1948 Southwest Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 10 SMU $5–0–19–1–1
Texas4–1–17–3–1
Baylor3–2–16–3–2
Rice3–2–15–4–1
Arkansas2–4–05–5–0
TCU1–4–14–5–1
Texas A&M0–5–10–9–1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1948 SMU Mustangs football team represented the Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a member of the during Southwest Conference during the 1948 college football season. Led by 11th-year head coach Matty Bell, the Mustangs compiled an overall record of 9–1–1 with a mark of 5–0–1 in conference play, winning the SWC title. SMU was invited to the Cotton Bowl Classic, where they defeated Oregon. Junior Doak Walker was awarded the Heisman Trophy. Walker established several other SWC records that still stand.[1]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 25at Pittsburgh*
W 33–1431,469[2]
October 2Texas Tech*
W 41–623,000[3]
October 9at Missouri*No. 4
L 14–2030,892[4]
October 16at RiceNo. 14
W 33–732,600[5]
October 23Santa Clara*No. 11
W 33–050,000[6]
October 30at TexasNo. 11
W 21–668,750[7]
November 6Texas A&MNo. 8
  • Cotton Bowl
  • Dallas, TX
W 20–1453,000[8]
November 13at ArkansasNo. 7
W 14–1223,000[9]
November 20BaylorNo. 10
  • Cotton Bowl
  • Dallas, TX
W 13–658,000[10]
November 27TCUNo. 8
T 7–767,431[11]
January 1vs. No. 9 Oregon*No. 10
W 21–1369,000[12][13][14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
Poll12345678Final
AP4 (13)1411118 (1)710810

Awards and honors

Team players drafted into the NFL

Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Doak WalkerHalfback13New York Bulldogs
Paul PageHalfback14New York Giants
Dick McKissackBack221Chicago Cardinals
Joe EthridgeTight end654Green Bay Packers
Dave MoonBack14136Pittsburgh Steelers
Floyd LewisGuard18174Green Bay Packers
Bob Folsom End 19 183 Green Bay Packers

[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ↑ Jack Henry (September 26, 1948). "Panthers Routed By Ace Backs". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. p. Section 2–4,6 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "SMU Mustangs stampede over Texas Tech, 41–6". The Shreveport Times. October 3, 1948. Retrieved March 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "M.U. Tigers upset football dope by beating SMU 20–14". The Sedalia Democrat. October 10, 1948. Retrieved March 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Southern Methodist clubs Rice, 33–7, for SWC win". The Odessa American. October 17, 1948. Retrieved March 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Harry M. Hayward (October 24, 1948). "Doak Walker, SMU Humiliates Broncs In Cotton Bowl, 33-0; Even Subs Score". The San Francisco Examiner. pp. 23, 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "68,750 see Walker leead SMU to victory over Texas, 21–6". The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. October 31, 1948. Retrieved April 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Mustangs get scare in 20 to 14 win over inspired Texas A&M". The Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph. November 7, 1948. Retrieved March 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Mustangs shade Arkansas in 14–12 thriller". Sunday News & Leader. November 14, 1948. Retrieved March 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "SMU Mustangs squeeze through again in edging Baylor, 13 to 6". Wichita Daily Times. November 21, 1948. Retrieved March 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Last-minute SMU pass gains tie with Texas Christian, 7–7". The Arizona Republic. November 28, 1948. Retrieved March 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "SMU beats Ducks, 21-13". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. United Press. January 1, 1949. p. 1.
  13. ↑ Strite, Dick (January 2, 1949). "Oregon, Cal both drop bowl games". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. p. 1.
  14. ↑ Smits, Ted (January 2, 1949). "Oregon handed 21 to 13 defeat by Southern Methodist in Cotton Bowl". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. p. 3, sports.
  15. ↑ "Reference at www.pro-football-reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_SMU_Mustangs_football_team