SMU inches closer to bowl eligibility and the P5 schools struggle in this week's 411

[caption id="attachment_27284" align="alignright" width="350"]Photo by Shane Roper Photo by Shane Roper[/caption] There just isn't much to get excited about in the college ranks in Texas. That is, unless, you are on the Hilltop. Four ObservationsThe Mustangs are stampeding SMU is one upset away from bowl eligibility. The Mustangs went 2-10 last year in their first season under the direction of former Lake Travis head coach and Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris. A win over East Carolina put SMU at 5-5 on the season with home games against USF and Navy remaining on the schedule. SMU will be an underdog in both matchups, but one upset sends Morris’ program back to the postseason a year or two before anyone figured possible. The emergence of Ben Hicks at quarterback solidified the offense. He passed for 235 yards and three touchdowns in the win, while running back Ke’Mon Freeman rushed for 111 yards a touchdown, and Braeden West hit the century mark, as well. Wide receiver Courtland Sutton continues to impress. The former Brenham star caught 12 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns. The defense scored twice in the win, as Horace Richardson returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns. Power teams are powerless The P5 teams in Texas went 0-4 this weekend. Baylor was whooped by Oklahoma and the wheels are falling off in Waco on the football field. The program is in disarray and it is common knowledge that head coach Jim Grobe won’t last long in Waco. That puts Baylor in a tough position this season. No one is unaware of the elephant in Waco. The Bears must get the next hire right or face the reality of returning to being the Baylor of old. Texas lost at home to West Virginia, meaning the Longhorns are yet to reach bowl eligibility with two games remaining. It sounds more like Charlie Strong will keep his job if the Longhorns win out and reach a bowl game. Texas A&M was the unfortunate victim of Shea Patterson’s coming out party, dropping a second straight game. Texas Tech lost by one point to Oklahoma State and must beat Iowa State and Baylor to reach a bowl game. TCU was idle. Roadrunners run off road UTSA traveled to Ruston, Louisiana with a chance to make history. Instead, the Roadrunners headed back home after a loss to Louisiana Tech with more work to do before competing for a conference championship. UTSA won seven games combined in 2014 and 2015. UTSA is sitting at five wins with two games to go in the season. One win means the first bowl game in program history. The Roadrunners face Texas A&M this weekend in a game that will cost UTSA a loss and A&M $800K. The week after, however, UTSA hosts Charlotte. A win at home means UTSA heads bowling in year one under Frank Wilson. There remains one great reason to watch UTEP UTEP is 3-7 so I understand if the Miners aren’t on your football priority list. But running back Aaron Jones is the reason to pay attention to El Paso football. With two games remaining, Jones has 1,397 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. He averages 7.3 yards per carry and is also fourth on the team in reception yards. He might be the best player in Conference USA and has a bright future in the NFL if injuries don’t get in the way. He received a medical redshirt last year, making him a junior. If he stays in El Paso for his senior year, Jones is a 2,000-yard candidate with the chance to set a lot of rushing records. One Question Is Houston still the best team in Texas? One Prediction At least three of the FBS schools in Texas are searching for new head coaches this offseason. That is the same number as last offseason. That would mean half of the 12 FBS coaches in this state are in year one or two in 2017.

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