{"id":207181,"date":"2025-09-07T08:37:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T08:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/207181\/"},"modified":"2025-09-07T08:37:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T08:37:21","slug":"mustangs-fall-to-bears-in-thrilling-renewal-of-swc-rivalry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/207181\/","title":{"rendered":"Mustangs fall to Bears in thrilling renewal of SWC rivalry"},"content":{"rendered":"

UNIVERSITY PARK \u2014 Despite holding a two-touchdown lead with under six minutes remaining, SMU\u2019s defense could not stop Baylor\u2019s skilled offense led by quarterback Sawyer Robertson<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Robertson led the Bears to two touchdown drives late in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Both teams scored in the first overtime, but after SMU kicker Collin Rogers missed his third field-goal attempt of the day, Baylor walked off with a game-winning 27-yard field goal. The Bears (1-1) claimed the 48-45 upset over the No. 17 Mustangs (1-1).<\/p>\n

Here are five thoughts from SMU\u2019s loss:<\/p>\n

SMU cannot snap losing streak to Baylor<\/p>\n

Sports Roundup<\/p>\n

Get the latest D-FW sports news, analysis and opinion delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, Kevin Sherrington’s A La Carte.<\/p>\n

By signing up, you agree to our\u00a0Terms of Service<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

It had been nearly a decade since former Southwest Conference rivals Baylor and SMU<\/a> met and far longer since the Mustangs took down their in-state rivals.<\/p>\n

SMU still hasn\u2019t beaten Baylor since 1986. <\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s game at Ford Stadium where SMU was ranked<\/a> and the Bears were coming off a humbling loss to Auburn<\/a> felt like SMU\u2019s best chance to beat Baylor since the Southwest Conference days.<\/p>\n

But poor time management and an impressive comeback by the Bears leaves SMU with a blemish on its resume before ACC play has even begun. Unless Baylor proves to be a top-25 team later in the season, like BYU was last year, and SMU can win out, its College Football Playoff hopes could already be fleeting.<\/p>\n

Baylor has now won the last 14 meetings between the two in-state rivals.<\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\"SMUBaylor mounts impressive comeback<\/p>\n

After TJ Harden scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns for SMU, many thought the game was over.<\/p>\n

Baylor trailed by 14 points with under six minutes left in regulation, but Robertson led the Bears to two touchdown drives to tie the game with 34 seconds in regulation.<\/p>\n

SMU\u2019s defense struggled to stop Baylor\u2019s lethal offense all day and especially down the stretch. Robertson threw 48- and 21-yard touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

Robertson also threw 33- and 28-yard touchdown passes Saturday. The SMU secondary struggled mightily.<\/p>\n

SMU had a chance to win on a walk-off field goal, but Rogers missed his second attempt of the day from 50-plus yards. He missed another field goal in overtime.<\/p>\n

SMU\u2019s defense allowed Baylor to score on its final four drives of the game. SMU scored just one touchdown on its final four drives.<\/p>\n

\"SMU<\/p>\n

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) looks to throw the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Baylor at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 in University Park. <\/p>\n

Chitose Suzuki \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

Quarterbacks show out in battle of state\u2019s best<\/p>\n

Two of the top college quarterbacks in Texas looked the part Saturday, as both led their offenses in impressive showings.<\/p>\n

At halftime, SMU led Baylor 24-21 after five consecutive touchdown drives by the two offenses in the second quarter.<\/p>\n

Kevin Jennings was a perfect 10-for-10 for 236 yards and two touchdowns in the first half for SMU. Each of those touchdown passes went for 75 yards. He finished the game 17-for-23 for 296 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.<\/p>\n

Baylor\u2019s Robertson attempted 50 passes. He was 21-for-26 for 234 yards with two touchdowns by halftime and finished with 440 yards passing and four scores.<\/p>\n

Two of his receivers \u2014 Ashtyn Hawkins and Josh Cameron \u2014 had over 145 yards receiving each on the day. <\/p>\n

Defense and special teams fail Mustang offense<\/p>\n

SMU\u2019s offense did its part to compete with Baylor\u2019s putting up 45 points and having multiple contributors have standout days.<\/p>\n

Jennings was outstanding, especially in the first half, with two 75-yard touchdown passes. Harden emerged as the leader of the running back room with three touchdowns and 115 yards rushing. Romello Brinson had two scores and 126 yards receiving.<\/p>\n

But the Mustang defense could not stop Baylor down the stretch. A single stop would\u2019ve turned the game in SMU\u2019s favor. Instead, Baylor scored 24 points in the last 5:23 of regulation and overtime.<\/p>\n

SMU\u2019s special teams made one big play. Baylor turned it over on a punt when a Baylor player was charged with an illegal block in the back during which an SMU player was pushed into the Baylor returner. The returner touched the ball after calling for a fair catch, and SMU recovered the fumble.<\/p>\n

But kicker Collin Rogers missed three field goals on four tries. He made one from 43 yards in the first quarter but missed 51-, 57- and 38-yarders, including one as time expired in regulation and one in overtime.<\/p>\n

Mustang skills players start to distance themselves<\/p>\n

There aren\u2019t many silver linings for SMU from losing to an unranked team this early in the season. But it\u2019s becoming clearer which Mustangs are leading their respective position races.<\/p>\n

UCLA transfer TJ Harden had the best game for SMU\u2019s running backs. None of the four in competition distanced themselves in Week 1, but Harden rushed 19 times for 115 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Baylor. His second score was a 40-yard run that put SMU up in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

At wide receiver, the Mustangs have a clear WR1 and WR2 in Brinson and Jalen Cooper.<\/p>\n

After the injury to Jordan Hudson on the first play of the season (which sidelined him again Saturday), Brinson stepped up as the only veteran receiver returning for the Mustangs. Brinson eclipsed 100 yards for the second straight week. After scoring a 63-yard touchdown on the third play last game, he followed it up with a 75-yard touchdown on the first play against Baylor. He also scored on a diving catch in the first overtime. <\/p>\n

True freshman Jalen Cooper is filling in nicely for Hudson. He accounted for SMU\u2019s other 75-yard touchdown pass and has found the end zone in each of his first two college games.<\/p>\n

Photos: Baylor celebrates game-winning FG as Bears upset No. 17 SMU<\/p>\n

\"BaylorView Gallery<\/p>\n