SMU Top 25 Games of the 2020s
A 2020s ranking built from game-time AP poll strength, final-score closeness, overtime, and the featured team's result.
- Games ranked
- 25
- Highest score
- 54/100
- Ranked matchups
- 18
2020s ranking
Top 25 games of the 2020s in the database
Wins receive a small preference, but exceptional losses and ties remain eligible. Select any game for its available box score and statistics.
- 2025Week 10Home1OT
W 26-20 vs. Miami
Unranked SMU vs. No. 10 Miami · 6-point margin
Ranking 16/50 · Closeness 24/30 · Overtime 9/15 · Win 5/5
54
Game score
Highlight · 2025 SMU vs. Miami (Regular Season Full Game)
- 2024Week 15Neutral site
L 31-34 vs. Clemson
No. 8 SMU vs. No. 18 Clemson · 3-point margin
Ranking 26/50 · Closeness 27/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 0/5
53
Game score
Full Game · 2024 SMU vs. Clemson (ACC Championship Game Full Game)
- 2025Week 2Home2OT
L 45-48 vs. Baylor
No. 17 SMU vs. Unranked Baylor · 3-point margin
Ranking 9/50 · Closeness 27/30 · Overtime 11/15 · Win 0/5
47
Game score
Highlight · 2025 SMU vs. Baylor (Regular Season Full Game)
- 2024College Football Playoff First Round Game Presented by AllstateAway
L 10-38 vs. Penn State
No. 5 Penn State vs. No. 12 SMU · 28-point margin
Ranking 35/50 · Closeness 2/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 0/5
37
Game score
Highlight · 2024 Penn State vs. SMU (CFP First Round Full Game)
- 2023Week 14Away
W 26-14 vs. Tulane
No. 17 Tulane vs. No. 25 SMU · 12-point margin
Ranking 10/50 · Closeness 18/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 5/5
33
Game score
Full Game · 2023 Tulane vs. SMU (American Football Championship Full Game)
Methodology
How each game earns up to 100 points
AP ranking, 50 points: each team earns 26 minus its game-week AP rank. Unranked teams receive zero ranking points.
Closeness, 30 points: the score margin is subtracted from 30, with margins of 30 or more receiving zero.
Overtime, 15 points: overtime starts at nine points and rises by two per additional period, capped at 15.
Result, 5 points: a featured-team win receives five points; losses and ties receive zero.
Regular-season rankings are matched to the AP Top 25 for the game's recorded week. Postseason games use the final regular-season AP poll published before bowl and playoff results. Overtime uses period scoring when available, then explicit overtime notes as a fallback. Older games and smaller programs may have less complete poll or period data.
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