1966 SMU Mustangs football team

1966 SMU Mustangs football
SWC champion
ConferenceSouthwest Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 9
APNo. 10
Record8–3 (6–1 SWC)
Head coach
Home stadiumCotton Bowl
Seasons
← 1965
1967 →
1966 Southwest Conference football standings
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 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.

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.