Senior quarterback Ron Peace returns to lead the ETAMU offense after passing for 2,535 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2024 (photo by lionsathletics.com).

The SMU 2025 season opener will feel a little different, and not just because the game will be played below 90 degrees ... in August... in Dallas.

Also new: the opponent. The Mustangs will kick off at 8 p.m. Saturday against the East Texas A&M Lions in the first matchup between the schools. The Lions, who in June became a full Division I (Football Championship Subdivision) program, will prowl their way on to the new grass field at SMU's Gerald J. Ford Stadium confident they have the ability to competeagainst more prominent programs.

(photo by PonyFans.com).

In 2024, his team finished 3-9, with losses to teams like UC-Davis, Grambling, Sacramento State, Southeastern, Lamar and Southland Conference champion Incarnate Word, but despite being picked by league coaches to finish seventh in the Southland this season, head coach Clint Dolezel announced, "We'll hold our own."

Last year's Lions were outscored by an average of 31.5-20.8 points per game, and more specifically, gave up costly turnovers. ETAMU scored 38 points off opponents' turnovers, but allowed 98 points off turnovers against them. The team's scoring total and average points allowed both ranked seventh in the Southland Conference.

Offense

The Lions' offense leaned heavily on quarterback Ron Peace, who this year is a 6-2, 210-pound senior. In 2024, Peace played in all 12 games, completing 213 of 378 passes (56.3 percent) for 2,535 yards and 16 touchdown passes, while also tossing 14 interceptions — the most among Southland Conference passers.

Among those hoping to replace 2024 rushing leader BK Jackson is senior JaiSean McMillian (5-10, 227), who had 75 carries for 196 yards (2.6yards per carry) and a touchdown last season. Fellow senior KJ Shankle (5-10,206) had almost many yards (191) on fewer carries (55) and also found the end zone twice — once rushing and once receiving.

ETAMU's base offense features three receivers, led by the Lions' top returning skill position player: wide receiver Christian Jourdain(5-10, 178) who hauled in 57 passes for 788 yards and six touchdowns a year ago. The other receivers likely to get playing time had just 47 catches for 568yards and two touchdowns between them. The group includes a big target in transfer Paul Odidi (6-4, 175) and Randy Reece (5-10, 190), who transferred to Commerce from SMU.

A former three-sport athlete at East Texas State, Clint Dolezel is entering his third season as head coach at his alma mater (photo by lionsathletics.com).

The Lions' offensive line is not overly tall, but does pack some power, especially on the right side, with guard Ike Ojukwu (6-5, 349) and right tackle Jadin Jones (6-3, 325).

Defense

East Texas A&M's base defense operates out of a 4-4 alignment, and must replace three of its top four tacklers from last season. The Lions cave up 392.8 yards per game of total offense a year ago, including 178.6 on the ground, thanks to an average of 4.4 yards per carry allowed. Opponents scored 18 rushing touchdownsin 2024.

The line featuresa pair of stout defensive tackles in seniors Jacory Brown (6-1, 301) and Micah Owens (6-1, 307), who last year combined for 34 tackles and four sacks. The fastest of the linemen also is the smallest: "Jack" defensive end Dorian Gates carries just 224 pounds on his 6-4 frame, but he is quick enough to generate pressure off the edge.

The most experienced position group on the team might be linebacker, where starters Kyree Anderson (5-11,230), Koby-Sebasyen King (6-1, 230) and Cinque Williams (5-11, 187) and Tramar Gilbert (6-2, 226) all return. Anderson is the team's top returning tacklerfrom a year ago and ranked ninth in the Southland Conference when he finished second on the team with 87 stops, and added 6.0 tackles for loss and three sacks, while Gilbert, whose role is something of a linebacker-safety hybrid, had 37 tackles, including three tackles for loss.

Where the defense can prove opportunistic remains to be seen: of the nine players who had interceptions last year, just two had multiple picks, and both are gone.