The SMU football team won its first conference championship in 40 years with a win over Tulane earlier this month, finishing the season 11-2 and hoping to reach a New Year’s Six bowl game.
However, the Mustangs were passed over in favor of undefeated Conference USA champion Liberty (12-0) and will instead play in the second annual Wasabi Fenway Bowl against Boston College (6-6) at Fenway Park in Boston on Thursday morning.
“I think they were disappointed for like 10 minutes and then moved on,” SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee told the media last week. “I think those are characteristics of a championship team that we are fortunate to have, and I think that’s why we won.”
Despite the bowl destination, SMU has a chance to take a huge step forward and accomplish something it has not done since 1935: win a 12th football game in a single season.
“That’s hard to do in any year,” Lashlee said. “It’s only been done here once before, so that would be really cool to tie that mark.”
“Getting to 12 wins is a big deal,” defensive coordinator Scott Symons added. “I think us finishing the season off with momentum going forward is a big deal, and I think sending our seniors out the right way is a big deal. … It’s a big deal to me, it’s a big deal to our guys, and we want to finish it the right way.”
Thursday’s game will be SMU’s final as a member of the American Athletic Conference before moving to the ACC and becoming conference opponents with Boston College, which is not lost on the coaching staff.
“We have a chance to go beat a future conference opponent that we play next year,” Lashlee explained. “I think there’s a lot that could benefit us going into the offseason.”
Despite all the accomplishments this season, SMU has another one in its sights to complete the season: win a bowl game. The Mustangs have not won a bowl game since the 2012 Hawaii Bowl, dropping each of its last three bowl appearances.
“We’ve been able to check off a lot of things this year,” Lashlee added, “but it’s been a minute since we’ve won a bowl game. … Bowl games are intended to be rewards and intended to be fun. It’s a lot more fun when you win, so that’s our goal ultimately.”
The American lost in the inaugural Fenway Bowl last season.
SMU (11-2) and Boston College (6-6) will kick off at 10 a.m. CT on Thursday. The game can be seen on ESPN and is one of four bowl games that day.
