SMU was among 12 football teams that participated in last year’s College Football Playoff. The Mustangs didn’t match that magical season this year, but the players have enjoyed the ride enough that virtually the entire team stayed together for a trip to San Diego and Friday night’s Trust & Will Holiday Bowl.

“It’s a close group,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. “We’ve got a good culture. Our staff does a great job with our players. They enjoy playing together. Everybody’s here. Nobody opted out.”

SMU lost 38-10 to Penn State in the first round of the CFP. With the Holiday Bowl being played post-New Year’s Day for the first time, the Mustangs (8-4) are actually playing deeper into the season than they did a year ago. SMU lost to Cal 38-35 in the final week of the regular season. A victory would have put the Mustangs in the ACC championship game against Virginia and given them another crack at making the playoff.

Among the highlights to SMU’s season was a 26-20 overtime victory over No. 10 Miami. The Mustangs also beat Clemson (35-24), Boston College (45-13) and Louisville (38-6) during the second half of the season.

The offense

Scoring: 32.9 ppg (T-23rd in the nation). Passing: 283.5 ypg (11th). Rushing: 135.5 ypg (90th). Total: 419 ypg (29th). Giveaways: 16 (T-68th, 10 interceptions, 6 fumbles lost).

The Mustangs have nine receivers that each have at least 16 receptions, led by wide receiver Jordan Hudson (56 catches, 749 yards, 6 TD). Junior quarterback Kevin Jennings (279-for-422, 3,363 yards, 26 TD/10 INT) is at the controls of one of the nation’s more potent passing attacks. The running game has accounted for less than half the team’s total yards, although running backs T.J. Harden (161 carries, 747 yards, 7 TD) and Chris Johnson Jr. (62 carries, 463 yards, 4 TD) have been productive.

The defense

Scoring: 20.7 ppg (T-34th). Passing: 284.7 ypg (133rd). Rushing: 105.9 (19th). Total: 390.6 ypg (85th). Takeaways: 27 (5th, 17 interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries).

The Mustangs are tied for eighth nationally in turnover margin at plus-11, which has helped them overcome deficiencies in passing defense. Safeties Ahmaad Moses (91 tackles, 5 INT) and Isaiah Nwokobia (80 tackles, 2 INT, 7 pass breakups) and defensive end Isaiah Smith (51 tackles, 8 1/2 sacks) are among the team’s top playmakers. Defensive linemen Terry Webb, Cameron Robertson and Jeffrey M’ba each have at least five sacks apiece, helping the SMU defense rank 17th in the nation with 34 sacks.

Bowl history

This is the eighth bowl appearance in the past decade for SMU, which is 7-11-1 all-time in 21 bowl games (its 2020 and 2021 contests were canceled because of COVID-19). The Mustangs are looking for their first bowl victory since a 43-10 win over Fresno State in the 2012 Hawaii Bowl.

This is the second Holiday Bowl visit for SMU. The Pony Express team led by running backs Eric Dickerson and Craig James rushed the team into the 1980 contest. The Mustangs lost 46-45 to BYU in a game regarded among the best bowl games in college football history.

Did you know?

College football fans may be familiar with the Doak Walker Award, which since 1990 has annually honored the nation’s top running back. It is named for the SMU halfback who played his first game for the Mustangs in 1945, two days after being discharged from the Merchant Marine.

Walker missed the 1946 season when he was inducted into the Army, then returned and played for SMU from 1947-49. He was a three-time All-American who won the Heisman Trophy in 1948. He went on to star for the Detroit Lions. Walker is a Hall of Famer for both his college and pro careers.