SMU Mustangs Football Defensive Preview

The reverse Pony express

SMU swarming Virginia. Credit: SMU Athletics

Who would have thought, year one in the ACC and the SMU Mustangs have already clinched a title berth in the championship game. Under Rhett Lashlee, the Mustangs had been a perennial bowl team but never beat the brakes off anybody like they have this year. Thanks to an injection of life from QB Kevin Jennings and a defense that has given teams hell trying to score, it’s all come together for SMU as they sit No.9 in the CFP rankings. This will be the best team on all sides of the ball that Cal will face, not a distinction that I make lightly. Even if the Mustangs beat the Bears but drop a close one in Charlotte, I believe this team should be one of the last teams into the CFP. More on how they got here👇

2023 Defense in Review

• Gave up 17.8 points per game last season

• led by DC Scott Symons

• Only allowed 122 yards per game on the ground, at 3.4 yards per attempt

• Surrendered 182.2 passing yards per game on 6 yards per attempt

• Held teams to 28% conversion rate on 3rd down

• totaled 48 sacks and 19 turnovers generated last year as a member of the AAC

2024 setup

• still led by DC Scott Symons

• primarily run a 3-4 defense but has shifted over time to four down lineman and even fronts

• Give up 21 points per game

• allow 96 (!!!) yards per game rushing on 2.8 yards per rush

• give up 236 passing yards per game on 6.5 yards per attempt

• Generated 33 sacks and 25 total turnovers entering the last game of the regular season

• possess 2nd highest ranked scoring defense in the ACC, 1st in rushing defense and 11th in passing defense

Provisional Starters

OLB Elijah Roberts, DL Jared Harrison-Hunte, DL Isaiah Smith, OLB Jafarri Harvey

ILB Ahmad Walker, ILB Kobe Wilson

CB Brandon Crossley, S Jonathan McGill, S Cale Saunders JR, Nickel Ahmaad Moses OR Isaiah Nwokobia, CB Deuce Harmon

Players and personnel to watch

We’ve all seen how Cal’s offensive line has been put a blender in all season by all forms of competition.

Bears fans, its time to prepare yourselves for what it probably the best defense that the team has faced all season. SMU’s defensive line is cutthroat at the line of scrimmage, puts opposing offenses in hell, and wrecks drives before they start. Much like Florida State and Miami, if I could list the whole defensive line as the position group to watch I would. How Mike Bloesch attempts to protect Fernando Mendoza goes a long way in this matchup because if the Bears simply ask the front five to win their matchups, Mendoza will get sacked about eight times Saturday.

Isaiah Smith and Elijah Roberts are the prime names to watch in the front seven. Smith posted two sacks against Virginia and now leads the team with 6.5 sacks. Not too far behind is Roberts, who has only totaled 3 sacks but his presence is a lot for offenses to handle, commanding so much attention that it frees up others. Jahfari Harvey is a beneficiary of that along the edge, as the speed rusher has 5.5 sacks and 8.5 TFL’s (which leads the team). The Mustangs have so many people that can catch you so many different ways and that’s before you get to the highest rated run defense in the ACC.

What they do on early downs complements their passing defense when needing to get off the field. While they give up a smidge over 235 passing yards per game, the Mustangs force teams into 3rd and long situations often, holding others to a 32% conversion rate, good enough for 24th in the nation. Similarly, SMU has only given up 44% of 4th downs this season, 25th in the nation. For reference, the Bears are 34th in the nation on 3rd down defense and 109th (!!!) in 4th down defense.

How Cal can win this game

This is one of the only matchups this season where Cal is noticeably outmatched walking into the stadium. Now, we’ve seen all sorts of weird things happen over the years under Justin Wilcox but I don’t really see myself talking into Cal sustaining drivers for four quarters when they haven’t done so this season.

If anything, the script against Miami may flare up. The Bears won’t likely create anything of sustenance but may be able to strike via the explosive play on a blown coverage or rush lane fail. SMU’s defense is really good, and have turned around former Stanford S Jonathan McGill’s college football career. McGill was apart of bad Cardinal defenses from 2019-21 and now is a weapon for SMU.

SMU’s special teams also has some ability, Roderick Daniels Jr can rip a return in open space and the kick blocking units literally won them the game against Duke, so be on the lookout for those margins.

For Cal, you don’t have anything to lose in this game. The Mustangs have a lot at stake you have to hope that they are looking over their shoulder in regards to the developing CFP situation. I do feel obligated to say that there isn’t a realistic chance that happens because Rhett Lashlee has had his team dialed in but as you know, any given Saturday things happen.

Cal just needs to play loose, maintain their pose, and find a way to make those winning plays. You do that and you’ve got yourself in a close game heading to the fourth quarter. It’s going to be a tall task to derail this Pony Express but that’s why we play the game.