Another Early Season Stumble: Several Takeaways From SMU's Loss to Baylor

SMU suffered an early season loss for the second year in a row, Freshman WR, Jalen Cooper continues to shine, hauling in a TD grab for a second straight week.

Written By: Baileigh Sheffield (Via Mustang Wire)

There are a few takeaways from SMU’s double-overtime loss to Baylor.

Quarterback Kevin Jennings opened up the game on fire, completing all 10 of his passes in the first half, including two 75-yard touchdown strikes, to Romello Brinson and Jalen Cooper. Those big plays accounted for 150 of his 236 passing yards before halftime, as the 17th-ranked Mustangs led 24-21 in their first meeting with their former Southwest Conference rival since 2016.

As the game progressed, the momentum the Mustangs built slipped out of their grasp. Miscues in execution and coaching decisions left the door open for the Bears to claw their way back back in the game.

Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson threw two of his four touchdowns in the final 5 1/2 minutes of regulation, and redshirt freshman Connor Hawkins sealed it with a 27-yard field goal in the second overtime, giving the Bears a 48-45 comeback win.

The Mustangs, who reached the 12-team College Football Playoff in their ACC debut last season, have now dropped three straight games against FBS opponents. Clemson in the ACC title game, Penn State in the CFP, and now Baylor are the last three losses on the Mustangs record.

It’s a familiar script. Before running the table in ACC conference play last year, SMU dropped an early-season matchup at home to BYU. This year, a blowout win over FCS East Texas A&M offered promise, but Baylor served a reminder: the climb in a new conference remains steep. Look for the Mustangs to right the ship, as they head to Missouri State on the road next weekend.