SMU Football: 3 takeaways from key AAC victory over Temple

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Reggie Roberson Jr. #8 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs makes a 75-yard touchdown pass reception against the Temple Owls in the second quarter at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

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SMU football remained undefeated in a huge AAC win over Temple on Saturday. Here are three things we learned about the Mustangs as they moved to 7-0.

Temple came to Dallas in Week 8 hoping to knock a second straight AAC West team from the ranks of the unbeaten after they downed Memphis in Philadelphia a week earlier. SMU had other ideas, as they came out of their bye week refreshed and motivated to keep their winning streak going into the last weekend of October.

The Mustangs took a 24-7 lead into the locker room at halftime, and they pulled away in the second half for a 45-21 victory that preserved their position at the head of the AAC West standings. With the win, SMU improved to 7-0 for the first time since 1982.

Everything came together on the field for Sonny Dykes and his squad. Temple’s dreams of playing in the AAC championship game did not completely evaporate, as they still have a head-to-head matchup against Cincinnati that will almost certainly determine the division crown. But a New Year’s Six berth became a much bigger longshot for the Owls after SMU deconstructed them on the gridiron.

What can we take away from the lopsided result at Gerald J. Ford Stadium? Here are three takeaways from the stellar SMU performance in Week 8.

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