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2018 SMU Mustangs football
Conference American Athletic Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record5–7 (4–4 American)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee (1st season)
Offensive scheme Spread
Defensive coordinator Kevin Kane (1st season)
Base defense 3–4
Home stadium Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Seasons
←  2017
2019 →
2018 American Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 11 UCF x$   8 0     12 1  
Temple   7 1     8 5  
No. 24 Cincinnati   6 2     11 2  
South Florida   3 5     7 6  
East Carolina   1 7     3 9  
UConn   0 8     1 11  
West Division
Memphis xy   5 3     8 6  
Houston x   5 3     8 5  
Tulane x   5 3     7 6  
SMU   4 4     5 7  
Navy   2 6     3 10  
Tulsa   2 6     3 9  
Championship: UCF 56, Memphis 41
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2018 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Mustangs played their home games at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas and competed in the West Division of the American Athletic Conference. They were led by first-year coach Sonny Dykes. They finished the season 5–7, 4–4 in American Athletic play to finish in fourth place in the West Division.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year
Maxwell Award [1] Xavier Jones RB JR
Doak Walker Award [2] Xavier Jones RB JR
Fred Biletnikoff Award [3] James Proche WR JR
Ray Guy Award [4] Jamie Sackville P JR
Paul Hornung Award [5] Braeden West RB/KR SR
Wuerffel Trophy [6] Jordan Wyatt DB SR
Manning Award [7] Ben Hicks QB JR
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award [8] Ben Hicks QB JR
Xavier Jones RB SR

AAC media poll

The AAC media poll was released on July 24, 2018, with the Mustangs predicted to finish in fourth place in the AAC West Division. [9]

Media poll (West)
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Memphis 171 (23)
2 Houston 146 (4)
3 Navy 129 (3)
4 SMU 72
5 Tulane 68
6 Tulsa 44

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 16:30 p.m.at North Texas* StadiumL 23–4629,519
September 77:00 p.m.No. 16 TCU*ESPN2L 12–4224,216
September 152:30 p.m.at No. 19 Michigan* BTNL 20–45110,549
September 2211:00 a.m. Navy
ESPNewsW 31–30 OT17,531
September 296:00 p.m. Houston Baptist*
  • Gerald J. Ford Stadium
  • Dallas, TX
ESPN3W 63–2718,983
October 66:00 p.m.at No. 12 UCF ESPNUL 20–4840,856
October 202:30 p.m.at TulaneESPNUW 27–2313,987
October 272:30 p.m. Cincinnati
  • Gerald J. Ford Stadium
  • Dallas, TX
CBSSNL 20–26 OT16,121
November 36:00 p.m.No. 17 Houstondagger
  • Gerald J. Ford Stadium
  • Dallas, TX
ESPNUW 45–3123,654
November 1011:00 a.m.at UConnESPN3W 62–5019,096
November 168:00 p.m. Memphis
  • Gerald J. Ford Stadium
  • Dallas, TX
ESPN2L 18–2815,794
November 242:30 p.m.at TulsaCBSSNL 24–2717,159
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time
Schedule Source: [10]

