SMU sees Baylor as a measuring stick
A confident SMU team will face Baylor at McLane Stadium at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 10 on Fox Sports 1.
The Mustangs enter the contest after winning their season opener for the first time since 2009 and the first road season-opening win since 1986. The victory was against North Texas 34-21.
SMU used a balanced offensive attack led by two quarterbacks. Quarterback Matt Davis was eight of 17 for 155 yards with two touchdowns and an interception and had 14 rushes for 91 yards. Quarterback Ben Hicks was five of nine for 145 yards and a touchdown. Running back Xavier Jones had 11 rushes for 115 yards and a score. Receiver Courtland Sutton caught four passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns.
Baylor acting head coach Jim Grobe said SMU coach Chad Morris is implementing his spread offense with great success. The quarterbacks can scramble and throw effectively, which is a requirement to play for Morris.
“He’s going to spread you out and force you to make one-on-one tackles,” Grobe said. “The thing that he did a great job of at Clemson that impressed me is that you feel like you have to go back and play coverage, but the thing is that he loves to run the football. You can’t hunker down on one thing.”
Grobe noted missed tackles on SMU ball carriers will have adverse effects since they have breakaway speed and can score in a hurry.
“If you look at SMU against North Texas, they broke a lot of tackles and made them miss a lot,” he said. “That’s a real challenge going into this one for us.”
Meanwhile, the Bears rolled to victory by posting a 55-7 win over Northwestern State. Quarterback Seth Russell was 14 of 20 for 163 yards and four touchdowns in less than two quarters of play in his first game since suffering a season-ending injury in October.
Running back Shock Linwood had nine carries for 97 yards, and K.D. Cannon caught five passes for 46 yards and a score.
Morris noted the Bears are 30-3 at home since 2011.
“Not many people go in there and have success,” he said. “We’re excited about this opportunity that’s in front of us. It’s a great gage on where our program is coming into year two.”
Last season Baylor beat SMU 56-21 thanks to Russell threw for 376 yards and five touchdowns.
Still, it was only a 28-21 game at the half after Davis was sacked at the Baylor 3.
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