The team that can't wait to get out of the Big 12 faces the team that can't wait to get in on Sunday in one of the two college match-ups on a day usually reserved for NFL football.
SMU is coming off two of its most successful seasons since becoming the first (and so far the only, though we're looking at you, Miami) program to be hit with the NCAA's death penalty. The Mustangs won the Conference USA West title for the second straight year in 2010. A veteran offense is anchored by quarterback Zach Padron, who threw for more than 3,800 yards and 31 touchdowns last year, and running back Zach Line, who rushed for 1,494 yards and 10 scores.
While not trying to blow up the existing world order in college football, Texas A&M has been getting buzz as one of the few legitimate challengers to Oklahoma's hopes for what could very well be the last Big 12 title. The Aggies are also loaded with returning starters on offense and a solid number on offense after last year's 9-4 campaign, only the second nine-win season for A&M in the last decade. Returning half-starter Ryan Tannehill completed 65 percent of his passes last year when he was taking the snaps, throwing for 1,638 yards and 13 touchdowns. Cyrus Gray had 1,133 yards rushing and 12 scores. But the losses of sackmaster Von Miller and Michael Hodges, the team's leading tackler, mean the few pieces of the defense that aren't returning could be sorely missed.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, September 4; 7:30pm ET
Location: Kyle Field, College Station, TX
TV Schedule
National: FSN
TV Distribution Map: The506.com
Radio Schedule
Mustangs: "The Ticket" 1310 AM/104.1 FM
Aggies: WTAW 1620 AM / Texas A&M Radio Network
Line: Texas A&M by 15.5
For more on the Aggies head over to I Am The 12th Man. Follow the entire college football season at SB Nation NCAA.