The Southern Methodist University football team will travel to the University of Houston to take on the Cougars on Saturday, October 30th at 6 pm CST. At 6-1 overall and 4-0 in American Athletic Conference (AAC) play, Houston is in first place in the AAC, with SMU and Cincinnati tied for second at 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the AAC.
The Mustangs moved up to #19 in the Associated Press Top 25 and #16 in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll after defeating the Green Wave of Tulane 55-26 last Thursday. SMU had a total of 612 offensive yards, the most they have had all season.
Junior quarterback Tanner Mordecai threw for 427 yards and three touchdowns, with one rushing touchdown, earning him the AAC Offensive Player of the Week Award. Mordecai has thrown for 29 touchdowns this year, tied for the most in the country.
Senior running back Tre Siggers ran for 81 yards and two touchdowns. The Mustangs’ offense is first in the AAC in yards per game (525.4), points per game (42.7), and in allowed sacks (two for a total of fourteen yards). Their defense is third in allowed points per game (22.7).
The Cougars are coming off a nail-biting 31-24 overtime win against East Carolina last Saturday. Houston allowed the Pirates to erase a 24-10 deficit in the fourth quarter before freshman running back Alton McCaskill ran for a 25-yard touchdown in overtime to save the day.
The Cougars gave up 365 total yards while accumulating just 256 on offense. Junior quarterback Clayton Tune threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns. This season, Houston’s defense is first in the AAC in yards per game (277.1) and sacks (28 sacks for 162 total yards), and second in points allowed per game (16.4). The Cougars are also the best in the nation at defensive third-down conversions at .234.
The game will be televised on ESPN2.