Missouri State enters Saturday night’s matchup at No. 22 SMU with running back Breezy Dubar questionable and other key players working through injuries.
UNIVERSITY PARK - Missouri State could be less than full strength when it visits No. 22 SMU on Saturday night, with running back Breezy Dubar the biggest injury question heading into the 8 p.m. CT kickoff at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Dubar left last week’s 30-24 loss to Marshall in the fourth quarter with an apparent lower-body injury and did not return. Head coach Casey Woods said earlier this week that Dubar would be considered questionable as the Bears prepared for SMU.
“He will be a questionable guy throughout the course of the week,” Woods said. “It’s not a longterm issue. It’ll be something we’ll see how good he feels as the week moves on.”
That matters for a Missouri State offense that needs all the help it can get against a heavily favored SMU team.
Dubar has rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns this season and has split backfield work with Ramone Green Jr. He also scored on a 1-yard touchdown run against Marshall before leaving the game.
Missouri State has a couple of other injury situations worth monitoring.
Defensive lineman Tim Brantley Jr. was in and out of the lineup against Marshall, while starting center Isaiah Villanueva played only sparingly.
Woods indicated earlier in the week that the rest of the roster was generally in position to play, which is encouraging for the Bears.
SMU, meanwhile, has its own personnel issues.
Running back LJ Rhodes is out for the season with a knee injury, while tight end Matthew Uter and running back Chris Rhodes have previously been listed as questionable with undisclosed injuries. Running back E.J. Kelly has been considered probable.
The biggest variable, though, remains Dubar.
SMU is coming off a 41-31 loss to Louisville in which the Mustangs allowed 265 rushing yards, so Missouri State would love to test that run defense early.
If Dubar can’t go - or is limited - that job becomes considerably more difficult.
