In a back-and-forth affair, SMU managed to close the deal with a respectable second half against Texas State.

Horrible news from TCU, as the Horned Frogs have announced COVID-19 cases, which has forced at least the postponement of the Battle for the Iron Skillet next week.

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SMU will open the 2020 season at Texas State in a nationally televised setting Saturday afternoon.

One of the most respected voices of SMU football the past two years, Patrick Nelson will be watching the Mustangs throughout the 2020 season.

As SMU prepares for Saturday's clash with Texas State, the Austin American-Statesman is reporting that four Texas State players will not suit up for the season opener.

According to the Statesman's Keff Ciardello, quarterback Tyler Vitt, safety Tory Spears and tight ends Seth Caillouet and Jackson Lanam are expected to miss Saturday's game. Ciardello reported that none of the athletes have been publicly declared COVID-19 positive, but they are in quarantine after contact tracing.

Ciardello added that Vitt, Caillouet and Lanam all are roommates.

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This is something of a blow for Texas State, as Vitt, a junior, was a key backup quarterback who played in nine games last season and started seven. He completed all three of his pass attempts for 40 yards and a touchdown in last year's 47-17 loss to SMU.

Vitt and junior Jaylen Gipson were expected to battle for the No. 2 quarterback spot, as Memphis transfer Brady McBride earned the nod to start Saturday. Vitt led Texas State in passing in 2019, throwing for 1,590 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Caillouet, a sophomore, played in nine games and started one in 2019. He caught four passes for 37 yards and was used primarily on special teams. Lanam, also a sophomore, only saw action in one game last season.

To add, Texas State's depth chart for Saturday doesn't feature a tight end. The Bobcats are expected to line up with four wide receivers.

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Defensively, Spears was expected to help a young Texas State unit that . A sophomore transfer from Iowa State, Spears is the son of former NFL offensive tackle Marcus Spears, who played for the Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans.
SMU and Texas State will play on a nationally televised stage on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.

SMU will always be able to say it was the first to offer 2024 Deontrell Barrett, a rising point guard out of Lancaster.

With the depth chart now out, here are a few takeaways surrounding SMU football.

Each week, The HillTopics will chat with a beat writer covering SMU's upcoming opponent. Another gem provided for our loyal fans!

Sunday, Aug.23: Quarterbacks

https://smu.rivals.com/news/identifying-the-2020-roster-quarterbacks

SMU quarterback Shane Buechele has been named to the College Football Performance Award (CFPA) National Performer of the Year Trophy Watch List. Buechele is one of 30 players on the watch list.

Click here more information, courtesy of SMU Football.

SMU-TCU has been moved to Friday, Sept. 11. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m., and the game will be televised on FS1.

Read more about it here, courtesy of the AAC.

UCF has been picked as the preseason favorite in the American Athletic Conference, according to the AAC preseason media poll. SMU comes in as fourth.

Click here for the release courtesy of the AAC.

The football season is here for SMU, and the Mustangs are ready -- and healthy -- for Saturday's clash with Texas State.

One of SMU's defensive leaders last season is still waiting for an NFL free agency call. In the meanwhile, he's called on the assist of one of the most respected trainers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The Mustangs get on the board for 2021 basketball recruiting with a 6-4 point guard out of Orlando, Florida.

Xavier Jones, an undrafted free agent, is hoping positive words from one of the NFL's top defenders can help to land a spot with the Los Angeles Rams.

In the continued fight against equality and racial injustice, SMU Athletics has announced a partnership with Project Unity and will join its newest initiative, Together We Can.


Click here to more about the partnership, courtesy of SMU Football.

Orlando, Florida, point guard Jalen Smith has moved his commitment date up and is expected to announce his college plans this weekend. Will SMU fans get good news?

Racial inequality and demand for change are more of a priority than basketball for SMU's Feron Hunt, who is considering opting out of the 2020-21 season.

The AAC announced date changes to some of its conference games for the 2020 season. SMU will now have games against two opponents on different dates.

The Mustangs will move their home game against Memphis back two days, from Oct. 1 to Oct. 3. Also, SMU's road game at Tulane will now be on Oct. 16, a Friday, instead of Oct. 17.

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The HillTopics is proud to announce its newest member to its growing team.

Baileigh Sheffield is a Lewisville, Texas, native, who graduated from the University of Houston this summer. She has a degree in broadcast journalism with a minor in psychology. She has future aspirations of working in television.

While at Houston, Sheffield balanced her time as a member of the competitive cheerleading squad with working for Coog Radio (University of Houston radio) and The Daily Cougar student-run newspaper. Sheffield also was a contributor for Texan Live out of the greater Houston area.

Sheffield loves football and baseball, and she has a passion for discussing the Dallas Cowboys. She will be a part of the writing team for the The HillTopics, and she also will have a hand in maintaining social media.

Follow her on Twitter: @BaileighSheff

SMU will face Texas State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, in San Marcos. It will be the first of three games featuring AAC teams televised on ESPN between Sept. 5-7.

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Cornerback Brandon Stephens will wear the prestigious No. 23 SMU jersey this season. The jersey honors Jerry LeVias, the first African American to play in the Southwest Conference.

https://smu.rivals.com/news/honoring-jerry-levias-brandon-stephens-to-wear-coveted-no-23-jersey

SMU returns to practice today -- with 10 days until the scheduled season-opener at Texas State -- and while there's plenty of optimism surrounding the program, there's also some minor speculation sprinkled here and there.


https://smu.rivals.com/news/what-we-re-hearing-from-smu-practices-wednesday-edition