Opinion
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Clash at University Stadium: SMU Mustangs vs BYU Cougars in Football Showdown

As the Southern Methodist University Mustangs prepare to face off against the Brigham Young University Cougars at University Stadium in Albuquerque, fans are eager for insights on how their team might fare. The upcoming game, scheduled for December 17th, is a pivotal moment for the Mustangs to showcase their prowess on the field.


Oct 24, 2020; Dallas, Texas, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs wide receiver Rashee Rice (11) makes a reception against the Cincinnati Bearcats during the first half at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Flores-USA TODAY Sports

Looking back at recent performances, it's clear that SMU has had its ups and downs. In their last game on November 26th against Memphis Tigers at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, they eked out a narrow victory with a score of 34-31. Their offense was firing on all cylinders with an impressive passing completion rate of roughly 74 percent and two touchdowns through the air. The rushing attack added another two touchdowns, contributing to a total offensive gain of 424 yards.


However, not all games have been as successful for SMU. On November 18th against Tulane Green Wave, they suffered a heavy defeat with a score of 24-59. Despite accumulating significant yardage (470 total yards), turnovers were their downfall; five fumbles lost them possession and likely contributed heavily to the lopsided scoreline.


In contrast, during their November 12th encounter with South Florida Bulls where they triumphed with an impressive scoreline of 41-23, SMU displayed both offensive efficiency and defensive resilience. They managed over eight yards per play overall and did not turn over the ball once throughout the game – an aspect they'll want to replicate against BYU.


The key takeaway from these past games is consistency – or rather lack thereof – which could be crucial in determining whether SMU can overcome BYU's challenge. If they can maintain strong offensive momentum while tightening up ball security as demonstrated in Tampa against USF Bulls (no punts needed), then there's every reason to believe that victory is within reach.


Defensively speaking, if SMU can replicate their performance from Tampa where they sacked USF quarterbacks twice and limited them significantly on third down conversions (45 percent success rate), then this could very well stifle BYU’s own offensive efforts.


SMU fans should expect an intense battle but also have reasons for optimism given what we've seen from previous outings this season when things click into place for them offensively and defensively.


The showdown between Southern Methodist University Mustangs and Brigham Young University Cougars will take place on December 17th at midnight Eastern Time at University Stadium in Albuquerque. Fans won't want to miss this clash which will be broadcast live on ABC network – it promises to be one worth watching!

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