The 2019 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Mustangs were led by second-year head coach Sonny Dykes and played their home games at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas, a separate city within the city limits of Dallas. They competed as members of the West Division of the American Athletic Conference.
The Mustangs started the season 8–0, their first 8–0 start to a season since 1982. The team's non-conference schedule was capped off with a 41–38 victory over rival TCU, their first victory over the Horned Frogs since 2011. Following a 48–21 victory over the South Florida Bulls in week 5, the Mustangs entered the AP Poll at no. 24, their first poll ranking since the team received the NCAA's death penalty in February 1987. The team's first loss of the season would come on November 2 against the Memphis Tigers. The team went on to play in the Boca Raton Bowl, falling to Florida Atlantic.
Preseason Recruiting class
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released Maxwell Award James Proche WR Sr AFCA Good Words Award Demerick Gary DT Sr Biletnikoff Award James Proche WR Sr Biletnikoff Award Reggie Roberson, Jr. WR Sr Rimington Trophy Hayden Howerton OL Jr Paul Hornung Award James Proche WR Sr Wuerffel Trophy Tyler Page WR Jr Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award James Proche WR Sr Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Reggie Roberson, Jr. WR Sr Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Shane Buechele QB Sr References:
AAC media poll The AAC media poll was released on July 16, 2019, with the Mustangs predicted to finish fourth in the AAC West Division.
Preseason All-AAC teams SMU placed nine players to the All-AAC team, sanctioned by Athlon Sports.
Offense
1st team
James Proche – Sr, wide receiver
3rd team
Reggie Roberson Jr. – Jr, wide receiver
4th team
Shane Buechele – Jr, quarterback Xavier Jones – Sr, running back Hayden Howerton – Jr, center
Defensive
2nd team
Delontae Scott – Sr, defensive lineman Richard moore – Sr, linebacker Rodney clemons – Sr, safety
Special teams
4th team
James proche – Sr, punt returner
Schedule SMU's 2019 schedule would begin with four non-conference games: first on the road against Arkansas State of the Sun Belt Conference, then at home against North Texas of Conference USA, then at home against Texas State, also of the Sun Belt Conference, and finally on the road against cross-town rival TCU of the Big 12 Conference. In American Athletic Conference play, the Mustangs would play the other members of the West Division and draw East Carolina, South Florida, and Temple from the East Division. They would not play Cincinnati, Connecticut, or UCF as part of the regular season.
Source:
Roster
Game summaries
At Arkansas State
Statistics SMUArkansas State First downs 29 25 Total yards 508 414 Rushing yards 148 90 Passing yards 360 324 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 35:14 24:46
North Texas
Statistics North TexasSMU First downs 21 25 Total yards 396 503 Rushing yards 211 211 Passing yards 185 292 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 34:44 25:16
Texas State
Statistics Texas StateSMU First downs 15 23 Total yards 241 639 Rushing yards 16 390 Passing yards 225 249 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 29:06 30:54
With the victory, the Mustangs improved to 3–0, their first 3–0 start since the 1984 season.
At TCU
Statistics SMUTCU First downs 16 23 Total yards 406 424 Rushing yards 118 236 Passing yards 288 188 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 29:55 30:05
The Mustangs built a 15–0 lead in the 1st quarter and never trailed in the game. SMU lead 31–17 at halftime, but the Horned Frogs rallied in the 2nd half to trail by 3 points late in the 4th. The Mustangs held on and stopped the comeback attempt, winning 41–38. This is SMU's first win over TCU since 2011.
At South Florida
Statistics SMUSouth Florida First downs 31 22 Total yards 497 342 Rushing yards 245 54 Passing yards 252 288 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 31:48 28:12
Tulsa
Statistics TulsaSMU First downs 22 26 Total yards 500 437 Rushing yards 154 127 Passing yards 346 310 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 29:22 30:38
Temple
Statistics TempleSMU First downs 14 34 Total yards 273 655 Rushing yards 69 198 Passing yards 204 457 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 25:45 34:15
At Houston
Statistics SMUHouston First downs 2222 Total yards 385514 Rushing yards 182107 Passing yards 203407 Turnovers 13 Time of possession 28:1331:37
At Memphis
Statistics SMUMemphis First downs 27 26 Total yards 553 514 Rushing yards 97 164 Passing yards 456 350 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 27:01 32:59
Memphis hosted the Mustangs in the first-ever College GameDay appearance for the Tigers, and just the second for SMU. The Mustangs jumped out to an early lead in front of the sold-out crowd, and the two teams traded scores to reach halftime with a 17-23 score in favor of Memphis. The Tigers never trailed in the second half, although the Mustangs drew within one score on a Shane Buechele pass to James Proche and Jaylon Thomas's two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. Memphis handed SMU its first loss of the season.
East Carolina
Statistics East CarolinaSMU First downs 27 33 Total yards 644 636 Rushing yards 146 222 Passing yards 498 414 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 31:05 28:55
At Navy
Statistics SMUNavy First downs 15 28 Total yards 344 540 Rushing yards 93 378 Passing yards 251 162 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 20:20 39:40
Tulane
Statistics TulaneSMU First downs 26 18 Total yards 465 377 Rushing yards 223 197 Passing yards 242 180 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 36:09 23:51
At Florida Atlantic (Boca Raton Bowl)
Statistics SMUFlorida Atlantic First downs 24 30 Total yards 425 521 Rushing yards 120 188 Passing yards 305 333 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 28:56 31:04
Statistics
Scoring Scores against non-conference opponents
Scores against the AAC
Scores against all opponents
Rankings
Awards All-American Athletic Conference Football Team
Offense
1st team James Proche – Sr, Wide Receiver Shane Buechele – Jr, Quarterback Xavier Jones – Sr, Running Back
2nd team Jaylon Thomas – SO, Offensive Tackle Kylen Granson – Jr, Tight End
Defensive
1st team Patrick Nelson – Sr, Linebacker
2nd team Delontae Scott – Sr, Defensive Lineman Rodney clemons – Sr, Safety
Special teams
2nd team C. J. Sanders – Sr, Return Specialist
References:
Players drafted into the NFL
6 201 James Proche WR Baltimore Ravens
References