On3 Rates SMU Transfer Classes Higher Than 247 Sports Amid 30‑Senior Football Exodus

TL;DR: On3 places SMU’s incoming football and basketball transfers ahead of 247 Sports, a crucial boost as the football program loses about 30 seniors.

Context SMU’s athletic department faces a rare roster turnover. The football team entered the transfer portal after a season that saw roughly 30 seniors and several starters depart. Basketball, while less volatile, also added a handful of transfers to reshape its lineup under coach Andy Enfield.

Key Facts - On3’s national transfer‑portal rankings rank SMU’s football and basketball classes higher than the comparable 247 Sports lists. Other outlets, such as ESPN, do not rank SMU because they limit coverage to the top 25. - The football roster lost nearly all of its front seven: four starting defensive linemen and six of the eight top tacklers, alongside the senior exodus. - Incoming football transfers include wide receivers Yannick Smith (East Carolina) and Jalen Hale (Alabama), running back Kendrick Raphael (Cal), and defensive players such as Malcolm Alcorn‑Crowder (Kansas State) and Jarvis Lee (USF). - In basketball, the Mustangs added point guard Rowan Brumbaugh (Tulane), forward Nic Codie (Texas), and others, each representing roughly 20 % of a typical starting five. - Football starters total 11 on offense and 11 on defense, meaning the loss of 30 seniors represents a larger production gap than basketball’s single‑player impact.

What It Means The disparity between the two sports’ reliance on transfers is stark. Football’s 22 starters amplify the need for immediate contributors; the incoming transfers are expected to form the core of the 2026 season rather than serve as depth pieces. Defensive newcomers like Alcorn‑Crowder and Lee must fill gaps that, if left unaddressed, could turn a potential 10‑win campaign into a .500 record.

Basketball’s rebuild is more incremental. One transfer can shift 20 % of the starting lineup, allowing the coaching staff to experiment with new identities without the same win‑now pressure that drives football’s top‑25 aspirations. Success in the portal will determine whether SMU climbs into the ACC’s upper tier or remains a middle‑of‑the‑pack contender.

Looking Ahead Monitor the early‑season performance of the football transfers, especially on the defensive line, and watch how the basketball newcomers integrate into Enfield’s system. Their impact will shape SMU’s trajectory in both the ACC and the national landscape.