SMU Mustangs, Rhett Lashlee unload in beatdown of TCU Horned Frogs, Sonny Dykes
The SMU Mustangs unloaded on the TCU Horned Frogs with a beatdown of historic levels, winning 66-42. For head coach Rhett Lashlee, it was a long time coming to get his first power conference win.
It came after a tough two weeks emotionally on the Mustangs. Lashlee made the call to go to quarterback Kevin Jennings as his starter.
Jennings responded with scoring drives on SMU’s first six offensive drives. Meanwhile, it was defensive touchdowns by Brandon Crossley and Ahmaad Moses plus a punt return for a touchdown from Roderick Daniels, Jr. that set Ford Stadium on fire.
For Lashlee, this is THE signature win of his tenure. SMU accomplished so much already when it appeared in the AAC Championship last December. To grab this win, especially under the circumstances, showed the grit Lashlee’s instilled in this team.
Lashlee announced Jennings as the starting quarterback last week. He announced running back Jaylan Knighton was out. He didn’t hide anything.
That’s the trust Lashlee has in his SMU team. That’s the performance he got rewarded with.
The Mustangs scored 66 points, the most by any team in the Battle for the Iron Skillet. From special teams to defense to offense, it was a team win.
Lashlee’s been working toward this moment, a power conference win, since he arrived on the Hilltop. The cloud is gone, but the focus shouldn’t be on that. The reality is SMU whipped a TCU team that is headed in the opposite direction compared to the Mustangs.
College football is a wild sport with week-to-week performances varying with all the distractions.
Instead of folding after a tough loss to BYU, SMU rallied, trusted in a new starting quarterback and earned a win.
There won’t be time to rest as Florida State rolls into Dallas, but for 24 hours… this is one to be enjoyed.
This is what college football should be about, competitive crosstown rivals.
SMU showed why TCU has wanted to keep the program out of the power conference ranks for so long. Now, how will TCU try and stop SMU from widening the gap between the two football programs?
The only way is to bow out of the rivalry, which SMU’s shown it can control.
This isn’t the old SMU where it can sneak a win here or there. Lashlee’s Mustangs are built to last.