Roster

2018 SMU Mustangs football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 1 C. J. Sanders Sr
RB 2 Ke'Mon Freeman Jr
WR 3 James Proche Jr
WR 4 Tyler Page So
RB 5 Xavier Jones Jr
RB 6 Braeden West Sr
WR 7 Brandon Benson So
QB 8 Ben Hicks Jr
QB 9 William Brown Fr
WR 10 Armanii Glaspie Jr
WR 11 Jared Miles Fr
QB 12 Derek Green Fr
RB 13 TaMerik Williams Fr
TE 14 Ryan Becker Jr
QB 16 Christian McAnalley Fr
QB 17 Austin Upshaw  Fr
QB 18 Jacob Oehrlein Fr
WR 20 Jordan Brooks-Wess Fr
WR 21 Reggie Roberson, Jr. So
WR 22 Myron Gailliard Jr
RB 31 Merek Pierce Jr
RB 43 J. R. Griffin Jr
WR 44 James Sowards Fr
WR 46 Matt Dorrity  Fr
OL 56 Harrison Barton So
OL 57 Chad Pursley Sr
OL 64 Bryce Wilds Jr
OL 65 Jordan Gipson  Fr
OL 68 Nick Natour Sr
OL 69 Jacob Todora So
OL 70 Kadarius Smith So
OL 71 Jaylon Thomas Fr
OL 72 Nick Dennis Jr
OL 74 Braxton Webb So
OL 75 Hayden Howerton So
OL 76 Levon Livingston Jr
OL 77 Alan Ali  Fr
OL 78 Beau Morris So
OL 79 Larry Hughes Sr
TE 81 Ben Redding Fr
TE 82 Corey Rau So
TE 83 Kylen Granson Jr
WR 84 Judah Bell  Fr
TE 85 Thomas Mallak  Fr
WR 86 Conner Allen Fr
WR 88 Joshua Shelmire So
TE 88 Hunter Thedford Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
CB 1 Eric Sutton Jr
S 2 Patrick Nelson Jr
LB 3 Delano Robinson So
S 4 Mikial Onu Jr
CB 5 Ar’mani Johnson  Fr
S 6 Elijah McQueen So
CB 7 Robert Hayes, Jr. Jr
DB 8 Rodney Clemons Jr
LB 9 Shaine Hailey So
DT 10 Demerick Gary Jr
DT 11 Shabazz Dotson Fr
LB 11 Kyran Mitchell Sr
CB 12 Kevin Johnson Jr
CB 13 Jourdan Blake Sr
LB 14 Richard Moore Jr
CB 15 Treveon Johnson Fr
LB 16 Trevor Denbow So
LB 17 Jordon Williams Jr
LB 18 William Jeanlys Sr
S 20 Collin Rock So
S 21 Cole Sterns Sr
DE 22 Tyeson Neals Jr
CB 23 Jordan Wyatt Sr
LB 24 Jimmy Phillips Jr. Fr
LB 25 Myles Duke So
S 26 Brent Freeman Sr
S 27 Michael Salerno  Fr
CB 28 Christian Davis Jr
CB 29 Justin Guy-Robinson So
LB 30 Kyle Blaskovich  Fr
LB 31 Preston Ellison Fr
LB 32 J. C. Rispress Fr
LB 33 Jordan Ward Jr
S 34 Brice Madison So
DE 35 Delontae Scott Jr
CB 36 Terry Keys III Fr
DE 38 Toby Ndukwe  Fr
DT 39 Darren Brown Fr
LB 40 Noah Spears So
CB 41 Pedro Duran Silva  Fr
S 42 Ra-Sun Kazadi Fr
S 43 Brady McCanles Fr
DT 44 Harrison Loveless  Fr
LB 46 Andrew Adams Jr
S 46 Jackson Weaver  Fr
S 47 Zak Folts Fr
DE 50 Paka Davis Sr
DT 51 Pono Davis Jr
DE 52 Gerrit Choate So
DE 55 Gary Wiley Fr
DT 72 Patrick Jones So
DT 90 Ken McLaurin So
DT 94 Chris Biggurs Jr
DT 95 Jake Hall Sr
DE 96 Noah Westerfield Sr
DE 97 Turner Coxe  Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 32 Jack Hansing So
K 45 Will Moore So
P 47 Jamie Sackville Jr
LS 49 Cole Voyles Fr
LS 53 Michael Sehlinger Jr
LS 54 Garrett Stotts Sr
K, P 89 Kevin Robledo Jr
P 99 Warren Scott Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Game summaries

At North Texas

SMU Mustangs at North Texas Mean Green
Period 1 2 34Total
Mustangs 0 0 02323
Mean Green 14 6 161046

at Apogee StadiumDenton, TX

  • Date: September 1
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 93 °F (34 °C) • Weather: partly cloudy • Wind: SE 12 MPH
  • Game attendance: 29,519
  • Referee: Tracy Jones
  • TV announcers ( Stadium): Chris Hassel (play-by-play), A. J. Hawk (color), Kristen Balboni (reporter)
  • Source: [1]
Game information
SMU in action against North Texas

To start the 2018 season, the Mustangs traveled to Denton, Texas to take on the Mean Green in the 38th Safeway Bowl.

SMU received the opening kickoff and started at their own 25-yard line. Ben Hicks completed a 6-yard pass to C. J. Sanders for the Mustangs' first offensive play. On the next play, SMU was backed up 5-yards after a false start penalty against Larry Hughes, making it 3rd and 9. On third down, Hicks was sacked by E.J. Ejiya for a 10-yard loss to bring up 4th and 19 and the Mustangs were forced to punt. Before the punt, SMU was backed up another 5-yards due to a delay of game penalty. Jaelon Darden received the punt for North Texas, returning it 4-yard to the SMU 49-yard line. Following a Mason Fine sack and an offensive holding penalty, the Mean Green were backed up to their own 49-yard line on 3rd and 25, but a personal foul against Trevor Denbow moved North Texas up to the SMU 36-yard line with an automatic first down. Three plays later, Mason Fine found Jalen Guyton for a 15-yard touchdown pass. The two teams punted on their next drives after both went three and out. On the first play following North Texas's punt, Hicks was intercepted by Kemon Hall who returned it 36-yard for a pick six touchdown. The Mustangs punted three more times before halftime, while the Mean Green punted once and scored six more points with Cole Hedlund making two field goals.

