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EXHIBIT 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

        We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of SM Energy Company for the registration of 13,385,949 shares of its common stock to be sold by selling stockholders, and to the incorporated by reference therein of our reports dated February 23, 2017, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of SM Energy Company and subsidiaries, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of SM Energy Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016, included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Denver, Colorado
March 20, 2017




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Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm