Quarterback Ben Hicks enters his third year as SMU’s starter after throwing for 3,569 yards and a school-record 33 touchdowns last season, becoming the sixth player in school history to surpass 3,000 passing yards in a season. SMU lost its top two receivers from last year to the NFL Draft, but wide receiver James Proche returns after registering 40 catches for 816 yards and six touchdowns in 2017. Proche led the Mustangs with 20.4 yards per reception. Running back Xavier Jones rushed for 1,075 yards and nine touchdowns to lead the Mustangs and running back Braeden West averaged a team-high 7.8 yards per carry, while RB Ke’Mon Freeman had a team-leading 11 rushing touchdowns.

SMU’s defense registered 31 sacks last season, good for third in the American Athletic Conference. Safety Mikail Onu led the team with 105 tackles, while linebacker Kyran Mitchell tied for the team lead with 15.5 tackles for loss. Cornerback Jordan Wyatt has registered four interceptions in each of the last two seasons and has 10 picks in his career. Wyatt, Onu, cornerback Christian Davis and safety Rodney Clemens combined for 44 starts in the secondary last season.

SMU welcomes Sonny Dykes, the former California and Louisiana Tech head coach, as the Mustangs’ new coach. The Mustangs set program records with 492 points and 64 touchdowns in 2017, winning seven games for the first time since 2012, when the Mustangs also finished 7-6.