North Texas received the second half kickoff and started at their own 25-yard line. The Mean Green ended the drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Mason Fine to Nic Smith. The Mustangs punted on their next three drives, while North Texas scored another touchdown and made another field goal, extending the lead to 36–0. On their 4th drive of the game, the Mean Green turned the ball over on downs at the SMU 37-yard line. On the 5th play following the turnover on downs, Hicks found Jr. Robinson for a 37-yard pass, putting the Mustangs at the North Texas 5-yard line. On the next play, Braeden West found the end zone on a 5-yard run, giving SMU its first score of the game. On the next drive, Hedlund made a 51-yard field goal to make it 39–7. On the kickoff, Sanders returned the kick 23-yards to the SMU 26-yard line. On the 4th play of the drive, Hicks found James Proche for a 59-yard touchdown pass; the Mustangs made the two-point conversion to trail 15–39 with 1:41 left to play. On the following kickoff, DeAndre Torrey returned Kevin Roblebo's kick 96-yards for a touchdown. On the next drive, Hicks made another long touchdown pass, this time a 71-yard pass to West. Receiving the ball back, the Mean Green took a knee to end the game.

The Mustangs' offense was shutout through the first three quarters, getting their first score of the game on a five-yard run from Braeden West with just over 8 minutes left in the game. SMU only had 256 yards of total offense, while North Texas had 529. [11] SMU's defense couldn't stop Mean Green quarterback Mason Fine, who threw for 444 yards and 3 touchdowns.

TCU

#16 TCU Horned Frogs at SMU Mustangs
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 16 Horned Frogs 0 14 141442
Mustangs 9 3 0012

at Gerald J. Ford StadiumDallas, TX

  • Date: September 7
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Weather: steady rain • Wind: N 8 MPH
  • Game attendance: 24,216
  • Referee: Brandon Cruse
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Dan Orlovsky (color), Paul Carcaterra (reporter)
  • Source: [2]
Game information

Kickoff was scheduled for 7:00 p.m., but was delayed due to lightning in the area. [12] The delay lasted for nearly 2 hours, with kickoff happening at 8:59 p.m. [13]

The Mustangs received the opening kickoff, starting at their own 25-yard line. Following a 10-yard run, quarterback Ben Hicks had to sit out a play after losing his helmet. On the following play, running back Braeden West went 51-yards for a touchdown to take an early 7–0 lead following Will Moore's kick. The Horned Frogs started the following drive at their own 30-yard line. TCU made it to their own 45-yard line, but quarterback Shawn Robinson fumbled the ball on a play for a loss of 2-yards following the recovery. On 3rd and 14 at the TCU 41, Robinson threw an incomplete pass that was almost intercepted. Reggie Roberson Jr. returned Adam Nunez's punt to the TCU 10-yard line, but an illegal block in the back against SMU forced the offense to start at their own 25-yard line. Making it to the TCU 41-yard line, Hicks was sacked on 3rd and 10, forcing the Mustangs to punt. The Horned Frogs started their next drive at their own 10-yard line. TCU made it 18-yards to the 28-yard line, but were forced to punt. On the punt, Nunez fumbled the ball, with the ball rolling out of the end zone for a safety. Following the safety, the Mustangs' next drive ended in a punt. The Horned Frogs started at their own 2-yard line, making it to the SMU 31-yard line. On 4th and 7, TCU kicker Cole Bunce missed a 48-yard field goal, with the ball bouncing off of the center post. TCU got its first touchdown of the game in the 2nd quarter with a 78-yard punt return from KaVontae Turpin. The Horned Frogs scored on their next drive when running back Sewo Olonilua ran the ball 24-yards, but fumbled; the fumble was recovered in the end zone by Jaelan Austin for a touchdown, giving TCU its first lead of the game. To close out the first half, SMU kicker Kevin Robledo made a 49-yard field goal.

TCU received the second half kickoff and made it all the way to the SMU 24-yard line, but a Robinson pass was intercepted by Shaine Hailey. On the second play of the next drive, Hicks fumbled the football, which was recovered by Alec Dunham, who returned it 25-yards for a touchdown. The Horned Frogs continued to extend their lead on their next offensive drive, with Robinson running 18-yards for a touchdown. The Mustangs failed to score in the second half, while the Horned Frogs scored 28 points.

