at home. Still, I believe that experience against conference opponents is a big factor in a team's victory, and for this reason, I believe the Eagles will win in Dallas.
Boston College SMU:
BCCentral will take a closer look at each of the Eagles' upcoming opponents this season, including their Week 12 matchup against the SMU Mustangs.
game:
date: November 16
time: to be decided
tv set: to be decided
position: Gerald Ford Stadium (Dallas, Texas).
series: The overall record is tied at 1 win and 1 loss.
Last meeting: The last time these two teams met was on December 28, 2023 at Wasabi Fenway Bowl, with Boston College winning 23-14.
team:
coach: Rhett Lashley
Offensive Coordinator: Casey Woods
Defensive Coordinator: Scott Simmons
2023 Record: 11- 3
Players to watch: QB Preston Stone, RB Jaylan Knighton, WR Jake Bailey, TE RJ Maryland, S Isaiah Nwokobia, LB Ahmad Walker, LB Kobe Wilson, K Collin Rogers.
Top Newcomers: Recruit – 3-star RB Derrick McFaul. Transfer – Former Oklahoma State OT Savion Byrd.
school:
position: Dallas, Texas (University Park)
Founded: 1911
Registration: 12,053
nickname: Mustang
color: Red and Blue
mascot: Peruna
program:
Last win against Boston College: 1986.
Previous ACC winners: No, SMU was one of three teams that joined the ACC last offseason.
National Championships: Three — 1935, 1981, and 1982.
Playoff appearances: none.
Conference Championships: 12 — 11 SWAC: 1923; 1926; 1931; 1935; 1940; 1947; 1948; 1966; 1981; 1982; 1984. 1 in AAC: 2023.
Bowl appearances: 21 — 7-11-1 record.
Last time they didn't play in a bowl: 2018.
Heisman Trophy: The first was Doak Walker in 1948.
2024 NFL Draft: none.
Rankings of recruiting classes from the last four years: No. 57 of 2024; No. 41 of 2023, No. 49 of 2022; No. 46 of 2021.
schedule:
August 24: Nevada
August 31st: vs HCU
September 6: vs. BYU
September 21st: vs. TCU
September 28: vs. Florida State University
October 5: Louisville
October 19: Stanford
October 26: Duke University
Nov. 2: vs. Pittsburgh
November 16: vs. Boston College
November 23: Virginia
November 30: vs. University of California
This is a BCCentral series, so read on to read the rest of our early previews of the opponents.Week 1 at Florida State UniversityWeek 2 vs. Duquesne; Week 3 in Missouri, Week 4 vs. Michigan StateWeek 5 vs. Western Kentucky, Week 6 in Virginia, Week 8 at Virginia Tech, Week 9 vs. Louisvilleand Week 11 vs. Syracuse.