Lia Assimakopoulos, The Dallas Morning News

UNIVERSITY PARK, Texas — In no other sport than college football after losing an overtime shootout to a respectable opponent in the second week of the season does the head coach of the losing team need to justify to his players that their season isn’t over.

In any other sport, it’s a small blemish on their schedule, at worst.

But after No. 17 SMU fell to unranked Baylor 48-45 in double overtime at home, it immediately makes the Mustang faithful wonder if replicating last year’s run to the College Football Playoff is even possible.

“If we want to have a good football team, all our goals are still there,” SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee said. ”This doesn’t take any goals off the table for us.”

It’s probably an over-exaggeration to believe SMU’s l

See Full Page