The Mustangs kick off their season against Florida State, with so many unknowns surrounding the team.
The SMU Mustangs are close to opening up their new season on the road against Florida State, as Rhett Lashlee's team looks to start the year with a bang.
Many have the Mustangs as favorites heading into this game, but given that it is SMU's first game of the year, while the Seminoles already have a game under their belt, a 34-17 win over New Mexico State, this is far from a sure thing.
Given the roster turnover, plus the Mustangs not playing any preseason games, we don't exactly know what to expect when Lashlee's team takes the field, do we?
Of course, we have an idea, but in truth, it is a big guessing game.
And for Lashlee, who was a guest on 105.3 The Fan, the opening game will be a nervous one.
“Game ones are unique every year,” Lashlee said on 105.3 The Fan. “They have so many unknowns. You learn a lot about guys. It doesn't matter if you have an experienced team returning or not, you got so many new faces.
"Practice is one thing, getting in a game, it's just different, and then definitely being in a game on the road with 90,000 people, how are guys going to respond, how they're going to react?"
So that is the mental aspect of it. What about the physical aspect?
This will be the first proper football game the Mustangs will be playing, while Florida State got to blow the cobwebs off last season.
And for Lashlee, Week 1 is a trial run for his team, yet, the game still has huge importance.
"Sloppiness, it could just be rust, it's your first game like we don't get preseason games like the NFL and so our first game matters," Lashlee added. "The first game with new players whether it be transfers, freshman and every institution coming on off the sidelines, special teams, there's just so many things that your game one, it's your trial run, but yet it matters.”
Many still have the Mustangs taking care of business against Florida State, but it is hardly a sure thing, and as Lashlee mentioned, there are so many unknowns.
We think SMU has all the tools to win, but until we actually see them do it, we don't know what we're going to see.
And neither does Lashlee.
