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How many national championships has SMU won?
Key takeaways
- SMU Mustangs football has won 3 national championships: 1935, 1981, 1982.
- Title seasons: 1935, 1981, 1982.
- Across the ACC, Pittsburgh (9), California (5), Miami (5), Georgia Tech (4), Clemson (3), Florida State (3), SMU (3), Stanford (2), Syracuse (1) have claimed national titles.
- All-time record in our game log (1915-2026): 558-571-54.
3 National titles
558-571-54 Record 1915-2026
7 of 19 Bowl / playoff wins
1923 (9-0) Best season
44
seasons since SMU's last national championship 1982 national championship (claimed) - Finished 11-0-1.
Every national title, year by year
| Year | Title | The season |
|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 1935 national championship (claimed) | Finished 12-1. |
| 1981 | 1981 national championship (claimed) | Finished 10-1. |
| 1982 | 1982 national championship (claimed) | Finished 11-0-1. |
Claimed national championships, per the program's own record book.
SMU postseason, 1915-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9-4 | Won Trust & Will Holiday Bowl |
| 2024 | 11-3 | Lost College Football Playoff First Round Game Presented by Allstate |
| 2023 | 11-3 | Lost Wasabi Fenway Bowl |
| 2022 | 7-6 | Lost New Mexico Bowl |
| 2019 | 10-3 | Lost CHERIBUNDI BOCA RATON BOWL |
| 2017 | 7-6 | Lost DXL FRISCO BOWL |
| 2012 | 7-6 | Won SHERATON HAWAII BOWL |
| 2011 | 8-5 | Won BBVA COMPASS BOWL |
| 2010 | 7-7 | Lost BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL |
| 2009 | 8-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 1984 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1983 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1980 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1968 | 8-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1966 | 8-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1963 | 4-7 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1948 | 9-1-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1947 | 9-0-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1924 | 5-1-4 | Lost Bowl game |
Source: CollegeFootballData game results via the CFB Data Hub.
National titles across the ACC
| Team | Titles | Last title |
|---|---|---|
 Pittsburgh Panthers | 9 | 1976 |
 California Golden Bears | 5 | 1937 |
 Miami Hurricanes | 5 | 2001 |
 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 4 | 1990 |
 Clemson Tigers | 3 | 2018 |
 Florida State Seminoles | 3 | 2013 |
 SMU Mustangs this page | 3 | 1982 |
 Stanford Cardinal | 2 | 1940 |
 Syracuse Orange | 1 | 1959 |
 Boston College Eagles | 0 | None yet |
 Duke Blue Devils | 0 | None yet |
 Louisville Cardinals | 0 | None yet |
 NC State Wolfpack | 0 | None yet |
 North Carolina Tar Heels | 0 | None yet |
 Virginia Cavaliers | 0 | None yet |
 Virginia Tech Hokies | 0 | None yet |
 Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 0 | None yet |
Current ACC members, claimed national championships.
Where SMU sits in the ACC
Current ACC programs have claimed 35 national titles between them: nine for Pittsburgh, five for California, five for Miami, four for Georgia Tech, three for Clemson, three for Florida State, three for SMU, two for Stanford and one for Syracuse. The other eight programs are still chasing a first. See how this season is shaping up on the ACC standings, or browse every season on the SMU record by year page.
Editorial note
College football crowned national champions by polls and selectors before the BCS (1998) and the College Football Playoff (2014). The titles here are the ones each program claims in its own record book.
SMU Mustangs football has won 3 national championships: 1935, 1981, 1982.
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Frequently asked questions
How many national championships has SMU won?
3. 1935 national championship (claimed), 1981 national championship (claimed), 1982 national championship (claimed).
When did SMU win its first national championship?
In 1935. Finished 12-1.
When did SMU last win a national championship?
In 1982. Finished 11-0-1.