Navy (8-2) at SMU (5-6)

Where: Gerald Ford Stadium, Dallas, Texas

When: 2:30 PM CT

How to Watch: ESPN U

Navy comes into this game having already clinched the west division of the AAC with an impressive 8-2 record and a great in-conference performance as the Midshipmen went 6-1. Behind their signature rushing attack and the will of one Will Worth, who has thrown for 1,200 yards and ran for 1074 through 10 games as the starting quarterback, the offense remains one of the most consistent attacks in not just the conference but the country.

The Mustangs however are in a house of horror at the moment. Forgetting for a second that this team hung in a very close 35-27 game with the much more talented South Florida Bulls, one which came down to a 4th and 1 play with just a couple minutes on the clock, they now have to hear that Chad Morris could be leaving to Baylor. So they are all struggling after losing a close AAC game that would have qualified them for a bowl, they are in a weird purgatory situation with the head coach seemingly out the door and they now have an AAC division champion coming to town. This could be a rough Saturday on the field and even worse when Morris goes to the podium.

So now the question is how does SMU stop what they know is coming?

Against the run in 2016, the much improved defensive unit for the Mustangs still allowed too many yards on the ground, in their last two games they gave up 152-yards to East Carolina and then the following week against the dual threat of Quinton Flowers and Marlon Mack SMU surrendered 278-yards in a back and forth game.

Worth in his last five games has gone over 120-yards on the ground, a streak that included a 175-yard day against Notre Dame, and has totaled 29 touchdowns this year. He is the entire offensive attack all wrapped up in a 6-feet-1 and 205-pound body wearing number 15.

The defensive line has to play well for SMU and it has to be led by the seniors Deon Green and Zelt Minor. The two have been very active on the line this year and need to be the critical linchpin in this game. They can be helped out by Justin Lawler and freshman Demerick Gary as well, the Dallas product has played big in big games as he showed up with two sacks against Houston and in his last two games has recorded six tackles and another sack. He creates one of the few mismatches on the line and at times can be in a groove while rushing the passer, Gary will be another key rotational player in this unit that has to create inside pressure.

Thanks to a lackluster passing game, Navy will be forced into throwing the ball on long 3rd downs and that could be a huge opportunity to create turnovers which the Mustang secondary is more than capable of doing. Senior Darrion Millines has been an absolute wrecking ball in his last year on the Hilltop and the captain has starred with huge hits and five interceptions including a 10 tackle performance against Baylor. He and fellow senior Horace Richardson, who has 6 picks himself, need to be playmakers today.

Prediction:

SMU ends what could be the last game in the Chad Morris era with a bruising 27-21 lose to Navy.