Group of Five Power Rankings 2019: Mountain West rising in Week 3
By Zach Bigalke
SMU finds itself in the Group of Five Power Rankings for the first time this season after earning a 22-point victory at home in an intersectional contest against local rival North Texas. The Mustangs dismantled a Mean Green team that harbored ambitions of a C-USA title and a run at the New Year’s Six, running out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never looking back.
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Shane Buechele, the former Texas quarterback that came to Dallas as a graduate transfer in the offseason, threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns on 21-of-31 passing against the North Texas defense. Xavier Jones added 127 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 16 carries as the Mustangs proved too much to handle offensively for the Mean Green.
On defense, the Mustangs bent but didn’t break throughout the course of the contest. Tre Siggers finished with 164 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, pacing a backfield that finished with 211 yards on 42 carries. But they contained quarterbacks Mason Fine and Jason Bean, holding the pair to two touchdowns and an interception while finishing with only 185 yards on 22-of-38 passing.
SMU stays at home next week for another in-state showdown against Sun Belt opponent Texas State. They need to remain vigilant and avoid looking ahead to their Sept. 21 showdown in Fort Worth against TCU in the Battle for the Iron Skillet, a game that could bolster their chances of a Group of Five bid if the Mustangs win.