College Football 2020: 5 bold predictions for opening week of season

3. SMU’s Shane Buechele will have career day vs. Texas State

Experienced quarterback Shane Buechele enters into his final season with SMU after originally starting with Texas. Last year in his first season with SMU, he passed for 3,929 yards, 34 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Mustangs ranked 13th in the nation in passing yards per game (309).

The Mustangs are in the hunt for the AAC title where they believe they can achieve that through the talent of Buechele’s arm. They will start the 2020 season at Texas State which is projected to go 2-10 (before the cancelation of certain games). Last season, the Bobcats were horrible on defense as they were ranked 107th in points allowed (32.6) and 120th in rushing yards (217.8). They finished 25th in the nation in passing yards allowed (199.3) because it was so easy to run the ball down their throats. The Bobcats allowed completion rate of 64 percent as well.

The Mustangs do not return much of a run game and the Bobcats only return four defensive starters from last year including two players in their five-man secondary. This will set up a big statement game for Buechele and the Mustangs as they willing to show their explosiveness through the passing game.

Buechele’s best performance was at home against Temple last season as he threw 457 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. His best performance on the road last season was in the 54-48 loss to Memphis where he completed 34-of-54 passes for 456 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.