BOSTON — What seemed like a hopeful day for the SMU Mustangs to close out a phenomenal season as No. 17 SMU (11-2) entered today’s Wasabi Fenway Bowl as a double-digit favorite over the unranked Boston College (6-6). But after a battle in the pouring rain, the Mustangs left Fenway Park with a loss. 14-23 was the final score in favor of the Eagles.
SMU looked strong in the first half, putting up 14 points in the second quarter and holding Boston down to just 10 points. Things slowed down in the 3rd quarter as neither team was able to make any big plays. In the final quarter, the Eagles gears started shifting forward. Offense was clicking and plays were being made, while SMU began to struggle defensively allowing the Eagles to score 13 points in the 4th.
SMU finished its 2023 season with nine straight victories, including an American Athletic Conference Championship win over No. 22 Tulane.
While the program was able to take care of business in the AAC this past season, the rising question appears to be, will SMU be able to tighten up in the offseason in preparation for a more difficult league, the ACC. Many wondering a team who finished the AAC as champions (11-2) playing a team who was just (6-6) and suffered a loss, could be a sign that maybe the move to the ACC is too big of a jump for the Mustangs.
Now these are all just opinions and speculations going off of just one game, but we will see what the Mustangs 2024 offseason and recruiting brings. Perhaps, it can shed light on a successful past season, while looking forward to a brand new beginning.
