American college football season
The 1984 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season . Led by third-year head coach Bobby Collins , the Mustangs compiled an overall record 10–2 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, sharing the SWC title with Houston and marking the third time in four years that SMU had at least a share of the title. This was the last year the Mustangs would win a conference title until 2023 when they won the American Athletic Conference title.[ 1]
While Houston, who beat SMU, received a bid to the Cotton Bowl Classic , the Mustangs were invited to play in the Aloha Bowl , where they defeated Notre Dame , 27–20. SMU finished the season ranked No. 8 in both the major polls.
1984 marked SMU's fourth consecutive ten-win season. The Mustangs did not make another bowl game appearance until the 2009 season .
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 15 at Louisville * No. 14 W 41–726,589 [ 2] September 22 North Texas State * No. 13 W 24–627,124 [ 3] September 29 TCU No. 11 W 26–1758,206 [ 4] October 13 at Baylor No. 7 W 24–2026,400 [ 5] October 20 Houston No. 6 L 20–2928,361 [ 6] October 27 at No. 2 Texas No. 14 L 7–1380,759 [ 7] November 3 Texas A&M No. 19 W 28–2047,113 [ 8] November 10 at Rice No. 17 W 31–1715,692 [ 9] November 17 at Texas Tech No. 16 W 31–031,864 [ 10] November 24 Arkansas No. 11 W 31–2828,712 [ 11] December 1 at UNLV * No. 10 W 38–2122,639 [ 12] December 29 vs. No. 17 Notre Dame * No. 10 W 27–2041,777 [ 13] *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
1984 SMU Mustangs football team roster Players Coaches Offense Defense Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt
Team players in the NFL [ edit ] ^ Stevenson, Stefan (December 2, 2023). "SMU asserts dominance over Tulane, secures first conference championship win in 39 years" . Dallas Morning News . Retrieved December 3, 2023 . ^ "Pony Express II delivers SMU win" . Wichita Falls Times . September 16, 1984. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "SMU downs North Texas" . Del Rio News Herald . September 23, 1984. Retrieved October 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "SMU squeaks by determined TCU" . The Victoria Advocate . September 30, 1984. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "SMU's win not by design" . The Abilene Reporter-News . October 14, 1984. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Houston upends SMU" . The Daily Advertiser . October 21, 1984. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Texas holds off SMU, 13–7" . The Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph . October 28, 1984. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "SMU survives A&M scare, wins, 28–20" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . November 4, 1984. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Mustangs come alive, subdue Owls, 31–17" . Longview Morning Journal . November 11, 1984. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "SMU smashes Tech 31–0, keeps Cotton hope alive" . The Corpus Christi Caller-Times . November 18, 1984. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Ponies outlast Hogs to earn co-title" . Waco Tribune-Herald . November 25, 1984. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "UNLV blitzed by SMU" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . December 2, 1984. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "A pass too far helps SMU win" . The Sunday Star Bulletin & Advertiser . December 30, 1984. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
National championships in bold