SMU Becomes Bowl Eligible With Win Over Tulsa

By Dylan Edwards, SMUMustangs.com

DALLAS (SMU) – It was a wild one, but for the first time since 2012, SMU is bowl eligible following a 38-34 thrilling comeback victory against Tulsa. SMU trailed by as much as 14, including a 10-point second half deficit, but as the offense kept attacking the defense stiffened up in the second half.

“I’m so proud of our players,” head coach Chad Morrissaid. “This is two weeks in a row now we had to find a way to win it at the end of the fourth quarter. These guys truly finished empty.”

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 27: Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Chad Morris looks on during the game between SMU and Tulsa on October 27, 2017, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/DFWsportsonline)

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DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 27: Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Chad Morris looks on during the game between SMU and Tulsa on October 27, 2017, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/DFWsportsonline)

Tulsa had no answer for the Mustangs’ talented group of receivers, as Courtland Sutton, Trey Quinn and James Proche all eclipsed 100 yards. Quarterback Ben Hicks had one of the best games in his SMU career distributing the ball to them. The sophomore completed 19 of 32 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns. Time after time in the second half when SMU needed a play or a conversion, Hicks stepped up to the challenge.

“What a gritty kid. Every game he gets better. He shows his grit, his toughness and his fight. He can stand in there and he makes things happen,” Morris said. “I’m so proud of him and all our guys. It took a collective effort.”

The offense as a whole clicked basically all night, rolling to the most yards in a game since 2013 (581). The Mustangs hit big plays all night, finishing with 10 plays that picked up at least 20 yards. It wasn’t just the passing game either clicking. The Mustangs ran for 215 yards and averaged 7.2 yards per carry.




The SMU defense allowed 28 first half points and generally struggled to get Tulsa’s offense off the field. Tulsa converted 7 of 11 third downs in the first half and found big plays both on the ground and through the air. In the second half though, the defense fueled SMU’s comeback.

Tulsa only managed six second-half points and 136 yards. A big turning point for the defense came on Tulsa’s first drive of the second half. A long touchdown rush for the Golden Hurricane was negated for taunting before the runner reached the end zone. It wiped the touchdown off the board, and the Mustangs held the Golden Hurricane to just three points.

SMU held Tulsa’s potent ground game to just 76 yards in the second half, averaging fewer than four yards per carry. Most of those didn’t come with conventional running plays either but on quarterback scrambles. The defense’s response after half time was extremely impressive.

“Our effort in the first half was there,” Morris said. “We were just missing some plays and some tackles. They were making some. To see these guys respond and play the way they did in the second half, it was huge.”

The Mustangs’ 6-2 start is the school’s best start since 1984. The Mustangs are bowl eligible, but there’s still a lot of football left this season. Next week, SMU hosts nationally-ranked UCF for homecoming.

“From 35 months ago to get to this point today is remarkable,” Morris said. “To get to where we want to get to and consistently win championships here at SMU, you had to get to this point first. To get here, it raises the bar for this program. I’m so proud these young men believed in us when nobody else did. When others said it would be so difficult to do, these kids saw it as an opportunity.”



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