No. 22 SMU Returns Home Looking To Reset Against Missouri State
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
No. 22 SMU football returns to Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Saturday night with a chance to settle things down after a frustrating road loss at Louisville.
The Mustangs are 2-1 and beginning a four-game homestand against Missouri State, with Boston College, Virginia and California also coming to Dallas afterward. For coach Rhett Lashlee, the timing is useful.
MORE: No. 22 SMU Looks To Rebound Against Missouri State At Ford Stadium
“Nothing like a good night game at Ford Stadium,” Lashlee said this week. “I’m happy with how they’re moving on from disappointment.”
The biggest correction is obvious: take better care of the football.
Quarterback Kevin Jennings has been highly productive through three games, throwing for 989 yards and nine touchdowns while completing 73.6 percent of his passes.
He’s also thrown four interceptions, contributing to an SMU turnover margin that has become one of the team’s biggest early-season concerns. SMU Athletics
SMU survived four turnovers in its season-opening win at Florida State, but three giveaways proved much harder to overcome in the 41-31 loss at Louisville.
The defense also gave up 265 rushing yards, putting another clear priority on Lashlee’s practice list.
“We’ve got to set edges to our defense,” Lashlee said. “We’ve got to play downhill, we’ve got to tackle and swarm.”
Offensively, the Mustangs still have plenty of weapons. Kendrick Raphael leads the ground game with 275 rushing yards, while Yannick Smith has a team-high 201 receiving yards. SMU Athletics
Missouri State arrives at 1-2 after a 30-24 loss to Marshall. Quarterback Skyler Locklear threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns in that defeat, while the Bears generated 506 total yards.
Penalties, however, have repeatedly hurt Casey Woods’ team.
Woods’ return to Dallas also adds intrigue. The first-year Missouri State coach previously spent four seasons on Lashlee’s SMU staff.
MORE: Missouri State Offensive Playmakers SMU Must Contain In Dallas
The teams met for the first time last season, with SMU winning 28-10.
Saturday’s rematch kicks off at 8 p.m. CT on ACC Network, giving the Mustangs an opportunity to begin their extended stay in Dallas with a cleaner, more complete performance.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos