SMU sits at No. 23 with a 9–4 record after a 38–35 road loss to California in Week 14. The defeat marked a step backward for a team that had been competitive in the ACC, and the Mustangs' rating of 13.4 reflects the sting of that close result. The loss to the Bears exposed vulnerabilities in a late-game situation, a pattern worth monitoring as SMU navigates the back half of its schedule. With the season winding down, the Mustangs need to reestablish consistency on both sides of the ball to salvage what remains of their campaign.