SMU's failure to establish itself as a difficult team to beat throughout the season caught up with the Mustangs in a loss at Syracuse on Saturday, October 31, 2026. The defeat underscored a recurring theme for SMU, which had avoided serious consequences for its inconsistencies until this matchup.
Syracuse tight end Noah Meyers provided a decisive moment, scoring a touchdown in the second half against SMU linebacker Alexander Kilgore. The play highlighted the Mustangs' defensive struggles that have persisted all year.
The loss at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., serves as a culmination of SMU's season-long inability to close out games and protect leads, a pattern that finally resulted in a defeat when the Orange capitalized on the opportunities presented.
