Art Briles and June Jones both arrived at underachieving Texas programs in 2008, and in the years since, the former has thrived, while the latter has been stuck in mediocrity.
How to watch SMU vs. Baylor: Preview, TV schedule, more
Baylor gets the spotlight on Sunday night to break in its new stadium.
Cooper Neill
Briles has turned Baylor from Big 12 afterthought to a potential national powerhouse in his time in Waco. The Bears have an offense unmatched by anyone else, while the new McLane Stadium should give them a recruiting boost that can keep them relevant for years to come. Meanwhile, SMU has been mediocre or worse under Jones, never becoming nationally relevant.
This game will showcase the differences between these two teams. It will be a party for Baylor as it opens its new stadium, celebrating its rebirth among the top teams in Texas. SMU will be the underdog hoping to finally break through and relive its glory days. Can the Mustangs finally command some sort of relevance in Texas football again?
How to witness
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
Online streaming: Fox Sports Go
The numbers
Rankings and records: Baylor went 11-2 overall and 8-1 in the Big 12 with a loss in the Fiesta Bowl last year. The Bears are ranked 10th in the preseason AP and Coaches Polls. SMU went 5-7 overall and 4-4 in the AAC last year.
Vegas: Baylor is a 33-point favorite, with an over/under of 75.
Weather forecast: Mostly sunny and 92 with a slight chance of a thunderstorm.
Three names to know
1. Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor: Everyone will be ready to see Baylor's Heisman candidate in action. Petty was a star last year, particularly early in the season, obliterating nearly every team in his path. He has most of his receivers back and is even more settled into the offense this season. Can he really bring the Bears their second Heisman Trophy in four years? The quest starts Sunday.
2. Shock Linwood, RB, Baylor: The Bears lose star running back Lache Seastrunk, but still return the Big 12's leading rusher in sophomore and former four-star recruit Shock Linwood. Linwood rushed for 881 yards and eight touchdowns on only 128 carries last year, and he proved that he has the explosiveness to be a star in Baylor's offense.
3. Neal Burcham, QB, SMU: Burcham won the starting quarterback job to replace Garrett Gilbert this year. He struggled in limited action in 2013, throwing two touchdowns and four interceptions with just a 58.7 percent completion rate. Now, he'll take the reins of the offense and could be the difference for the Mustangs as they try to step up the ladder in the AAC.
Two things at stake
This is the showcase for the new Baylor. The Bears are opening their new stadium and will have the national spotlight on Sunday night to do it. If the high-powered offense announces its re-arrival against SMU as it should, it will only build the Baylor mystique even more.
For SMU, a loss would continue the narrative that the Mustangs are still far from a contender in Texas. However, a win would shock the college football world and build some much-needed momentum around the program.
Further reading
For more on Baylor, check out Our Daily Bears. For more on SMU, check out our new site on the AAC and other non-Power 5 schools, Underdog Dynasty.
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