After finishing the 2020 season with a 7-3 overall record and 4-3 conference record, SMU has been picked to finish 3rd in the conference this season.

The Ponies picked up 188 points in the media poll, which was seven higher than Houston. SMU trailed Cincinnati, which won the conference last season and collected 22 of the 24 first-place votes. UCF was picked second and received the other two first-place votes.

SMU is 17-6 in its last two seasons under head coach Sonny Dykes, who spoke first in the AAC media days saying that his team has been practicing with a lot of confidence and that the depth of this year's team is much greater than in previous years.

"You're only as strong as your back third of your roster," Dykes said. "We feel that we've improved that part of our roster."

SMU returns 18 starters from a year ago, which got as high as 16th nationally before dropping its final two conference games as it pushed for a conference championship berth.

Team (First-Place Votes) - Points

1. Cincinnati (22) - 262

2. UCF (2) - 241

3. SMU - 188

4. Houston - 181

5. Memphis - 168

6. Tulsa - 153

7. Tulane - 132

t8. East Carolina - 85

t8. Navy - 85

10. Temple - 46

11. South Florida - 43