{"id":341432,"date":"2025-09-04T16:42:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T16:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/341432\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T16:42:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T16:42:11","slug":"no-17-mustangs-eyeing-first-win-in-40-years-over-former-swc-rival-baylor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/341432\/","title":{"rendered":"No. 17 Mustangs eyeing first win in 40 years over former SWC rival Baylor"},"content":{"rendered":"

No. 17 SMU<\/a> faces its first real test of the season when former Southwest Conference rival Baylor<\/a> comes to Ford Stadium Saturday.<\/p>\n

The two programs shared a conference from 1918-96 but haven\u2019t gone head-to-head since 2016.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what to know about this week\u2019s matchup.<\/p>\n

Baylor vs. SMU<\/p>\n

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When: 11 a.m. Saturday at Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas.<\/p>\n

Records: SMU (1-0); Baylor (0-1)<\/p>\n

Last meeting: Baylor beat SMU 40-13 on Sept. 10, 2016 in Waco.<\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\"BaylorWhat\u2019s at stake?<\/p>\n

An old rivalry will be renewed when these two former conference rivals square off at Ford Stadium Saturday.<\/p>\n

While Saturday\u2019s non-conference meeting may not impact any conference standings, it does hold bragging rights for whichever team on I-35 comes away victorious.<\/p>\n

SMU hasn\u2019t beaten Baylor since 1986, long before the Southwest Conference disbanded. Baylor, after a humbling loss to Auburn in Week 1<\/a>, is looking to avoid an 0-2 start and earn a ranked win that could build some significant momentum.<\/p>\n

Expect the Baylor fans to travel well for the short, 100-mile trip up north, so both teams will want to secure a win in front of their fans.<\/p>\n

When SMU has the ball<\/p>\n

SMU anticipates quarterback Kevin Jennings and the run game will have to be the difference against Baylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It was for Auburn in their 38-24 win in Waco last week. Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Six of his carries went for at least 10 yards.<\/p>\n

Jennings is a similar dual threat but didn\u2019t run much in SMU\u2019s season opener against East Texas A&M<\/a>. While he rushed for a touchdown, he ran just six times for 12 yards.<\/p>\n

With SMU\u2019s top wide receiver Jordan Hudson<\/a> and one of Baylor\u2019s top defensive players Jackie Marshall both possibly out Saturday, Jennings\u2019 ability to run \u2014 and some support from SMU\u2019s four running backs \u2014 should be the focus.<\/p>\n

When Baylor has the ball<\/p>\n

Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson<\/a> poses quite the threat for SMU as well. He passed for 419 yards and three touchdowns in the loss to Auburn.<\/p>\n

Wide receiver Kole Wilson and tight end Michael Trigg combined for 15 catches for 233 yards and a score in the Auburn game.<\/p>\n

SMU\u2019s defense will have its hands full. While the Mustangs came away with two pick sixes in the season opener \u2014 including one by Ahmaad Moses that went for 95 yards \u2014 they could be without captain and top linebacker Alex Kilgore<\/a>, who suffered a lower-body injury last week.<\/p>\n

SMU\u2019s defense will also need to be prepared to make key stops on fourth down, as Baylor attempted six fourth-down tries last week, converting half of them. SMU was unable to stop any of East Texas A&M\u2019s three fourth-down tries in Week 1. <\/p>\n

Prediction <\/p>\n

Both teams still have some kinks to work out early in the season, so don\u2019t expect either to look perfect. <\/p>\n

Both quarterbacks will have a chance to show what they\u2019re best at, but Jennings\u2019 versatility should be an advantage for SMU that Baylor will struggle to stop.<\/p>\n

Like most rivalry games, Baylor will put up quite the fight, but SMU will come away with a win thanks to home-field advantage.<\/p>\n

Score: SMU 27, Baylor 20<\/p>\n

On Twitter\/X: @Lassimak<\/a><\/p>\n

SMU-Baylor is taste of Southwest Conference days, reminder of regional rivalries\u2019 demise<\/a>Eric Dickerson, Craig James reflect on SMU\u2019s surge to pick up where Pony Express left off<\/a><\/p>\n

Find more SMU coverage from The Dallas Morning News here<\/a>.<\/p>\n