SMU made a massive splash in its ACC debut last year with a run to the College Football Playoff. Now the challenge is to sustain that success, and with returning QB Kevin Jennings and a confident head coach in Rhett Lashlee, the Mustangs are looking to prove they’re a permanent fixture at the top of the conference.
As the Mustangs look to build on that success, the great news for fans is that the new conference home puts the team on national TV all season. The ACC’s media deal means you’ll find most of their games on the ESPN family of networks, including ACC Network. But the non-conference schedule can be a bit unique, with games appearing on other channels like The CW and CBS Sports Network.
That’s a lot of different channels to keep track of, but that’s why I’ve put together this watch guide to simplify your season. Keep scrolling for the team’s schedule, my top streaming pick, and an FAQ section to get you prepped for Mustangs football.
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2025 SMU football TV schedule
When I first look at a team schedule, I always circle a few key dates that’ll likely define the season. For SMU’s second year in the ACC, a handful of games immediately jump off the page.
Two games in particular stand out as early season-definers. The first is the short road trip to face rival TCU. With the Battle for the Iron Skillet’s future uncertain, this year’s matchup carries extra weight. After that, my focus shifts to the huge visit to Clemson on October 18. That’s a game that’ll tell us if the 2025 Mustangs are ready to challenge the ACC’s heavyweights.
There’s also crucial November home games against Miami and Louisville. Those are the key dates I have circled, but every week matters. You can find the full TV schedule below, featuring the start times and channel listings that I’ll update each week.
| Opponent | Day | Time (ET)/Result | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Texas A&M Lions | Saturday, Aug. 30 | W 42–13 | ACC Network |
| Baylor Bears | Saturday, Sept. 6 | L 45–48 | The CW |
| At Missouri State Bears | Saturday, Sept. 13 | W 28–10 | CBS Sports Network |
| At TCU Horned Frogs | Saturday, Sept. 20 | L 24–35 | ESPN2 |
| Syracuse Orange | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 3:30 p.m. | ACC Network |
| Stanford Cardinal | Saturday, Oct. 11 | TBD | TBA |
| At Clemson Tigers | Saturday, Oct. 18 | TBD | TBA |
| At Wake Forest Demon Deacons | Saturday, Oct. 25 | TBD | TBA |
| Miami Hurricanes (#3) | Saturday, Nov. 1 | TBD | TBA |
| At Boston College Eagles | Saturday, Nov. 8 | TBD | TBA |
| Louisville Cardinals | Saturday, Nov. 22 | TBD | TBA |
| At California Golden Bears | Saturday, Nov. 29 | TBD | TBA |
Data effective as of post date. All listed rankings are from the AP Top 25 poll at the time of the matchup.
Best TV plans for watching SMU Mustangs football
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
With SMU’s schedule spread across multiple broadcasters, my top recommendation is a service that can keep up: Hulu + Live TV. I always point college football fans in this direction because it’s the best all-in-one package for most teams’ unique schedules. It not only gets you the essential ACC channels like ESPN, ESPN2, and ACC Network, but it also includes those non-conference wild cards like CBS Sports Network.
On top of that great channel lineup, the value is fantastic. Your subscription includes ESPN+ at no extra charge and comes with unlimited DVR storage to record games. Now, you might see some games listed on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX). But don’t panic. It’s not another channel you need to buy; it’s a digital hub you can access in the ESPN app, and your Hulu + Live TV login is all you need to unlock it.
How to watch SMU Mustangs football FAQ
Where can I watch the SMU Mustangs for free?
For any SMU football game on a broadcast network like ABC or The CW, your best bet is a one-time purchase of a digital antenna. But for games on premium channels like ESPN or ACC Network, I recommend using a free trial from a streaming service like DIRECTV or Fubo.
Where can I stream SMU games without cable?
To stream every SMU football game without cable, you’ll need a service that checks a few key boxes: the core ACC channels (ESPN, ACC Network) and non-conference networks like The CW and TNT. My top recommendation is Hulu + Live TV because it’s the simplest way to get all of them in one plan, with ESPN+ included to boot.
Can I watch SMU football on ESPN+?
Yes, you can watch SMU football on ESPN+. You’ll find one or two Mustangs games on the service each season, including simulcasts of many digital-only ACC Network Extra (ACCNX) games. ESPN+ is also a fantastic service for any general college sports fan, as it hosts thousands of events from several different conferences.
How do I watch SMU football if I live out of state?
When it comes to watching SMU football out of state, you can relax. Because the ACC’s partner channels (like ESPN and ACC Network) are all national, there are no regional restrictions or blackouts to worry about.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, cross-referenced the official SMU Mustangs football schedule with the channel lineups of every major TV provider. Using those details, he selected our viewing recommendations based on channel availability, pricing, and ease of use.
This guide is updated regularly throughout the season to ensure our information is accurate. To learn more about our methods, check out our How We Rank page.
