It’s been nearly a decade since the Mustangs and Bears collided on a football field, and plenty has changed since that 2016 meeting, especially for SMU.
During that matchup nine years ago, SMU was a fourth-year member of the American Conference in the midst of a nightmare 4-year stretch that featured a 13-35 record. Since, the Mustangs have taken the fast lane to success, producing three 10+ win seasons, their first conference championship since the 80s, and an appearance in the inaugural College
Football Playoff.
Baylor has rattled off 13-straight wins over SMU with the last four margins of victory at 27 or greater. The Mustangs’ last win over the Bears was one year prior to the infamous “death penalty” when both Texas-based programs shared the Southwest Conference. Despite the green and gold’s recent dominance in the series, SMU is the one entering this matchup as the favorite, equipped with a No. 17 ranking beside its name.
Here are three questions which determine the outcome of Saturday’s 12 p.m. ET affair on The CW Network:
Who steps up for Jordan Hudson?
For the first time since 1985, SMU opened a season with a ranking beside its name. The Mustangs eagerly awaited their 2025 campaign to commence, and after a touchback on the opening kickoff vs. FCS East Texas A&M, it was go-time. SMU drew up a tunnel screen for wide receiver Jordan Hudson for its first play of the season, aptly getting the ball in the hands of the team’s top skill position player.
Hudson took the screen seven yards but then arose from the ground with a limp left arm. The senior receiver suffered an elbow injury, and although x-rays were negative per head coach Rhett Lashlee’s postgame press conference. Still, Hudson’s availability for Saturday remains in doubt, and SMU may have to unleash a batch of talent without its returning receptions and receiving yards leader from 2024.
If Hudson is unable to go, SMU is without each of its top five wide receivers from a year ago, given the amount of senior talent it lost in the offseason. That elevates Romello Brinson into a potential lead role, and Brinson proved capable of handling it with seven receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown last week. Brinson missed the entirety of October and November in 2024, but proved to be a viable option with 431 yards during the Mustangs’ final season in the American in 2023.
Another receiver that must step up against the Bears’ aerial defense is Jalen Cooper. The 4-star true freshman delivered a promising debut on The Hilltop, securing five receptions for 73 yards and his first-career touchdown. And while SMU’s receiver depth is limited, the Mustangs may offer as good of a one-two punch at tight end as there is in the country with RJ Maryland and Matthew Hibner. Both are capable of lining up at receiver and could present some matchup issues with their larger frames and catch radii.
Also of note: Hudson isn’t the only injured starter to account for. Inside linebacker Alex Kilgore suffered an ankle injury in the opener. The team captain registered 56 tackles, three tackles for loss, and three pass breakups in 2024 and could be a major loss vs. a high-powered Baylor offense if he’s unable to go.
How much damage can Jennings do as runner?
It didn’t take long for Baylor to show its Achilles heel in anticipated home opener vs. Auburn. The Bears’ defense limited quarterback Jackson Arnold to 108 yards passing on an 11-of-17 showing. But Arnold brutalized Baylor in a different manner, gunning for 137 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his first game as a Tiger. A bulk of those yards occurred from broken passing plays as Arnold routinely improvised his way out of the pocket and past the first down marker.
Baylor likely takes a more cautious approach to limiting quarterback mobility in Week 2 after the Week 1 debacle, especially because Kevin Jennings can run — even if it’s far from his most notable attribute. Jennings is renowned for his aerial attack, but he’s been able to improvise on the run as well, notably doing so in a 113-yard outing at Louisville last October. SMU may also design runs for Jennings this week to exploit a possible advantage, and the second-year starter thrives when his number is called for those situations. A designed QB draw went for a 24-yard touchdown and sparked SMU’s offense in the ACC Championship vs. Clemson nine months ago.
Can the Mustangs correct preventable mistakes?
SMU was one of the best all-around teams in the 2024 season, thriving without a major weakness on offense or defense. The Mustangs’ well-roundedness and depth guided them into the final at-large College Football Playoff spot, but they weren’t without their flaws. One of those flaws reared its ugly head during the CFP opening round at Penn State — turnovers.
SMU threw three first half interceptions to the Nittany Lions — two for pick-sixes — ultimately pushing the Mustangs into a deep hole they couldn’t climb out of. The turnover bug wasn’t a one-time affair for SMU either. Rhett Lashlee’s team survived a road matchup at Duke where it lost the turnover battle 6-0, committing three-straight turnovers on its last three drives of regulation to nearly give away the game. Two early turnovers also put SMU in a 24-7 disadvantage against Clemson in the ACC Championship Game.
These turnover barrages usually come in waves, but if the offense starts hot, it’s usually something SMU doesn’t need to worry about. But last week could have certainly fared better, as the Mustangs committed three turnovers against an FCS school, including two in the first half with the starters in. Another problem SMU must quell before it becomes costly is penalties. After leading the country in penalty yardage in 2024, the Mustangs drew eight flags for 84 yards in Week 1. Baylor played a much cleaner opener, devoid of a turnover and only collecting 55 penalty yards against Auburn. These are edges SMU cannot afford to let Baylor have if it wants to break the 13-game skid Saturday.
