UNIVERSITY PARK -- Shane Buechele walked off the field at Ford Stadium on Saturday after a postgame interview with ESPN, with fans stopping him for pictures on the field and with SMU offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee’s kids jumping on his back. Some fans threw "Hook'Em" signs from the crowd, a nod to the beginnings of his college career down in Austin.

Buechele had the best game of his career on that day, throwing for 457 yards and six touchdowns – both career highs – in a dominant 45-21 win over Temple, a team that ranked top 25 nationally in the Coaches Poll. The Mustangs moved to 7-0 for the first time since 1982, a season where SMU’s Pony Express claimed a national championship. 

This is exactly what everyone at SMU hoped for when Buechele committed to join the Mustangs as a graduate transfer over the offseason. 

“[He’s made] a significant difference,” SMU coach Sonny Dykes said. “We’re just settled at that position. We have a lot of confidence in him and our players have a lot of confidence in him. He’s exactly what we want at the quarterback position.” 

Buechele enjoyed the performance, but he has his sights set higher, even one on national television over a conference opponent with two ranked wins to its name. 

“You always want to do this,” Buechele said. “But I think it’s important to understand that our team does a good job of just taking it one week at a time and just winning one week at a time.”