Remembering June Jones and the Week in SMU Athletics

Published on November 5, 2026

SMU Athletics Roundup

Remembering June Jones, Basketball Opens With Wins, and Lacrosse Lands Its First Transfer Class

In Memoriam

Remembering June Jones

Former SMU head football coach June Jones died Oct. 29 at age 73. Jones coached the Mustangs from 2008 to 2014, restoring a winning tradition on the Hilltop with four consecutive bowl appearances, including the program's first bowl game in 25 years. The 1911 Group sends its condolences to the Jones family and the SMU football community.

Around the Hilltop

The latest from Mustang football, basketball, soccer, and lacrosse.

Football

No. 19 SMU fell 30-27 at Syracuse on Oct. 31 and dropped out of the AP Top 25, holding at No. 24 in the coaches poll. The Mustangs are 6-2 overall and 4-2 in ACC play and host Virginia Tech on Friday, Nov. 6, at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Men's Basketball

SMU opened the season with an 85-72 win over Southern on Monday, Nov. 2, at Moody Coliseum. Freshman forward Jakub Szumert, who played professionally in Poland, led the Mustangs with 24 points and seven rebounds. SMU hosts VMI tonight at 7 p.m. CT.

Women's Basketball

SMU opened its season with a 72-36 win over Le Moyne on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Moody Coliseum. The Mustangs host Hampton today at 11 a.m. CT.

Men's Soccer

No. 1 SMU (12-0-3), the nation's only unbeaten team, earned the No. 1 seed and the lone first-round bye in the ACC Men's Soccer Championship. The Mustangs open postseason play at home on Sunday, Nov. 8, against the Notre Dame-Virginia winner. SMU is the reigning tournament champion.

Men's Lacrosse

Inside Lacrosse reports SMU is set to announce its first group of graduate transfers for the program's spring 2028 debut, led by six Ivy League players including Ryan Goldstein (Cornell), Tucker Wade (Princeton), Matthew Till (Penn), Matt Tully (Cornell), AJ Nikolic (Cornell), and Luke Gilmartin (Cornell), plus All-American long-stick midfielder Jake Melchionni (Villanova). At least six more graduate transfers have committed, per the report.

 
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