It’s a new era in SMU Athletics – and academics, too. “We're excited to bring elite-level ACC athletic competition to our friends and neighbors and also look forward to pursuing shared academic opportunities with other ACC-member universities,” says SMU President R. Gerald Turner.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson calls it a proud moment for the entire city. “It signifies not only a triumph for SMU, but also a pivotal moment that will elevate our community and enrich our sports culture," Johnson says. “To the ACC community, I send a warm welcome to Dallas.”

The energy is palpable across the entire Dallas-Fort Worth region. “I was an athlete on the Hilltop in the 1980s, and let me tell you, we’ve come a long way since then,” says Clark Hunt ’87, chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs and an SMU trustee. “Now, we’re joining the Atlantic Coast Conference, and that means highly ranked opponents, national TV games and a whole new energy on campus.”