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PonyFans.com is proud to welcome, as a new columnist, Nate, who is 12 years old, in seventh grade, might want to be a sports writer and knows more about football than a lot of people who already make their living covering sports. Nate will preview each game throughout the season, looking at a key player, matchup or statistic that could prove relevant in each upcoming game … and he'll go out on a limb and pick the score of each game. Feel free to post comments and constructive criticism, and to give suggestions for upcoming games!

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Redshirt freshman Prescott Line scored his first college touchdown in the season opener against Texas Tech (photo by Doug Fejer).

Well, yet again the Ponies start out with another tough loss. They have not won their season opener against a D-1 school since before I was born in 2000, when they beat Kansas in the first game ever played at the Ford.

As we all now know, Texas Tech beat SMU, 41-23. That score is misleading as the Mustangs fought hard for three quarters before it imploded in the fourth. (Tech led, 20-16, to start the fourth quarter). Some final thoughts about the Texas Tech game before I tell you about Montana State:

• In my mind the turning point of the game was early in the fourth quarter. It was 20-16, Red Raiders. SMU was driving the ball and it was third down and 3. SMU's Garrett Gilbert threw a little dropoff to Prescott Line for 6 yards and a first down, but there was holding and it was called back and Gilbert got sacked to end the drive. That’s when I think it all imploded.

• I thought this was a combination of the Run-and-Shoot and the Air Raid. SMU took about two shots downfield and both were the prettiest passes I’ve ever seen Gilbert throw. The Mustangs have got to take more chances.

• The defense fell apart when linebacker Randall Joyner went out with the injury. Joyner said Wedesday that the injury was less serious than initially feared — he said he has a strained capsule and called himself "week to week," meaning he'll sit out against Montana State and rest through the bye week, and then hopes to be ready to go when the Mustangs take on Texas A&M in College Station.

• Special teams: Yes, Chase Hover hit a 51-yard field goal, but then missed a 27-yarder. When it was a tight game, the Ponies could have used those three points.

Alright, let’s talk about Montana State. MSU went 11-2 last year, but played no FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision — previously known as Div. I-A) schools. This year, SMU is circled on the Bobcats' schedule because SMU is the only FBS school they play this year. Montana State beat Monmouth, 42-24, at home last week, and are not a team that SMU can just walk all over. Ask Kansas State and Oregon State. The Bobcats are the No. 3 FCS team in the country. SMU, please don’t be Kansas State and Oregon State.

Montana State is very dangerous with a high-powered offense that racked up 561 total yards on Monmouth, but with a defense that also gave up 355. Traylon Shead is likely to miss the Montana State game after spraining his MCL (medial collateral ligament) in the season opener. Montana State’s defense gave up 135 yards rushing last week to Monmouth running back Julian Hayes, so Shead's replacement, Prescott Line, and the rest of the SMU running backs should have opportunities. The Mustangs need to try to hold the MSU offense to a minimum of what the Bobcats are capable of and get Randall Joyner healthy.

Line talked about learning as he plays more and more.

“Keep learning new things," he said when asked what he expected in his first college start. "You see new things every play. More you see it, more you’ll get used to it, used to different blitzes, different formations.”

He also said his emotions Saturday likely will be similar to those he experienced when he made his first start in at Oxford (Mich.) High School.

“I think it’s pretty much the same emotions. Back at Oxford, as a ninth grader going to the Varsity game I was nervous, and here as a freshman going to a college game. Same nerves, but I love it. I’ve never had feelings like that and it’s a great feeling and I can’t wait for the next game. It’s not nervous — it’s just there’s more excitement to it. It’ll be fun.”

Again, SMU can’t start out 0-2. Improve, do what you need to do, take care of business and you’ll be just fine against a dangerous team like Montana State.

Nate’s Take: SMU 45, Montana State 20