No. 17 SMU hosts Baylor as 125-year rivalry is rekindled

For the primary time in 9 years, the No. 17 SMU Mustangs and the Baylor Bears renew a 125-year-old rivalry Saturday afternoon in Dallas.

SMU (1-0) started its 2025 common season with a 42-13 rout of FCS facet East Texas A&M earlier than welcoming its first energy convention take a look at in Baylor (0-1). Within the lopsided Mustangs victory, the reigning School Soccer Playoff participant managed each the bottom and the air regardless of dropping their prime returning receiver Jordan Hudson on the primary play of the sport with a shoulder damage on a 7-yard reception.

On the defensive finish, SMU additionally misplaced a key member of its linebacker group when Alex Kilgore injured his left ankle on a 10-yard interception return for a landing.

“Excellent news is each X-rays had been unfavourable, so there isn’t any long-term fractures or breaks,” mentioned head coach Rhett Lashlee. “I might say they’re each day-to-day. It could possibly be anyplace from, best-case state of affairs, play this week to a couple weeks.”

With Hudson out, fifth-year senior Romello Brinson lit up East Texas’ secondary with the very best receiving day of his profession. He posted 121 yards and a landing, his fourth in three seasons at SMU.

The Mustangs have their work reduce out for them towards the Bears’ secondary, which held Auburn’s beginning extensive receivers to 104 whole yards in a 38-24 season-opening loss at house Friday evening.

Nonetheless, the working sport was tough for Baylor towards Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold, who had a team-high two dashing touchdowns with 137 dashing yards on 16 makes an attempt. The Bears’ protection allowed Arnold to hurry for 24- and 27-yard scores within the double-digit defeat. Now, Baylor will match up towards Kevin Jennings, who ran for 354 yards and 5 touchdowns final season for SMU.

“Kevin’s ft give a protection bother,” mentioned Lashlee. “So, hopefully, that plus our working sport may be good this week. We have to take a bounce from Week 1.”

For Baylor, the loss to Auburn takes away one among solely two nonconference probabilities to earn an influence convention win to assist bolster its playoff resume earlier than the nine-game Huge 12 schedule begins Sept. 20. Regardless, the Bears will not be taking a look at SMU as their final probability to compete for postseason soccer so early within the season, nevertheless it’s a chance for Baylor to proceed to enhance.

“There are issues which can be in our management, the opponent typically is not,” mentioned head coach Dave Aranda. “However there’s issues which can be in our management that we now have to do higher. And if we do these issues and play the usual of what we will, what we’re able to, then all the opposite issues are going to fall into place. And so, the emphasis is de facto on that.”

Regardless of the difficulties stopping the run for Baylor, on offense, senior quarterback Sawyer Robertson confirmed the Bears’ capacity to harm groups after they have the ball. He threw for 419 yards and three touchdowns within the season opener.

The in-state rivalry leans in Baylor’s favor, because the Bears have a 37-35-5 file and 12 straight wins towards SMU.

–Discipline Degree Media