2023 Ultimate College Football Preview -S.m.U.

Welcome to the Ultimate College Football Preview for 2023. Every team in FBS Football will be covered in this daily blog release. All of your favorite teams from the ACC, AAC, Big 12, Big 10, C-USA, MAC, Mountain West, PAC 12, SEC, Sun Belt & even every Independent. Think of these daily college football previews as a cheat sheet going into next year.

2022 Recap:

S.M.U. had a better year then their record would indicate in my opinion. Their defenses was trash, lets get that out of the way. Their 5 losses were not terrible losses. They lost to T.C.U. who played for a national championship. The Mustangs lost to a Big 10 school in Maryland, that is not a bad loss. The Mustangs finished 4th in their conference, they had three in conference losses to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place team. That is not bad, they beat the teams they should have, they just didn’t pull and upset. If SMU wins one of those 3 conference games it is an even better year. I guess what I am trying to say is they were right there to be a better team. If their defense wasn’t 119th in the country they would have, even if they were 80th they would have won 2 more games. SMU college football preview could be a wild one.

Head Coach

In his first year at SMU, Coach Rhett Lashlee lead his team to a 7-5 record and a bowl appearance. That is a good start to Lashlee’s head coaching career. He comes into Dallas as a very respected Offensive mind. Lashlee was the Offensive Coordinator Auburn, UConn, SMU and Miami before coming to Dallas as the head guy. Lashlee plays a fast paced high flying Air Raid offense that brought SMU to number 12 in the country in points per game. Once Lashlee figures out a defense that is literally one of the worst in the country SMU will be great. I honestly think with his playbook and play calling the Mustangs could be a very dangerous group of five team. He should have them on top of the AAC every year, especially with the top teams going to the Big 12.

Key Players:

The Mustangs have a big job in replacing QB Tanner Mordecai who transferred to Wisconsin. He had over 3,000 pass yards and 30 touchdowns. Stepping up to that position is Red Shirt Sophomore Preston Stone. Stone is the highest ranked recruit to ever sign at SMU at 111th in the 2021 recruiting rankings. He is a 6’2 210 lb former 4 star pocket passing QB from Dallas. If you have watched his tape you know this kid can be the real deal Holyfield. I think it is a perfect match for him in Lashlee’s offense. Stone has a great arm, great touch and knows how to read a defense. SMU also has to replace a 1,355 yard 10 touchdown WR in Rashee Rice. The number one guy to step into that position is Senior Jordan Kerley who had almost 600 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns himself last year. Being in the Air Raid other WR’s will contribute as well but Kerley will be Stone’s go to guy. I am not talking about their defense because they were 112th in the country. It is not worth my time researching until guys step it up. If they do, if they can find some guys on defense this team will be very good.

2023 Prediction:

Alright I am looking at the Mustang schedule and I might be crazy. I see 10 wins all day for this team. They will lose to Oklahoma, probably, I think they can win that too. But who beats them? TCU? Memphis? I am just saying with Stone balling out and if the defense can just hold teams to under 30 this is a ten win team. Wow I am realizing this as I am looking over the schedule. I will be hammering SMU’s over win total when it comes out at 8. This was an eye opening college football preview, figuring out that SMU is a ten win team.