# 2021 SMU Mustangs football team

The 2021 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Mustangs played their home games at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas, a separate city within the city limits of Dallas, competed as members of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). The Mustangs were led by fourth-year coach Sonny Dykes—on November 29, it was announced that Dykes would leave the program to become the head coach at TCU. He finished at SMU with an overall record of 30–18.
After finishing their regular season with an 8–4 record, the Mustangs accepted a bid to play in the Fenway Bowl, where they were due to face the Virginia Cavaliers. On December 26, the Cavaliers withdrew from the game, due to COVID-19 issues; the bowl was subsequently canceled.

## Preseason
### Media poll

The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at the virtual media day held August 4, 2021. Cincinnati, who finished the 2020 season ranked No. 8 nationally, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the 2021 preseason media poll.
Media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Cincinnati | 262 (22) |
| 2 | UCF | 241 (2) |
| 3 | SMU | 188 |
| 4 | Houston | 181 |
| 5 | Memphis | 168 |
| 6 | Tulsa | 153 |
| 7 | Tulane | 132 |
| T–8 | East Carolina | 85 |
| T–8 | Navy | 85 |
| 10 | Temple | 46 |
| 11 | South Florida | 43 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 6:00 p.m. | Abilene Christian* | | Gerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TX | ESPN+ | W 56–9 | 23,373 |
| September 11 | 6:00 p.m. | North Texas* | | Gerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TX (Safeway Bowl) | ESPN+ | W 35–12 | 29,121 |
| September 18 | 2:30 p.m. | at Louisiana Tech* | | Joe Aillet StadiumRuston, LA | CBSSN | W 39–37 | 15,326 |
| September 25 | 11:00 a.m. | at TCU* | | Amon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TX (Battle for the Iron Skillet) | FS1 | W 42–34 | 46,672 |
| October 2 | 3:00 p.m. | South Florida | | Gerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TX | ESPNU | W 41–17 | 23,355 |
| October 9 | 2:30 p.m. | at Navy | No. 24 | Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MD (Gansz Trophy) | CBSSN | W 31–24 | 28,563 |
| October 21 | 6:30 p.m. | Tulane | No. 21 | Gerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TX | ESPN | W 55–26 | 22,843 |
| October 30 | 6:00 p.m. | at Houston | No. 19 | TDECU StadiumHouston, TX (rivalry) | ESPN2 | L 37–44 | 25,676 |
| November 6 | 11:00 a.m. | at Memphis | | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPNU | L 25–28 | 30,191 |
| November 13 | 11:00 a.m. | UCF | | Gerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TX | ESPNU | W 55–28 | 23,175 |
| November 20 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 5 Cincinnati | | Nippert StadiumCincinnati, OH | ESPN | L 14–48 | 37,978 |
| November 27 | 3:00 p.m. | Tulsa | | Gerald J. Ford StadiumUniversity Park, TX | ESPN2 | L 31–34 | 17,158 |
| December 29 | 10:00 a.m. | vs. Virginia* | | Fenway ParkBoston, MA (Fenway Bowl) | ESPN | Canceled | |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 2) - Released prior to gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||

## Personnel
### Depth chart

| † | As of September 17, 2021 |
Defense :
* FS
| WLB | ILB | ILB | SLB |
* SS
* CB
| DE | NT | DE |
* CB
Offense :
* WR
* Reggie Roberson Jr.
* Jordan Kerley
* WR
* Danny Gray
* Austin Upshaw
| LT | LG | C | RG | RT |
| Jaylon Thomas | Hayden Howerton | Alan Ali | Justin Osborne | Marcus Bryant |
| Dalton Perdue | Cameron Ervin | Branson Hickman | Ben Sparks | Beau Morris |
* TE
* Grant Calcaterra
* Tommy McIntyre
* Nolan Matthews
* WR
* Rashee Rice
* Roderick Daniels Jr.
* QB
* Tanner Mordecai
* Preston Stone
* Derek Green
* Special teams
* PK Blake Mazza
* PK Brendan Hall
* P Matt Fraanje
* P Brendan Hall
* KR Ulysses Bentley IV
* PR Jordan Kerley
* LS Cole Voyles
* H Derek Green
* RB
* Ulysses Bentley IV
* Tre Siggers
* Tyler Lavine

## Game summaries
### Abilene Christian

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| • Mustangs | 7 | 28 | 14 | 7 | 56 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SMU –32 | 66 |
| Statistics | ACU | SMU |
| First downs | 14 | 27 |
| Total yards | 332 | 490 |
| Rushing yards | 119 | 171 |
| Passing yards | 213 | 319 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:22 | 31:38 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Abilene Christian | Passing | Stone Earle | 13/28, 160 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Abilene Christian | Rushing | Peyton Mansell | 2 carries, 33 yards |
| Abilene Christian | Receiving | Kobe Clark | 6 receptions, 89 yards, TD |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 24/30, 317 yards, 7 TD |
| SMU | Rushing | Ulysses Bentley IV | 10 carries, 48 yards |
| SMU | Receiving | Danny Gray | 4 receptions, 72 yards, 2 TD |

### North Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 12 |
| • Mustangs | 0 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 35 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SMU –22.5 | 75 |
| Statistics | UNT | SMU |
| First downs | 23 | 20 |
| Total yards | 506 | 536 |
| Rushing yards | 122 | 225 |
| Passing yards | 384 | 311 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 36:06 | 23:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Jace Ruder | 32/51, 366 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 16 carries, 71 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Roderic Burns | 12 receptions, 141 yards |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 21/33, 311 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| SMU | Rushing | Ulysses Bentley IV | 10 carries, 141 yards, TD |
| SMU | Receiving | Rashee Rice | 4 receptions, 99 yards, TD |

### At Louisiana Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Mustangs | 7 | 9 | 17 | 6 | 39 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 7 | 14 | 9 | 37 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SMU –12.5 | 66 |
| Statistics | SMU | LT |
| First downs | 31 | 24 |
| Total yards | 578 | 483 |
| Rushing yards | 183 | 132 |
| Passing yards | 395 | 351 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:37 | 27:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 36/48, 395 yards, 5 TD |
| SMU | Rushing | Ulysses Bentley IV | 13 carries, 61 yards |
| SMU | Receiving | Grant Calcaterra | 7 receptions, 103 yards |
| Louisiana Tech | Passing | Austin Kendall | 24/40, 351 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| Louisiana Tech | Rushing | Marcus Williams Jr. | 13 carries, 65 yards |
| Louisiana Tech | Receiving | Tre Harris | 5 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TD |

### At TCU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Mustangs | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
| Horned Frogs | 14 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 34 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TCU –9.5 | 65.5 |
| Statistics | SMU | TCU |
| First downs | 29 | 20 |
| Total yards | 595 | 446 |
| Rushing yards | 350 | 170 |
| Passing yards | 245 | 276 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:52 | 26:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 17/28, 245 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT |
| SMU | Rushing | Ulysses Bentley IV | 20 rushes, 153 yards, TD |
| SMU | Receiving | Danny Gray | 4 receptions, 130 yards, TD |
| TCU | Passing | Max Duggan | 16/28, 276 yards, 3 TD |
| TCU | Rushing | Zach Evans | 15 rushes, 113 yards |
| TCU | Receiving | Taye Barber | 5 receptions, 114 yards, TD |

### South Florida

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulls | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
| • Mustangs | 10 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 41 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SMU –21 | 68.5 |
| Statistics | USF | SMU |
| First downs | 19 | 30 |
| Total yards | 336 | 463 |
| Rushing yards | 113 | 162 |
| Passing yards | 223 | 301 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:11 | 32:49 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Florida | Passing | Timmy McClain | 14/22, 223 yards |
| South Florida | Rushing | Brian Battie | 7 rushes, 46 yards |
| South Florida | Receiving | Jimmy Horn Jr. | 5 receptions, 102 yards |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 29/42, 301 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| SMU | Rushing | Tre Siggers | 20 rushes, 86 yards, TD |
| SMU | Receiving | Danny Gray | 7 receptions, 74 yards, 2 TD |

### At Navy

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 24 Mustangs | 7 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 31 |
| Midshipmen | 7 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SMU –13.5 | 56 |
| Statistics | SMU | NAVY |
| First downs | 22 | 12 |
| Total yards | 404 | 241 |
| Rushing yards | 80 | 177 |
| Passing yards | 324 | 64 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:41 | 32:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 30/40, 324 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| SMU | Rushing | Tre Siggers | 14 rushes, 49 yards, TD |
| SMU | Receiving | Reggie Roberson Jr. | 5 receptions, 100 yards, TD |
| Navy | Passing | Tai Lavatai | 4/7, 64 yards, TD |
| Navy | Rushing | Tai Lavatai | 24 rushes, 53 yards |
| Navy | Receiving | Kai Puailoa-Rojas | 1 reception, 37 yards, TD |

### Tulane

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Green Wave | 7 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 26 |
| • No. 21 Mustangs | 17 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 55 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SMU -14.5 | 70.5 |
| Statistics | TULN | SMU |
| First downs | 18 | 31 |
| Total yards | 428 | 612 |
| Rushing yards | 194 | 174 |
| Passing yards | 234 | 438 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:37 | 34:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tulane | Passing | Michael Pratt | 11/22, 234 yards, 3 TD |
| Tulane | Rushing | Tyjae Spears | 14 rushes, 85 yards, TD |
| Tulane | Receiving | Jha'Quan Jackson | 2 receptions, 93 yards |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 30/42, 427 yards, 3 TD |
| SMU | Rushing | Tre Siggers | 15 rushes, 81 yards, 2 TD |
| SMU | Receiving | Danny Gray | 8 receptions, 140 yards |

