SMU Upsets No. 11 Houston, 38-16
Oct 22 | Football
West Rushes For 118 Yards, Defense Dominates In Mustang Victory
Box Score | Postgame Notes | Photo Gallery
Postgame Quotes: SMU | Houston
DALLAS (AP) -- Ben Hicks threw for three touchdowns and ran for another score and SMU stunned No. 11 Houston 38-16 Saturday night for its first win over a ranked team in five years.
The Cougars (6-2, 3-2 American) lost for the second time after a 5-0 start that included a season-opening win over then-No. 3 Oklahoma that vaulted Houston into the Top 10.
The last time the Mustangs (3-4, 1-2) beat a team ranked 11th or higher, they were No. 4 and finishing off a near-perfect 1982 season (11-0-1) with a 7-3 victory over sixth-ranked Pittsburgh in the Cotton Bowl. SMU tied No. 7 Texas A&M in 1994.
Greg Ward Jr. couldn't shake a persistent SMU pass rush or find receivers for big plays, finishing with 241 yards passing -- almost 100 below his average -- and just 3 yards rushing on 17 carries thanks to seven sacks.
One of the sacks was for an 18-yard loss to the Houston 22 when coach Tom Herman went for it on fourth down trailing 28-14 early in the fourth quarter.
Herman got conservative moments later, choosing a 19-yard field goal attempt on fourth down from the SMU 2. Ty Cummings hit the right upright for his second miss.
Hicks was 16 of 31 for 228 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown to a wide-open James Proche for a 28-7 lead in the final seconds of the first half. SMU appeared content to run out the clock before a 40-yard run by Braeden West, who had 115 yards rushing and a punctuating touchdown late.
The Cougars lost two fumbles in the first quarter and never got their high-powered offense going. Houston was outgained 406-303.
SMU defensive end Jarvis Pruitt recovered one of the fumbles and had three sacks in the Mustangs' first win over a ranked team since beating No. 20 TCU 40-33 in overtime in 2011.
SMU is back in action next Saturday, Oct. 29 when the Mustangs travel to New Orleans, La. to take on Tulane. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. CT and the game will be televisedon ESPNews.
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Here are the highlights from the @SMU_Football win against No. 11 Houston Saturday night.https://t.co/0pHnNzLF6b
— American Football (@American_FB) October 23, 2016
Ben Hicks did the job on offense and the @SMU_Football defense had seven sacks in the Mustangs' win against No. 11 Houston. pic.twitter.com/KAoSagVdQg
— American Football (@American_FB) October 23, 2016
Wanna know what it's like after a big #PonyUpTempo win with @coachchadmorris? Head over to Snapchat: SMU_FB to find out!
— #PonyUpTempo (@SMU_Football) October 23, 2016
??Here's a hint ?? pic.twitter.com/PNh2wXhhQx
From tough locker room in Tulsa to this... Great TEAM victory! #PonyUp #Believe @SMU_Football pic.twitter.com/gViB0TIahj
— Rick Hart (@AD_RickHart) October 23, 2016
Former SMU players, national media react to Mustangs' #HTownTakeDown | @EJHolland247 https://t.co/YCQ6GD9cFU #PonyUpTempo pic.twitter.com/C7tBo8muB8
— SportsDayDFW (@SportsDayDFW) October 23, 2016
Mustangs pull it off!
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) October 23, 2016
SMU upsets No. 11 Houston, 38-16 pic.twitter.com/hvoebdFsmI
Congrats to @SMU_Football and @coachchadmorris! Coach is doing a great job of turning our program around!#PonyUpTempo #PonyExpress
— Eric Dickerson (@EricDickerson) October 23, 2016
FINAL: That huge SMU upset you've been waiting for finally arrived. Mustangs beat Houston 38-16 https://t.co/LlcVtg71oD #PonyUpTempo pic.twitter.com/F0tSoqkiSo
— SportsDayDFW (@SportsDayDFW) October 23, 2016
Holy @SMU_Football just beat #11th ranked Houston!!! Great job guys! Best holder in the #NCAA Super job @SJTuohy #21 #PinkPonyUp ??????
— Leigh Anne Tuohy (@LeighAnneTuohy) October 23, 2016
Coming in 21 point underdogs; this might be the biggest upset in @SMU_Football history against a ranked opponent. #SMUvsHOU
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) October 23, 2016
Bye Bye Houston, You thought you could come to Dallas and get a win? No Sir! @SMU_Football
— Sterling Moore (@SterlingMoore) October 23, 2016
.@SMU_Football Solid showing #SMU!! Way to step up on the big stage. Big time win!! #PONYUP Keep it rolling...
— Kelvin Beachum (@KelvinBeachumJr) October 23, 2016
SMU puts the cherry on top with a TD and the Mustangs are going to log a huge win. They're up 38–14 over No. 11 Houston with 3:50 left.
— SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) October 23, 2016
SMU is going to win the football game.
— Pat Doney (@PatDoneyNBC5) October 23, 2016
Houston just missed a 19-yard field goal and is trailing 31–14 to SMU in the fourth quarter. Nightmare evening for Tom Herman and crew.
— SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) October 23, 2016
Justin Lawler sacks Greg Ward, Jr., on 4th down!
— #PonyUpTempo (@SMU_Football) October 23, 2016
WATCH: https://t.co/IOnhpaQNSm#PonyUpTempo
@SMU_Football I see ya Justin!!
— Chris Banjo (@Chris1Banjo) October 23, 2016
SMU não demostra nem o mínimo de respeito por Houston hoje. https://t.co/vyYEd0KMHK
— NCAA Football Brasil (@CFB_Br) October 23, 2016
#SMU came to play! Shock the nation, then! #BeatHouston @SMU_Football
— Kelvin Beachum (@KelvinBeachumJr) October 23, 2016
UPSET ALERT: No. 11 Houston trails SMU 28-7 at halftime. Can the Coogs make a second half comeback?
— NCAA Football (@NCAAFootball) October 23, 2016
Stats: https://t.co/8evMSK6GsM pic.twitter.com/JLkSm7Dz1N
Jeremiah hit him with the bunny hop, and it's 14-0 SMU! #PonyUpTempo pic.twitter.com/dr6Q3nf1jP
— The Stable (@TheStableSports) October 22, 2016
Jeremiah hit him with the bunny hop, and it's 14-0 SMU! #PonyUpTempo pic.twitter.com/dr6Q3nf1jP
— The Stable (@TheStableSports) October 22, 2016
In Dallas, @SMU_Football is out to a 7-0 lead against Houston on Ben Hicks' touchdown run.https://t.co/w8zYxw7530
— American Football (@American_FB) October 22, 2016
ÂNotice something different with #PonyUpTempo tonight? Check out how we revealed the special uniforms to the team! #BestIsTheStandard pic.twitter.com/hNgI0igYhz
— #PonyUpTempo (@SMU_Football) October 22, 2016
Prime time on ESPN2 has a West Division matchup between @UHCougarFB and @SMU_Football. Kickoff in one hour at 7 ET/6 CT. pic.twitter.com/RsDnhg1B6E
— American Football (@American_FB) October 22, 2016
Recommended dose of gameday @SMU_FBVideo ?? right here ??https://t.co/vaZ5QRXnqe#PonyUpTempo pic.twitter.com/B8tNhiIDzJ
— #PonyUpTempo (@SMU_Football) October 22, 2016
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