In our next preview of Oklahoma opponents for the upcoming season, we take a look at SMU.
There are only a few teams on the Sooners’ schedule who will look more different than the Mustangs.
They rank 117th in returning production according to ESPN (ESPN+). They return 56% of their offensive production, which ranks 101st, and 48% of their defensive production, which ranks 112th.
SMU has had a high-powered offense the last few years, but a big part of that was head coach Sonny Dykes, who left for TCU in the 2022 offseason, and [autotag]Tanner Mordecai[/autotag]. Mordecai, of course, transferred this offseason to the Wisconsin Badgers to be the quarterback for their new head coach Luke Fickell.
Instead, Preston Stone will most likely be the new signal caller. Stone played in six games last season and threw for 388 yards, completing 58.3% of his passes, with two touchdowns and one interception.
So, not a lot of experience at quarterback. The Mustangs also bring back all three of their leading rushers: Tyler Lavine, Velton Gardner and [autotag]Camar Wheaton[/autotag]. Wheaton was a highly touted recruit who played for the Alabama Crimson Tide before transferring to SMU. Though he hasn’t put it all together yet, the talent is there.
The Mustangs also add Miami Hurricanes transfer Jaylan Knighton to the group. This will definitely be the strength of the offense.
They, like the Sooners, are replacing their top wide out, 1,000-yard receiver Rashee Rice. Rice had more than 1,300 yards and had 10 touchdowns last season. He was taken in the second round of the [autotag]NFL draft[/autotag].
They added a highly touted transfer from the TCU Horned Frogs, Jordan Hudson, to hopefully pick up some of that slack.
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So, while SMU finished 14th last season in total offense, just one spot behind the Sooners, it is losing much of that production. Most importantly, its quarterback. The Mustangs didn’t really lean on their running game much a year ago, so that aspect of their offense is still unproven.
They liked to throw it around the lot, finishing 65th in rushing. That’s why we could see a very different offense this season from the Mustangs.
Defensively, they are losing a great deal, but they weren’t a very good defensive team to begin with. They finished 112th in total defense last season. They were 73rd in pass defense and 120th in rush defense.
The Sooners should have substantial success running the football in this game. They really shouldn’t have much of an issue throwing it, either.
Ultimately, this is a game that should provide the first test to see how far this team has come. If its defensive line gets bullied in the run game, it’s going to be a long season. Offensively, if it can’t get separation or bully the SMU defense in the running game, there are red flags on that side of the ball.
But if they make the progress I think they should make and will make, they should pass the first test of the season rather easily.
Score Prediction: 48-13 Oklahoma
Predicted Record: 2-0
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