The 1982 SMU Mustangs football team represented the Southern Methodist University in the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the first year for the team under head coach Bobby Collins and the Mustangs finished undefeated at 11–0–1, and were Southwest Conference champions (7–0–1).
A tie in their regular season finale against No. 9 Arkansas on November 20 caused the voters in both polls to drop SMU from second to fourth, costing the Mustangs the national championship. The tie was attributed in part to a lengthy and highly questionable pass interference call on Arkansas late in the game that allowed SMU to score the game-tying touchdown, a call that announcer Keith Jackson stated on air was a bad call by the officials. Trailing by a point, head coach Collins opted not to go for the two-point conversion and the lead, and they kicked the extra point to knot the score at seventeen with under three minutes remaining. There was no further scoring, as SMU missed a long field goal attempt in the final seconds.
Repeating as SWC champions, the Mustangs earned the automatic bid to the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day, where they defeated sixth-ranked Pittsburgh7–3. Played in near-freezing conditions, it was the final college game for the "Pony Express" running back tandem of Eric Dickerson and Craig James, as well as for Pitt quarterback Dan Marino.
After SMU's tie to Arkansas, Penn State moved up to second and then defeated No. 1 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to secure the top spot in the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, despite a slightly less impressive final record of 11–1.
The Mustangs were runners-up in the final AP Poll, but the Helms Athletic Foundation, in the final year in which it selected a national college football champion, split the honor between SMU and Penn State. On the season, the Mustangs outscored their opponents by a combined score of 354 to 160.
Ranking movements Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked
Week
Poll
Pre
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Final
AP
6
8
6
6
7
6
5
4
4
2
2
2
4
4
4
2
Coaches
11
—
6
8
7
6
5
4
4
3
2
2
4
4
4
2
Game summaries
Tulane
Tulane Green Wave at No. 8 SMU Mustangs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Green Wave
0
0
0
7
7
No. 8 Mustangs
7
17
7
20
51
at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
Date: September 11
Game time: 7:12p.m. CDT
Game weather: 92 °F (33 °C)
Game attendance: 33,814
TV: Superstation WTBS
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
Tulane
SMU
1
SMU
Craig James 42-yard touchdown run, Jeff Harrell kick good
0
7
2
13:58
SMU
Eric Dickerson 14-yard touchdown run, Jeff Harrell kick good
0
14
2
SMU
Lance McIlhenny 8-yard touchdown run, Jeff Harrell kick good
0
21
2
SMU
33-yard field goal by Jeff Harrell
0
24
3
5:15
SMU
Eric Dickerson 25-yard touchdown run, Jeff Harrell kick good
0
31
4
SMU
Reggie Dupard 3-yard touchdown run, Jeff Harrell kick good
0
38
4
7:54
Tulane
Elton Veals 1-yard touchdown run, Tony Wood kick good
7
38
4
SMU
Reggie Dupard 46-yard touchdown run, Jeff Harrell kick no good
7
44
4
—
—
—
SMU
Interception returned 7 yards for touchdown by Jackie Wilson, Jeff Harrell kick good
7
51
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
7
51
Statistics
Tulane
SMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Tulane
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
SMU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
SMU romped to a season-opening victory over Tulane with a school-record 519 yards rushing. Senior Eric Dickerson ran for 183 yards and two touchdowns, and went over 3,000 career rushing yards. Craig James added 110 yards and a touchdown. It was the 10th time Dickerson and James each ran for more than 100 yards in the same game.
