| Year: | 1953 |
| Team: | SMU Mustangs |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southwest Conference |
| Short Conf: | SWC |
| Record: | 5–5 |
| Conf Record: | 3–3 |
| Head Coach: | Woody Woodard |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Captain: | Jack Gunlock, Jerry Clem |
The 1953 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1953 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Woody Woodard, the Mustangs compiled an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 3–3 in conference play, placing fourth in the SWC. SMU played home games at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Jack Gunlock and Jerry Clem were the team captains.