SMU Mustangs football statistical leaders

The SMU Mustangs football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the SMU Mustangs football program in various categories, including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, kicking, and scoring. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. Since the 2024 season, the Mustangs have represented Southern Methodist University in the NCAA Division I FBS Atlantic Coast Conference.

Although SMU began competing in intercollegiate football in 1915, the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1945. Records from before this year are often incomplete and inconsistent, and they are generally not included in these lists.

These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:

• Since 1945, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length.
• The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers.
• Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002. The Mustangs have played in eight bowl games since this decision, giving many recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics. SMU also played a first-round game in the 2024–25 College Football Playoff.
• Since 2018, players have been allowed to participate in as many as four games in a redshirt season; previously, playing in even one game "burned" the redshirt. Since 2024, postseason games have not counted against the four-game limit. These changes to redshirt rules have given very recent players several extra games to accumulate statistics.
• The American Conference, in which SMU played from 2013 to 2023, has held a championship game since 2015. SMU played in that game in 2023, giving players in that season yet another game to compile statistics. The Mustangs' current home of the ACC also holds a championship game, and SMU played in that game in its first ACC season in 2024.
• Due to COVID-19 disruptions, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not be counted against any football player's athletic eligibility, giving players active in that season five years of eligibility instead of the standard four.

These lists are updated through Week 5 of the 2025 season. Players active in 2025 are in bold.

Passing

Passing yards

Passing touchdowns

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Rushing

Rushing yards

Rushing touchdowns

Receiving

Receptions

Receiving yards

Receiving touchdowns

Total offense

Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.

Total offense yards

Touchdowns responsible for

In official NCAA records, "touchdowns responsible for" includes rushing and passing touchdowns, but not receptions or returns—the same statistical categories used to measure total offense.

Defense

Interceptions

Tackles

Sacks

Kicking

Field goals made

Field goal percentage

SMU's football record book does not list a full top 10 for either career or single-season accuracy, listing only the career leader and the single-season top three. However, the Sports-Reference website lists all SMU players since 2000 with at least one career field goal, with the list sortable by any relevant career statistic, including accuracy.

Scoring

Total points

Total touchdowns

These lists include touchdowns scored by each individual player, thus including rushing, receiving, and return touchdowns but not passing touchdowns. SMU does not break down its lists of total touchdown leaders by type of play. It lists only the top 8 for career touchdowns and top 6 for single-season touchdowns.

Footnotes

References