The Mustangs will look for their second win in six games as they travel to Tulsa to take on the 4-3, 2-1 Golden Hurricanes. With two wins each in the West division of Conference USA, a win for SMU (3-4, 2-1) could move them out of a four-way tie for first place.
Currently tied for third in the nation in interceptions, the Mustangs will look to improve on their 13 picks to control Tulsa’s air game. SMU is currently also ranked ninth in the nation with 20 takeaways on the season. Overall, SMU holds a 10-6 advantage in the series with a 4-3 record playing Tulsa on the road.
Coming off two consecutive losses, Tulsa is seeking to get back on track, having lost to No. 5 Boise State and UTEP.
While sophomore quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell is projected to start following an injury to his non-throwing shoulder in last weekend’s loss to Houston, back up quarterbacks, freshmen Kyle Padron and Braden Smith, are prepared to step in if needed.
As of Oct. 28, Mitchell was still waiting to receive medical clearance from a doctor, as an MRI earlier in the week revealed a small tear in the labrum that could require surgery at the end of the season.
Padron and Smith struggled against Houston, but not all the blame was on them as several SMU receivers dropped many passes.
Looking to rebound from a lackluster performance against Houston, senior wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, SMU’s all-time leader in career catches with 246 receptions, 29 touchdown catches and 3,080 total yards, looks to breakout over Tulsa. Sanders leads active NCAA player in career touchdown catches since Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant is no longer an active member of the NCAA. Sanders is also ranked third in the nation in punt returns, averaging 19.6 yards per return.
Wide receivers Aldrick Robinson and Terrance Wilkerson have remained consistent in their efforts, but will need to step up their game if they want to overthrow Tulsa. With 269.3 average passing yards per game, the run and shoot offense could work well against a Tulsa defense that has proven porous at times.
Leading the Mustang defense is senior linebacker Chase Kennemer, sophomore defensive back Chris Banjo and senior safety Rock Dennis. Kennemer, who leads C-USA and is fourth in the nation with 11.43 tackles per game, has six games with 10-plus tackles this season.
Tulsa is averaging 161.7 rushing yards per game, but SMU defense will have to shut down G.J. Kinne and Jamad Williams to seal their first win over Tulsa since 2006. The Hurricanes have 12 rushing touchdowns to their 14 touchdown receptions, contributing to their 29.9 points per game average.
Kinne, in his first year at quarterback at Tulsa, averages 212.6 passing yards per game with a 60.1 completion percentage. A redshirt freshman at Texas during the 2007 season, Kinne transferred to Tulsa after just one year at UT.
In last season’s loss to Tulsa, the Mustangs surrendered a 31-24 lead in the fourth quarter, putting Tulsa ahead for the win at 37-31. Scoring twice in just over one minute, Mitchell threw an interception on his first play of the drive to give Tulsa the ball at the Mustangs’ 26-yard line, sparking the drive that led to the final touchdown of the game.
Saturday’s game will be aired on The CW 33 as SMU looks to improve to 2-0 in Halloween games. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
