UNIVERSITY PARK — SMU asked for power-conference football, and its first clash against a heavyweight opponent this season didn’t disappoint.
The Mustangs (2-1) went down to the wire with BYU (2-0) but ultimately suffered their first loss of the season, 18-15, after BYU scored a late field goal, and the Mustangs couldn’t answer with 1:58 remaining.
SMU was unable to find the end zone all evening.
Here are five thoughts from SMU’s loss to BYU:
Mustangs can’t find the end zone, allow BYU to take late lead
SMU learned that only scoring field goals isn’t going to win football games against a power-conference opponent.
Despite the game going down to the wire with a chance for SMU to win it with two minutes left, the Mustangs couldn’t find a yard on their final drive. SMU needed a sixth from Collin Rogers to send the game to overtime or its first touchdown drive of the day to win it with 1:58 remaining, but the offense stalled.
BYU’s defense brought the pressure and was able to secure the win. That was thanks to a gutsy play call by head coach Kalani Sitake the drive before to go for it on fourth-and-one from its own 48, finding a 37-yard gain and setting up the 26-yard game-winning field goal by Will Ferrin.
SMU has not beaten a power-conference opponent at home since 2010.
SMU makes a switch at quarterback
The Mustangs planned to use two quarterbacks throughout the season, and they did again Friday night.
But the signal caller that took the majority of the snaps wasn’t the one they planned it to be.
Preston Stone started for the third time this year for SMU but faced incredible pressure in the pocket from BYU’s powerful defensive line. In three first-half drives, he was sacked three times and totaled -21 yards.
The Mustangs alternated between Stone and Kevin Jennings early in the game, giving each quarterback two drives and then a third each before Jennings stayed in the game. It was a shift from the strategy SMU took in its other close game against Nevada in Week 0 where Stone played the entire second half.
Jennings was more effective Friday night, as the RPO forced BYU to lay back in ways it didn’t have to against Stone. The sophomore from South Oak Cliff led 10 drives for the Mustangs, and finished 15-for-32 for 140 yards and an interception while rushing for an additional 38 yards.
It shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise to SMU after BYU’s season opener against Southern Illinois, where the Cougars allowed quarterback DJ Williams to rush for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Jennings was simply a better fit for the matchup.
SMU’s defense proves it’s power-conference ready
SMU’s offense has shown inconsistencies in its first three outings this year, but its defense has been reliable — and that showed again Friday night.
After allowing BYU to score the game’s first touchdown drive, SMU’s defense forced four consecutive three-and-outs, allowing the offense to claw back into the game by the leg of Rogers.
It limited quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who threw for 348 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener. Friday night, he finished just 15-for-28 with 202 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.
And, the defense made some critical big plays. Defensive lineman Elijah Roberts made a statement play for the first time this season, forcing Retzlaff to fumble and recovering it in the first quarter.
After SMU turned the ball back over to BYU on a muffed punt, Kobe Wilson had a huge stop on fourth down and inches to prevent any points.
On the first drive of the second half, BYU had its biggest play of the game and a 57-yard gain. But immediately after, Cale Sanders brought pressure on Retzlaff, who pitched the ball, which was intercepted by Wilson and returned 34 yards.
In the fourth quarter after BYU regained the lead, SMU was unable to score and handed the ball back to BYU, but Jared Harrison-Hunte picked off Retzlaff and nearly scored.
Each team had three takeaways.
The Mustang defense has shown its ability to make plays and has built some important confidence as the competition continues to ramp up.
Collin Rogers has career day
In SMU’s biggest game of the year so far, its starting kicker showed he’s at his best early this season.
The junior set a program record with five made field goals Friday night from 53, 52, 38, 28 and 45 yards. He single-handedly kept SMU in the game when the offense continued to stall.
The 53-yarder broke his career high.
Rogers also tied the SMU career record with 44 field goals. He has now started the season 6-for-7.
Necessary bye week on the horizon
With the first quarter of their season behind them, the Mustangs will get a needed bye week to regroup before the toughest three-week stretch of their season.
SMU hosts rival TCU in two weeks before beginning ACC play against Florida State at home and No. 22 Louisville on the road.
SMU showed Friday that it can compete with a power-conference opponent but has a ways to go, especially offensively, before it can compete with college football’s and the ACC’s best. The bye will give them a chance to prepare for even bigger challenges on the horizon.
