College Football Playoff Rankings 2019: Projected Top 25, Week 12
By Zach Bigalke
Pick Analysis. won 59-51 vs. East Carolina. 884. Scouting Report. idle in Week 12. SMU Mustangs. 24. player
SMU was forced to sweat it out yet again as they played another high-scoring shootout in Week 11. This time it was East Carolina that served as the foil for the Mustangs in Dallas, with Holton Ahlers throwing for nearly 500 yards and a half-dozen touchdowns for the vanquished visitors. The Mustangs gave up 644 yards of offense and 51 points, yet they still prevailed 59-51 to improve to 9-1 on the year.
Shane Buechele threw for 414 yards and five touchdowns in the victory, hooking up frequently with James Proche and Kylen Granson. Xavier Jones had a huge game on the ground, running for 157 yards and three touchdowns in 20 carries to singlehandedly outrun the entire East Carolina backfield.
SMU still needs Memphis to lose a game to get back in the AAC West driver’s seat. But if the Tigers fall just once, and the Mustangs run the table against Navy and Tulane after their Week 12 bye, they will get the chance to play for the AAC title and a New Year’s Six berth as the top team among the Group of Five.