Still unscathed: Will a hard-fought, homecoming win over South Florida make SMU top 25 worthy? - The Dallas Morning News

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UNIVERSITY PARK — SMU linebacker Jimmy Phillips Jr. wasn’t in the room to hear his head coach talk, but when it was his time to take the microphone, Phillips took an open-ended first question of the postgame news conference and echoed one of his coach’s talking points.

The question: “How’d you think today’s game went?”

The answer from Phillips: “It’s always hard to win a college football game.”

No kidding. Just take a look at the first full weekend of American Athletic Conference play. In Philadelphia, Temple outlasted a Memphis team that won the conference two years ago. East Carolina blasted a Tulane team that put Oklahoma on upset watch in Week 1. Navy — SMU’s opponent next weekend — scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat Central Florida and win its first game of the season.

Land mines exist everywhere on the path through the college football season, but SMU remains unscathed through five games once again. The Mustangs, often finders of big plays and long touchdowns, turned in a methodical offensive performance Saturday, beating South Florida 41-17 in their first conference test of the season.

USF made it a one-score game after its first drive of the third quarter, but SMU responded by outscoring the Bulls 24-7 the rest of the way.

“Our guys did a good job of kind of pulling away and doing what they’re supposed to do in the second half, so it’s good to see” SMU head coach Sonny Dykes said. “None of these things are easy. It’s always hard to win a football game.”

There’s that talking point again. And even in a 24-point win against a one-win team there were moments Saturday that reinforced that.

South Florida had three different moments where wide open receivers could’ve resulted in touchdowns. Two of the times, USF true freshman quarterback Timmy McClain overthrew his intended receivers. On the third, senior tight end Mitchell Brinkman dropped McClain’s throw, but South Florida still found a way to score two plays later.

USF’s offense might’ve been defined by opportunities lost Saturday. SMU’s offense might’ve been defined by its methodical control, even without starting running back Ulysses Bentley IV, who missed the game because of injury.

SMU punted three times all game. Four of the seven scoring drives involved 11 plays or more. Senior running back Tre Siggers, a transfer from North Texas, had a big part in that, carrying the ball 19 times for 86 yards and his first SMU touchdown.

Mustangs quarterback Tanner Mordecai had a strip sack-turned-interception, but also threw for four touchdowns, bringing his season total to 24 through five games.

“He’s done an unbelievable job,” Dykes said of Mordecai, the Oklahoma transfer in his first season as a starter. “I think that’s the thing I’ve been most impressed with, is just how well he’s handled being the guy. I think he enjoys it. He’s really good at it.”

With the win, SMU moves to 5-0 for the third-straight year under Dykes. The first year it happened, it was somewhat of a pleasant surprise for the Mustangs. This time it was the expectation, though Dykes said that doesn’t mean it was easy.

“It’s just hard to win. There’s a lot of parity. Everybody plays hard and everybody is well-coached,” Dykes said. “It’s just a smaller margin for error now than there ever has been in college football.”

In five weeks the AP Top 25 rankings have undergone a complete makeover. Twelve teams, including two top 10 teams, started the season in the rankings but weren’t in them this week. Alabama is the only top-four team that stayed in it, and even No. 3 Oregon lost in overtime to Stanford on Saturday.

Dykes has said the top-25 polls don’t matter, but the Mustangs are at the door to the club now, negotiating with the bouncer to get in. All it took was a 5-0 start.

“If you aren’t doing the right things, it can be over like that,” Siggers said with a snap of his fingers.

“That fast.”

1/22SMU fans fill the grassy hill beyond the south end zone during first half action of the SMU versus South Florida game. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

2/22SMU spirit group members race across the field following a first half scoring drive in their game against South Florida. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

3/22SMU safety Trevor Denbow (16), lower left, wrestles down South Florida receiver Jimmy Horn, Jr. (5) following a short gain from a second quarter reception as more Mustangs defenders move in on the play. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

4/22SMU head coach Sonny Dykes watches a replay on the scoreboard screen as game officials call for a break in the action for an official review of the play during first quarter action against South Florida. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

5/22SMU receiver Danny Gray (5) tacks on yards after the catch as South Florida cornerback Joshua Green (34) pursues defensively during 2nd quarter action. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

6/22SMU cornerback Brandon Crossley (1), right, upends South Florida running back Jaren Mangham (0) to end a 2nd quarter rush following a short gain. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

7/22SMU receivers Rashee Rice (11), right, and Jordan Kerely (1) celebrate a receiving touchdown by Rice during second quarter action against South Florida. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

8/22SMU head coach Sonny Dykes looks on from the team bench area during first half action against South Florida. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

9/22SMU receiver Danny Gray (5), left, gains yardage before he is tackled by South Florida cornerback Daquan Evans (0) following a first quarter reception. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

10/22SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) rolls out to avoid the pursuit of South Florida defensive end Rashawn Yates (91) during first half action. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

11/22SMU receiver Danny Gray (5) dives into the end zone despite the defensive efforts of South Florida cornerback Ben Knox (12) and safety Matthew Hill (1) following a 4th quarter reception. SMU defeated South Florida 41-17. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

12/22SMU head coach Sonny Dykes leads his Mustangs to a 41-17 victory over South Florida. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

13/22SMU receiver Danny Gray (5) pulls away from the grasp of a South Florida defender following a first half reception. SMU defeated South Florida 41-17. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

14/22SMU receiver Reggie Roberson, Jr (21), right, scores a receiving touchdown as South Florida safety Matthew Hill (1) pursues defensively during first quarter action. SMU defeated South Florida 41-17. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

15/22SMU receiver Reggie Roberson, Jr. (21) gestures to the homecoming crowd following his first quarter receiving touchdown in their 41-17 win over South Florida. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

16/22SMU head coach Sonny Dykes receives a congratulatory hug from his daughter Ally following the Mustangs' 41-17 victory over South Florida. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

17/22SMU head coach Sonny Dykes pauses with his players for the playing of the school song after SMU's 41-17 victory over South Florida. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

18/22SMU head coach Sonny Dykes pauses with his players for the playing of their school song following SMU's 41-17 victory over South Florida. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

19/22SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) looks to pass during the 2nd half of their game against South Florida. SMU won 41-17. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

20/22SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) scampers for a first down during the first half of their 41-17 victory over South Florida. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

21/22SMU running back Tre Siggers (4), center, bolts into the South Florida secondary for a first quarter first down. SMU defeated South Florida 41-17. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

22/22SMU cornerback Brandon Crossley (1) emerges from the smoke filled tunnel with teammates prior to the opening kickoff against South Florida. The Mustangs prevailed in a 41-17 victory. The two teams played their NCAA football game at SMU's Ford Stadium in Dallas on October 2, 2021. (Steve Hamm/ Special Contributor)(Steve Hamm)

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October 03, 2021 at 08:10AM
https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/smu-mustangs/2021/10/02/still-unscathed-will-a-hard-fought-homecoming-win-over-south-florida-make-smu-top-25-worthy/

Still unscathed: Will a hard-fought, homecoming win over South Florida make SMU top 25 worthy? - The Dallas Morning News

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