SMU Mustangs: By the Numbers

Oklahoma will welcome its first real test of the 2023 season in the SMU Mustangs on Saturday evening.

NORMAN — Coming off a 73-0 thrashing of the Arkansas State Red Wolves, the No. 18-ranked Oklahoma Sooners are moving onto a different caliber of opponent.

The Sooners will host the ACC-bound SMU Mustangs Saturday, the eighth installment in the series all-time.

Led by sophomore quarterback Preston Stone, SMU handled Louisiana Tech 38-14 in Week 1.

Stone was trusted to throw the ball 37 times, as the Mustangs will look to air it out on Owen Field Saturday night.

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Former Oklahoma defensive lineman Kori Roberson (92) scored in his SMU debut last week.  :: Bryan Terry / The Oklahoman-Imagn Content Services, LLC

While there has been plenty of focus on the Mustang offense, SMU dominated Louisiana Tech up front defensively as well.

The Mustangs finished the contest with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss, led by a pair of sacks from Alexander Kilgore. The freshman linebacker played behind a revamped defensive line, supplemented by a bevy of Power 5 transfers who landed in Dallas this past offseason.

A former Sooner even got in on the fun as well.

Kori Roberson was the beneficiary of the pass rush, returning an interception 16 yards for a score to help power SMU past the Bulldogs last weekend.

SMU’s defense finished ranked 112th in total defense last season, including a dismal 120th overall against the run, but the Mustangs held Louisiana Tech to 28 yards rushing last week.

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Former Texas A&M running back LJ Johnson (34) had a career day for SMU in Week 1 after transferring this offseason :: Maria Lysaker / USA TODAY Sports

Rhett Lashlee’s Mustangs bullied Louisiana Tech on the ground last weekend as well as attacking through the air.

Texas A&M transfer running back LJ Johnson ran for 128 yards and one score on 14 carries, adding another element to the SMU offense.

The most explosive carry of the day came right before halftime, a 67-yard scamper from Johnson to help set up a score.

Johnson formed a 1-2 punch with Jaylan Knighton, who totaled 64 rushing yards on 17 carries.

Stone also looked to Knighton a bit in the passing game as the two connected on a pair of passes — something Oklahoma’s linebackers will have to monitor on Saturday.

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SMU's offensive line kept Preston Stone (2) upright in Week 1, something the Mustangs will hope to replicate against Oklahoma :: Raymond Carlin III / USA TODAY Sports

Stone will be making just his second true road start of his career, but walking into Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium will be a much different task than his 2022 debut at Tulsa.

The young quarterback will rely on his teammates in the trenches, which is an experienced group.

SMU’s offensive lineman have combined to make 254 total appearances in college football, which is the third most combined appearances behind only Florida State (307) and Duke (266).

Physically, the Mustang offensive line looks the part.

The unit didn’t allow a sack in Week 1 action, giving Stone ample time to spray passes all over the field.

As a result, the SMU offense had three passing plays over 20 yards against Louisiana Tech, with two of those completions connecting for over 40 yards.

Oklahoma’s passing defense was relatively untested against Arkansas State, but that will change once things go final on Saturday against the Mustangs. 

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