SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings will have to account for Jared Lloyd and an active Missouri State defense when the Mustangs host the Bears Saturday night.
No. 22 SMU should have the offensive advantage Saturday night against Missouri State, but Kevin Jennings and the Mustangs can't afford to overlook several Bears defenders who have already shown they can create problems.
The biggest name is linebacker Jared “Bird” Lloyd, the centerpiece of Missouri State's defense. Lloyd enters the SMU game averaging 10.7 tackles per game, best in Conference USA and sixth nationally. He matched his career high with 13 tackles against Marshall last week and has reached double figures in four of his past six games.
Lloyd is exactly the kind of second-level defender SMU has to locate before every snap. At 6-3 and 240 pounds, he's capable of cleaning up the run while also disrupting underneath passing lanes.
Safety J.J. O'Neal is another player Jennings needs to know about. O'Neal erupted for 10 tackles, eight solo stops, a forced fumble and a pass breakup against Marshall. He also has some history against SMU, intercepting the Mustangs in last season's meeting.
Junior linebacker Jashawn Cooper gives the Bears another aggressive defender near the football. Cooper collected seven tackles and forced a fumble against Marshall, helping create one of Missouri State's biggest defensive plays of the night.
On the back end, Christian Ford brings experience and consistency. The former Arkansas defensive back started the final 12 games for Missouri State last season and recorded 52 tackles. Against Marshall, Ford produced six tackles, a half-tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
Cornerback Joel Boamah is also worth watching. The Kent State transfer immediately showed his coverage ability in Missouri State's opener at Texas A&M, recording five solo tackles and three pass breakups. He followed that with another tackle for loss against Marshall.
All five players remain on Missouri State's current 2026 roster, and each of them participated in the Bears' most recent game. As of Thursday, none carries a publicly reported injury designation for Saturday; Missouri State's listed injury concern is wide receiver Makai Cope.
SMU has the weapons to move the football, but Missouri State's defense has enough experienced playmakers to punish sloppy execution. Jennings' ability to identify Lloyd and O'Neal while avoiding turnovers could determine how quickly the Mustangs take control.
