Ava Hunt, daughter of Kansas City Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt, is enjoying an unforgettable freshman year at Southern Methodist University (SMU). On Sunday, she joined in the celebration as her school’s football team was announced as the No. 11 seed in the newly expanded College Football Playoff. The 11-2 Mustangs earned their spot in the 12-team field, marking the program’s first-ever CFP appearance—a monumental achievement for SMU football.
Hunt, a member of SMU’s Spirit Team, shared her excitement on social media, reposting the ACC’s congratulatory announcement. The Mustangs are set to face No. 6 Penn State (11-2) in the first round, a dramatic turn of events for a program once sidelined from the upper echelons of college football.
A Historic Season for SMU
The Mustangs’ inclusion in the playoff comes just a day after a heartbreaking loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game.
SMU fell to the Tigers in dramatic fashion, with Clemson securing a victory on a walk-off 56-yard field goal at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Despite the defeat, the Mustangs’ season-long performance earned them a place in the playoff field, a historic milestone under the new CFP structure.
Hunt’s family, including her older sister Gracie Hunt, was present at the championship game to support SMU. After the game, Gracie shared her pride for the team on Instagram, writing: “Not the result we were hoping for, but so proud of our Ponies!”
Ava Hunt’s Journey to SMU
Ava announced her commitment to SMU in March, expressing her enthusiasm for joining the university’s Spirit Team. “It’s official!! So beyond thankful for the opportunity to keep doing what I love!” she shared on social media, adding hashtags like “SMU Cheer” and “Pony Up.”
Her decision to join SMU came just one month after her family’s Chiefs secured their second consecutive Super Bowl victory. In February, the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime, 25-22, to claim the championship. Ava celebrated the win from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, sharing her gratitude on Instagram: “BACK TO BACK CHAMPS!! God is so good! This one was for NKH.”
The heartfelt post honored the memory of her grandmother, Norma Hunt, the wife of Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, who passed away in June 2023 at the age of 85.
The Hunt Family Legacy
The Hunt family’s deep ties to football extend from the NFL to college sports, with Ava now contributing to that legacy as part of SMU’s historic run. While the Chiefs are vying for a Super Bowl three-peat this season after clinching a playoff berth in November, Ava is cheering on a different set of champions in SMU’s Mustangs.
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Looking Ahead
The Mustangs will face a tough test in their first-round playoff matchup against Penn State on Dec. 21. The game represents a new chapter for SMU, one of college football’s most remarkable comeback stories.
Meanwhile, Ava Hunt’s first year at SMU continues to be a memorable one, blending her family’s football legacy with the excitement of being part of a historic moment for her school.
For the Hunt family, this holiday season promises to be filled with thrilling football action, from SMU’s CFP debut to the Chiefs’ playoff push. Whether on the sidelines in Dallas or cheering from Kansas City, Ava Hunt is at the heart of it all.
