10. Hawaii Bowl: 2009
On December 12, 2009, SMU football won the Hawaii Bowl 45-10 over Nevada. After a 25-year postseason drought, this was one of the most meaningful victories in program history. The Mustangs had only had one winning season since returning from the infamous Death Penalty in 1989. This win gave hope to the SMU faithful and served as a reminder that the program could be revived. Freshman quarterback Kyle Padron led SMU against Nevada, throwing for an SMU-record 460 yards and two touchdowns.