SMU is GOOD good

There are 14 teams in the American Athletic Conference. Exactly one of them is undefeated – the SMU Mustangs. 

SMU walked into Amon G. Carter Stadium to face off against a ranked TCU squad, and punched them right in the mouth. A trick play on the first drive went for a touchdown, and then a handful of forced fumbles throughout helped ice it. 

Beating North Texas and Arkansas State were nice wins to help build a resume for SMU. Beating TCU should bring them right to the front of the Group of Five conversation, and even put them in contention for a conference title and New Year’s Six spot. There’s a lot of work left to do, but it’s hard to overstate how significant this performance was for the future of the program. 

Oh, and by the way, after beating North Texas and TCU in the first four weeks of the season, SMU is officially the kings of the Metroplex. 

There's nothing to worry about at North Texas

After losing consecutive games against SMU and Cal, there was some concern for Mason Fine and the Mean Green. With more info, there’s clearly nothing to worry about in Denton. 

The Mean Green dominated UTSA in every phase of the game, posting 45 points and 501 yards of offense and holding the Roadrunners to just 295 and three points. Frank Harris went out for UTSA, but UNT still did enough things to look like an elite team in the conference. Perhaps the best news? UNT dominated in the run game, where it hasn’t always won. Tre Siggers is going to be a problem for C-USA defenses. 

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that SMU and Cal have quietly become among the most underrated teams in the sport. The duo has a combined 8-0 record, and are the only undefeated teams in their respective conferences. If anything, the fact that UNT hung so hard with Cal on the road is a tremendous sign. 

TCU’s offense will be a season-long issue

The Horned Frogs finally committed to one quarterback for a full game, as true freshman Max Duggan took every snap against SMU. The results weren’t ideal. 

Duggan completed just 1-of-10 passes in the first half against the Mustangs, as TCU trailed by two touchdowns against SMU for the first time since 2011. No coincidence, the Mustangs also lost the Iron Skillet for the first time since 2011. 

Darius Anderson was able to create some much-needed rushing gains, carrying the ball 19 times for 161 yards and two touchdowns, but that isn’t enough. Offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie has to find ways to generate more offense. Jalen Reagor has just 71 total yards in two games against FBS opponents. That’s pitiful. 

There’s no margin for error in College Station

Heading into the year, there was an expectation that Texas A&M was fighting for an 8-4 season, which would be good enough to show some progress. After getting crushed by Auburn, 7-5 suddenly looks like the far less exciting ceiling. 

With Jashaun Corbin out of the lineup, Texas A&M just doesn’t have anything it can rely on to generate some easy offense. Every big play seems to be Kellen Mond fighting off defenders behind a line that can’t pass block for him effectively. The defense hasn’t been bad, but it’s not good enough to win games by itself. 

Texas A&M has to beat Mississippi State. They can’t slip up against South Carolina or Ole Miss. If any of that happens, the Aggies might have to fight for a bowl game. There’s so many more opportunities to slip up on the schedule than to look good. 

The bottom teams are getting better

Texas State opened the year with three games against strong competition: Texas A&M, Wyoming and SMU. In their first game against same-level competition, Texas State survived in triple-overtime against Georgia State. 

The Bobcats weren’t the only ones who showed some signs. UTEP got out to a 14-7 lead in the first half against a Nevada team that made a bowl game last season. The Miners ran the ball effectively for the first time, accumulating three touchdowns and 124 combined yards from their two top running backs. 

Even in its fourth game against superior competition, Rice kept fighting. The Owls muddied up the game against Baylor and held them scoreless in the second half. Thanks to some killer ball-control offense, Rice held Baylor to just 24 second-half plays. 

The bottom of the state’s power rankings just continue getting better. This is what you hope to see from first and second-year head coaches. 

College Power Poll

1. Texas
2. SMU
3. Baylor
4. North Texas
5. Texas A&M
6. Houston
7. TCU
8. Texas Tech
9. Rice
10. Texas State
11. UTEP
12. UTSA