2019 SMU Mustangs football team

The 2019 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Mustangs were led by second-year head coach Sonny Dykes and played their home games at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas, a separate city within the city limits of Dallas. They competed as members of the West Division of the American Athletic Conference.

The Mustangs started the season 8–0, their first 8–0 start to a season since 1982. The team's non-conference schedule was capped off with a 41–38 victory over rival TCU, their first victory over the Horned Frogs since 2011. Following a 48–21 victory over the South Florida Bulls in week 5, the Mustangs entered the AP Poll at no. 24, their first poll ranking since the team received the NCAA's death penalty in February 1987. The team's first loss of the season would come on November 2 against the Memphis Tigers. The team went on to play in the Boca Raton Bowl, falling to Florida Atlantic.



Recruiting class
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Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released References:

AAC media poll
The AAC media poll was released on July 16, 2019, with the Mustangs predicted to finish fourth in the AAC West Division.

Preseason All-AAC teams
SMU placed nine players to the All-AAC team, sanctioned by Athlon Sports.

Offense

1st team


 * James Proche – Sr, wide receiver

3rd team


 * Reggie Roberson Jr. – Jr, wide receiver

4th team


 * Shane Buechele – Jr, quarterback
 * Xavier Jones – Sr, running back
 * Hayden Howerton – Jr, center

Defensive

2nd team


 * Delontae Scott – Sr, defensive lineman
 * Richard moore – Sr, linebacker
 * Rodney clemons – Sr, safety

Special teams

4th team


 * James proche – Sr, punt returner

Schedule
SMU's 2019 schedule will begin with four non-conference games: first on the road against Arkansas State of the Sun Belt Conference, then at home against North Texas of Conference USA, then at home against Texas State, also of the Sun Belt Conference, and finally on the road against cross-town rival TCU of the Big 12 Conference. In American Athletic Conference play, the Mustangs will play the other members of the West Division and draw East Carolina, South Florida, and Temple from the East Division. They will not play Cincinnati, Connecticut, or UCF as part of the regular season.

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Texas State
With the victory, the Mustangs improved to 3–0, their first 3–0 start since the 1984 season.

At TCU
The Mustangs built a 15–0 lead in the 1st quarter and never trailed in the game. SMU lead 31–17 at halftime, but the Horned Frogs rallied in the 2nd half to trail by 3 points late in the 4th. The Mustangs held on and stopped the comeback attempt, winning 41–38. This is SMU's first win over TCU since 2011.

At Memphis
Memphis hosted the Mustangs in the first-ever College GameDay appearance for the Tigers, and just the second for SMU. The Mustangs jumped out to an early lead in front of the sold-out crowd, and the two teams traded scores to reach halftime with a 17-23 score in favor of Memphis. The Tigers never trailed in the second half, although the Mustangs drew within one score on a Shane Buechele pass to James Proche and Jaylon Thomas's two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. Memphis handed SMU its first loss of the season.

Scoring

 * Scores against non-conference opponents


 * Scores against the AAC


 * Scores against all opponents

All-American Athletic Conference Football Team
Offense

1st team
 * James Proche – Sr, Wide Receiver
 * Shane Buechele – Jr, Quarterback
 * Xavier Jones – Sr, Running Back

2nd team
 * Jaylon Thomas – SO, Offensive Tackle
 * Kylen Granson – Jr, Tight End

Defensive

1st team
 * Patrick Nelson – Sr, Linebacker

2nd team
 * Delontae Scott – Sr, Defensive Lineman
 * Rodney clemons – Sr, Safety

Special teams

2nd team
 * C. J. Sanders – Sr, Return Specialist

References: