Baylor is going for its 13th consecutive victory over former Southwest Conference rival SMU, in a long-interrupted series being contested for the fourth time in five years.
SMU is one of the remaining 11 candidates for the Big 12 as the league considers expansion.
Both teams can pile up yards on offense. SMU had 572 total yards in its opening win over North Texas, while Baylor had 498 yards against Northwestern State when most of the starters were finished before halftime.
- SMU (1-0) at No. 23 Baylor (1-0), 3:30 p.m. (FS1)
- Line: Baylor by 32.
- Series record: Baylor leads 38-36-7.
KEY MATCHUP
SMU WR Courtland Sutton vs. Baylor secondary. Sutton had four catches for 162 yards in the opener, three of them for TDs. The scores included an 88-yarder and a 46-yarder on a third-and-45 play. Bears senior CBs Ryan Reid and Orion Stewart are the team's most experienced starters.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
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SMU: QBs Matt Davis and Ben Hicks. Davis, the former transfer from Texas A&M, was the starter in the opener and threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns before a knee injury that will make him a game-time decision Saturday. Redshirt freshman Hicks threw for 145 yards and a touchdown, and coach Chad Morris has said both will play moving forward this season.
Baylor: RB Shock Linwood. The senior tailback, coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, is 107 yards shy of breaking the Baylor career rushing record that has been held by Walter Abercrombie (3,665 yards) for 35 years.
FACTS & FIGURES
Until winning two years ago, Baylor hadn't held the overall lead in the SMU series since 1924. ... The Bears led all FBS teams in TD drives of 2 minutes or less each of the last two seasons (49 in 2015, 41 in 2014). They had four such drives in their season-opening win over Northwestern State. ... SMU junior DE Justin Lawler had 3 1/2 sacks and eight tackles in the season opener at North Texas.