### At Houston

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 19 Mustangs | 7 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 37 |
| • Cougars | 17 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 44 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SMU –1.0 | 62 |
| Statistics | SMU | HOU |
| First downs | 18 | 23 |
| Total yards | 355 | 489 |
| Rushing yards | 50 | 77 |
| Passing yards | 305 | 412 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 24:22 | 35:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 24/37, 305 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| SMU | Rushing | Tre Siggers | 13 rushes, 44 yards, TD |
| SMU | Receiving | Danny Gray | 5 receptions, 73 yards |
| Houston | Passing | Clayton Tune | 27/37, 412 yards, 4 TD |
| Houston | Rushing | Ta'Zhawn Henry | 21 rushes, 49 yards |
| Houston | Receiving | Nathaniel Dell | 9 receptions, 165 yards, 3 TD |

### At Memphis

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mustangs | 0 | 10 | 0 | 15 | 25 |
| • Tigers | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SMU –3.5 | 72 |
| Statistics | SMU | MEM |
| First downs | 16 | 25 |
| Total yards | 323 | 468 |
| Rushing yards | 61 | 36 |
| Passing yards | 262 | 432 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 23:05 | 36:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 19/28, 262 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| SMU | Rushing | Tre Siggers | 12 rushes, 53 yards |
| SMU | Receiving | Danny Gray | 4 receptions, 98 yards, 2 TD |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 34/53, 392 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Marquavius Weaver | 10 rushes, 17 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Calvin Austin | 8 receptions, 88 yards |

### UCF

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Knights | 14 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| • Mustangs | 21 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 55 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SMU –7.0 | 62 |
| Statistics | UCF | SMU |
| First downs | 15 | 36 |
| Total yards | 333 | 631 |
| Rushing yards | 124 | 241 |
| Passing yards | 209 | 390 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 26:11 | 33:49 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UCF | Passing | Mikey Keene | 18/35, 174 yards, TD |
| UCF | Rushing | Mark-Antony Richards | 8 rushes, 104 yards, 2 TD |
| UCF | Receiving | Jaylon Robinson | 2 receptions, 50 yards |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 37/54, 377 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| SMU | Rushing | Ulysses Bentley IV | 14 rushes, 97 yards, TD |
| SMU | Receiving | Dylan Goffney | 10 receptions, 88 yards |

### At No. 5 Cincinnati

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mustangs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| • No. 5 Bearcats | 14 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 48 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CIN –9.5 | 65.5 |
| Statistics | SMU | CIN |
| First downs | 15 | 24 |
| Total yards | 199 | 544 |
| Rushing yards | 133 | 249 |
| Passing yards | 66 | 295 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 24:39 | 35:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 15/26, 66 yards, TD |
| SMU | Rushing | Ulysses Bentley IV | 11 rushes, 68 yards |
| SMU | Receiving | Rashee Rice | 7 receptions, 21 yards, TD |
| Cincinnati | Passing | Desmond Ridder | 17/23, 274 yards, 3 TD |
| Cincinnati | Rushing | Jerome Ford | 19 rushes, 82 yards, TD |
| Cincinnati | Receiving | Tre Tucker | 7 receptions, 114 yards |

### Tulsa

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Golden Hurricane | 0 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 34 |
| Mustangs | 10 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SMU –6.5 | 62.5 |
| Statistics | TLSA | SMU |
| First downs | 22 | 23 |
| Total yards | 374 | 405 |
| Rushing yards | 130 | 107 |
| Passing yards | 244 | 298 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 31:12 | 28:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tulsa | Passing | Davis Brin | 18/33, 244 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Tulsa | Rushing | Shamari Brooks | 18 rushes, 71 yards |
| Tulsa | Receiving | Josh Johnson | 6 receptions, 117 yards, TD |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 26/46, 298 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| SMU | Rushing | Tyler Lavine | 8 rushes, 51 yards, TD |
| SMU | Receiving | Roderick Daniels Jr. | 3 receptions, 96 yards, TD |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | — | RV | 24 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 23 | RV | RV | — | — | — | |
| Coaches | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 24 | 23 | 19 | 16 | 24 | RV | RV | — | — | — | |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |

## Weekly awards

* The American offensive player of the week
    Tanner Mordecai (week 1 vs. Abilene Christian)
    Tanner Mordecai (week 3 vs. Louisiana Tech)
    Tanner Mordecai (week 8 vs. Tulane)
    Tanner Mordecai (week 11 vs. UCF)
* The American special teams player of the week
    Bryan Massey (week 5 vs. Navy)