SMU only had 242 yards of total offense, while TCU had 387. The Horned Frogs turned the ball over twice, while the Mustangs only committed one turnover. [14]

At Michigan

SMU Mustangs at #19 Michigan Wolverines
Period 1 2 34Total
Mustangs 0 7 6720
No. 19 Wolverines 0 21 141045

at Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI

  • Date: September 15
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 85 °F (29 °C) • Weather: partly cloudy • Wind: NE 5 MPH
  • Game attendance: 110,549
  • Referee: Larry Smith
  • TV announcers ( BTN): Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Matt Millen (color)
  • Source: [3]
Game information

Navy

Navy Midshipmen at SMU Mustangs
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Midshipmen 0 7 79730
Mustangs 3 7 76831

at Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TX

  • Date: September 22
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Weather: light rain • Wind: E 5 MPH
  • Game attendance: 17,531
  • Referee: Adam Savoie
  • TV announcers ( ESPNews): Bill Roth (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (color)
  • Source: [4]
Game information

Houston Baptist

Houston Baptist Huskies at SMU Mustangs
Period 1 2 34Total
Huskies 3 7 10727
Mustangs 21 14 141463

at Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TX

  • Date: September 29
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 78 °F (26 °C) • Weather: mostly cloudy • Wind: ESE 9 MPH
  • Game attendance: 18,983
  • Referee: Charles Lewis
  • TV announcers ( ESPN3): Drew Fellios (play-by-play), Forrest Conoly (color)
  • Source: [5]
Game information

At UCF

SMU Mustangs at #12 UCF Golden Knights
Period 1 2 34Total
Mustangs 3 7 3720
No. 12 Knights 21 6 71448

at Spectrum StadiumOrlando, FL

  • Date: October 6
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C) • Weather: mostly clear • Wind: E 10 MPH
  • Game attendance: 40,856
  • Referee: Charles Lamerti
  • TV: ESPNU
  • Source: [6]
Game information

At Tulane

SMU Mustangs at Tulane Green Wave
Period 1 2 34Total
Mustangs 0 7 71327
Green Wave 2 7 7723

at Yulman StadiumNew Orleans, LA

  • Date: October 20
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 85 °F (29 °C) • Weather: rain • Wind: NW 6 MPH
  • Game attendance: 13,987
  • Referee: Riley Johnson
  • TV: ESPNU
  • Source: [7]
Game information

Cincinnati

Cincinnati Bearcats at SMU Mustangs
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Bearcats 7 0 103626
Mustangs 7 0 76020

at Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TX

  • Date: October 27
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 80 °F (27 °C) • Weather: sunny • Wind: WNW 5 MPH
  • Game attendance: 16,121
  • Referee: Adam Sovoie
  • TV: CBSSN
  • Source: [8]
Game information

Houston

Houston Cougars at SMU Mustang
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 17 Cougars 0 14 31431
Mustangs 10 21 7745

at Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TX

  • Date: November 3
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C) • Wind: S 17 MPH • Weather: mostly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 23,654
  • Referee: C. Lamertina
  • TV: ESPNU
  • Source: [9]
Game information

At UConn

SMU Mustangs at UConn Huskies
Period 1 2 34Total
Mustangs 17 14 141762
Huskies 7 3 142650

at Rentschler FieldEast Hartford, CT

  • Date: November 10
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 45 °F (7 °C) • Wind: W 16 MPH • Weather: sunny and windy
  • Game attendance: 19,096
  • Referee: A. Calabrese
  • TV: ESPN3
  • Source: [10]
Game information

Memphis

Memphis Tigers at SMU Mustangs
Period 1 2 34Total
Tigers 0 7 71428
Mustangs 3 2 7618

at Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TX

Game information

At Tulsa

SMU Mustangs at Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Period 1 2 34Total
Mustangs 0 7 71024
Golden Hurricane 7 14 3327

at Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK

  • Date: November 24
Game information

References

  1. ^ "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  2. ^ "2018 Doak Walker Award Candidates". July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  3. ^ "2018 Biletnikoff Award Watch List". July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  4. ^ "Ray Guy Award preseason watch list unveiled". July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  5. ^ "43 PLAYERS NAMED TO 2018 PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  6. ^ "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  7. ^ "Manning Award: See which quarterbacks made the preseason watch list for 2018". August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  8. ^ "2018 Nominations The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award" (PDF). August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  9. ^ "UCF Tabbed as Favorite in 2018 Preseason Media Poll". TheAmerican.org. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  10. ^ "2018 SMU Mustangs Football Schedule". SMUMustangs.com. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  11. ^ "SMU vs. North Texas - Team Statistics - September 1, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  12. ^ Davison, Drew (September 7, 2018). "TCU football: SMU game to be delayed because of weather". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  13. ^ DeFranks, Matthew (September 7, 2018). "College Sports: 2-hour weather delay ushers in unusual scenes for TCU-SMU; Mustangs' run game finally gets going". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  14. ^ "TCU vs. SMU - Team Statistics - September 7, 2018". ESPN.