The 1976 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. Led by first-year head coach Ron Meyer, the Mustangs compiled an overall record of 3âÂÂ8, with a mark of 2-6 in conference play, placing seventh in the SWC.
Hired in January, Meyer was previously the head coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), then in Division II.