TCU 56, SMU 37: What We Learned

pg0WWInUKFThe National Champion is not determined in September. Is the TCU defense a concern heading into the conference opener? Absolutely, and the Horned Frogs should’ve beaten SMU by more, but it’s hard to start a season where you left off after an eight month break. TCU hasn’t played like the nation’s No. 3 team, but the top teams in week three don’t play for the College Football Playoff. The Horned Frogs will get a great test against an undefeated Texas Tech next week, who upset Arkansas in Fayetteville earlier on Saturday. I’m glad TCU got tested in non-conference play because it knows what it needs to work on heading into the games that matter the most. It faced a ranked Power 5 opponent in Minnesota, and got a run for its money in a rivalry game tonight. SMU is not on TCU’s level (yet). SMU is headed in the right direction under first year coach Chad Morris. The Mustangs led rival TCU 10-7 after back-to-back scoring drives. Its quick start and its second half comeback should be great signs heading forward, and it has a comfortable quarterback under center. Junior Matt Davis passed for 330 yards against rival TCU tonight, and is now within 188 yards of his 2014 season mark. He led the team to 20 unanswered points on four consecutive drives in the second half, and the Mustangs were within five early in the fourth quarter. The TCU defense is still a question mark. The Mustangs are not a national championship contender like the Horned Frogs, but it was another team that questioned the Horned Frogs’ defense. SMU had a losing record in 2014 but TCU gave them 508 yards and 37 points tonight. Everyone agrees this is a very different SMU team, but it was the second consecutive game that TCU allowed a huge play defensively. Last week, it was Loren Easley’s 75 yard touchdown that broke up the team’s shutout, and tonight it was Ryheem Malone’s 63 yard reception. The threat of big plays only gets more dangerous as Big 12 play starts.