1966 SMU Mustangs football team

1966 SMU Mustangs football
1966 SMU Mustangs football
SWC champion
Cotton Bowl Classic, L 9–24 vs. Georgia
Conference	Southwest Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 9
AP	No. 10
Record	8–3 (6–1 SWC)
Head coach	Hayden Fry (5th season);
Home stadium	Cotton Bowl
	Seasons ← 1965 1967 →

The 1966 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Hayden Fry, the Mustangs compiled an overall record of 8–3 with a conference mark of 6–1, winning the SWC title.

1966 Southwest Conference football standings
v t e	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 10 SMU $	6	–	1	–	0	8	–	3	–	0
Arkansas	5	–	2	–	0	8	–	2	–	0
Texas	5	–	2	–	0	7	–	4	–	0
Texas A&M	4	–	3	–	0	4	–	5	–	1
Baylor	3	–	4	–	0	5	–	5	–	0
Texas Tech	2	–	5	–	0	4	–	6	–	0
TCU	2	–	5	–	0	2	–	8	–	0
Rice	1	–	6	–	0	2	–	8	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The Mustangs seemingly blew their chances at the SWC championship with a 22–0 loss on November 12 at Arkansas, the two-time reigning SWC champion. However, SMU's title hopes reopened by Texas Tech, which upended the Razorbacks, 21–16 in Arkansas' season finale on November 19. Seven days later, SMU shut out rival TCU, 21–0.

SMU earned a berth in the Cotton Bowl Classic, played in their home stadium, the Cotton Bowl. The Mustangs lost the game to Georgia on New Year's Eve.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 17	Illinois*		Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX		W 26–7	28,000
September 24	Navy*		Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX (rivalry)		W 21–3	58,000
October 1	at Purdue*		Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN		L 23–35	46,116
October 15	Rice		Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX (rivalry)		W 28–24	30,000
October 22	at Texas Tech		Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX		W 24–7	40,350
October 29	at Texas		Memorial Stadium Austin, TX		W 13–12	58,500	^[1]
November 5	Texas A&M		Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX		W 21–14	53,000
November 12	at No. 6 Arkansas		Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR		L 0–22	42,000
November 19	Baylor		Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX		W 24–22	30,000
November 26	at TCU		Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX (rivalry)		W 21–0	30,000
December 31	vs. No. 4 Georgia	No. 10	Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX (Cotton Bowl Classic)	CBS	L 9–24	75,504	^[2]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1966 SMU Mustangs football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
WR	`23`	Jerry LeVias	So
QB	`18`	Mike Livingston	Jr
RB	`24`	Mike Richardson	So

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K	`3`	Dennis Partee	Jr

Head coach

Hayden Fry

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

References

^ "Last-minute kick gives SMU win over Texas, 13–12". The Kilgore News Herald. October 30, 1966. Retrieved April 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Georgia wins; Southern Methodist can't defense Bulldogs speedster". The Terre Haute Tribune. January 1, 1967. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

This college football 1960s season article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "Last-minute kick gives SMU win over Texas, 13–12". The Kilgore News Herald. October 30, 1966. Retrieved April 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

[2] "Georgia wins; Southern Methodist can't defense Bulldogs speedster". The Terre Haute Tribune. January 1, 1967. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

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