The New Mexico Bowl will be played Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET between the SMU Mustangs (7-5) and the BYU Cougars (7-5).

Opt-Outs & Injuries

As with every non-College Football Playoff bowl, there have been numerous opt-outs for this game. Below is a list of the players who have opted out or are unavailable due to injury.

SMU:

• • WR Rashee Rice (injury, draft)

• • OL Jaylon Thomas (shoulder surgery)

• • WR Dylan Goffney (injury)

BYU:

• • QB Jaren Hall (doubtful, injury)

• • RB Lopini Katoa (injury)

• • LB Max Tooley (injury)

• • LB Keenan Pili (entered transfer portal)

What SMU Brings to the Game:

SMU, coached by Rhett Lashlee, comes in with a modest record of seven wins and five losses. The Mustangs average over 38 points per game thanks to QB Tanner Mordecai slinging it all over the field. SMU is about scoring points. Mordecai and his back-to-back 3,000 passing-yard seasons are a major piece of the puzzle. Rashee Rice, who will be missing the game with an injury, will leave a void that will need to be filled by multiple SMU players. Jordan Kerley and Moochie Dixon will likely be the two starting receivers with Rice and Dylan Goffney out. At running back, SMU has a few backs that split carries with the bulk going to Tyler Lavine and Velton Gardner. These two combined for over 900 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Defensively, look for pass rusher Nelson Paul to disrupt the BYU offense. Paul led the team with five sacks on the season. The defense is my biggest concern for the Mustangs. They’ll be able to score points, but can they stop BYU?

What BYU Brings to the Game:

BYU is a very depleted team heading into the New Mexico Bowl. Not only are the Cougars missing the players listed above to injury, they’ll likely be starting freshman Cade Fennegan. Fennegan has not taken a snap for BYU, starting the season third on the depth chart. Backup QB Jacob Conover announced he would transfer before the bowl game, leaving the team with no other quarterbacks who have attempted a pass this season. Battling through these departures will be a focal point for the Cougars if they want to pull out a glorious victory in the New Mexico Bowl. Christopher Brooks is the leading rusher for the Cougars. He should get a steady dose of carries to help out the inexperienced Fennegan. If the passing game can get going, look for BYU playmaker Puka Nacua to be the one targeted most, that is if he plays. On the defensive side of the ball, BYU is led by sophomore linebacker Ben Bywater. Senior pass rusher Lorenzo Fautea should also make an impact if the Cougars hope to slow down the SMU passing attack.

One young player that’s excited for the big stage is standout second-year offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia. “It’s my first bowl game and I want to enjoy the experience with my teammates, but come Saturday, it’s all business,” he told The Transfer Portal CFB. “Always thankful for my parents and family coming to see me. Excited to play!”

Score Prediction:

This game would be tougher to pick a winner if Jaren Hall was healthy. As it stands, the Cougs are four-point underdogs heading into the matchup. Personally, I think that’s a bit too close with the inexperience they’ll have at the quarterback position. I think SMU will be fired up heading into this game due to the fact that its last two bowl games were canceled. I’m a bit concerned with the talent gap between BYU’s offensive line and the SMU defensive line. However, it doesn’t outweigh the questions I have about the quarterback for BYU. SMU 41, BYU 30.