At UTEP
No. 6 SMU Mustangs at UTEP Miners – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 6 Mustangs
14
14
3
0
31
Miners
0
7
3
0
10
at Sun Bowl • El Paso, Texas
Date: September 18
Game time: 6:40p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 33,509
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
SMU
UTEP
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
31
10
Statistics
SMU
UTEP
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
SMU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
UTEP
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
TCU
TCU Horned Frogs at No. 6 SMU Mustangs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Horned Frogs
0
3
10
0
13
No. 6 Mustangs
0
6
0
10
16
at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
Date: September 25
Game time: 7:00p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 43,321
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
TCU
SMU
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
North Texas State Mean Green at No. 7 SMU Mustangs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Mean Green
0
7
3
0
10
No. 7 Mustangs
14
10
7
7
38
at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
Date: October 2
Game time: 7:00p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 30,118
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
North Texas State
SMU
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
10
38
Statistics
North Texas State
SMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
North Texas State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
SMU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
At Baylor
No. 6 SMU Mustangs at Baylor Bears – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 6 Mustangs
0
0
14
8
22
Bears
7
6
0
6
19
at Baylor Stadium • Waco, Texas
Date: October 9
Game time: 7:00p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 30,000
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
SMU
Baylor
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
22
19
Statistics
SMU
Baylor
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
SMU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Baylor
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Houston
Houston Cougars at No. 5 SMU Mustangs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Cougars
0
7
0
7
14
No. 5 Mustangs
7
3
7
3
20
at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
Date: October 16
Game time: 7:00p.m. CST
Game attendance: 31,817
TV: USA
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
Houston
SMU
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
14
20
Statistics
Houston
SMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Houston
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
SMU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
At Texas
No. 4 SMU Mustangs at No. 19 Texas Longhorns – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 4 Mustangs
0
7
3
20
30
No. 19 Longhorns
0
0
0
17
17
at Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, Texas
Date: October 23
Game time: 2:50p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 80,157
TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson (play–by–play), Frank Broyles (color commentator) and Tim Brant (sideline reporter)
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
SMU
Texas
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
30
17
Statistics
SMU
Texas
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
SMU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Texas
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies at No. 4 SMU Mustangs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Aggies
0
0
3
6
9
No. 4 Mustangs
16
10
14
7
47
at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
Date: October 30
Game time: 11:30a.m. CST
Game attendance: 50,008
Referee: Wendell Shelton
TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play–by–play) and Steve Davis (color commentator)
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
Texas A&M
SMU
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
9
47
Statistics
Texas A&M
SMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Texas A&M
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
SMU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Eric Dickerson ran for over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns on 14 carries.
At Rice
No. 2 SMU Mustangs at Rice Owls – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 2 Mustangs
0
20
7
14
41
Owls
0
0
14
0
14
at Rice Stadium • Houston, Texas
Date: November 6
Game time: 2:00p.m. CST
Game attendance: 25,000
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
SMU
Rice
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
41
14
Statistics
SMU
Rice
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
SMU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Rice
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
In the Mayor's Cup, SMU beat Rice 41–14.
At Texas Tech
Arkansas
No. 9 Arkansas Razorbacks at No. 2 SMU Mustangs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 9 Razorbacks
7
0
3
7
17
No. 2 Mustangs
0
7
3
7
17
at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
Date: November 20
Game time: 2:50p.m. CST
Game attendance: 65,101
TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson (play–by–play), Lee Grosscup (color commentator) and Tim Brant (sideline reporter)
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
Arkansas
SMU
1
Arkansas
Gary Anderson 3-yard touchdown run, Martin Smith kick good
7
0
2
SMU
Eric Dickerson 6-yard touchdown run, Jeff Harrell kick good
7
7
3
SMU
49-yard field goal by Jeff Harrell
7
10
3
Arkansas
27-yard field goal by Martin Smith
10
10
4
Arkansas
Gary Anderson 3-yard touchdown run, Martin Smith kick good
17
10
4
SMU
Lance McIlhenny 7-yard touchdown run, Jeff Harrell kick good
17
17
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
17
17
Going into this game, SMU needed a victory or a tie to claim the SWC championship and secure a trip to the Cotton Bowl. Arkansas, on the other hand, needed a victory over the Mustangs plus a win over Texas the following week. The game proved to be marred by controversy due to questionable officiating.
Late in the fourth quarter Arkansas led SMU 17-10 with time winding down. From the Mustang 43 yard line, SMU quarterback Lance McIlhenny lofted a pass to receiver Jackie Wilson down the left sideline, with Wilson being defended by Arkansas cornerback Nathan Jones. The pass was long, and Jones was in fact in front of Wilson as both players went to the turf together. Jones was flagged for pass interference, and since that penalty was a spot foul instead of 15 yards at that time in college football, the ball was placed near the Arkansas 15 yard line. SMU would score the game-tying touchdown a few plays later, and the game ended in a 17-17 tie, handing the Mustangs the conference championship. Play-by-play announcer Keith Jackson would even say on live television that the pass interference penalty on Jones was "just a terrible call". The officiating crew was suspended after this game and the NCAA issued an apology to Arkansas. This egregious call directly influenced the NCAA to change the rules for pass interference over the following summer so that a pass interference penalty would be 15 yards and not a spot foul.
Statistics
Arkansas
SMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Arkansas
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
SMU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Vs. Pittsburgh (Cotton Bowl)
No. 6 Pittsburgh Panthers vs. No. 4 SMU Mustangs (Cotton Bowl) – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 6 Panthers
0
0
3
0
3
No. 4 Mustangs
0
0
7
0
7
at Cotton Bowl • Dallas, Texas
Date: January 1
Game time: 12:30p.m. CST
Game attendance: 60,359
Referee: Jimmy Harper
TV announcers (CBS): Lindsey Nelson (play–by–play), Pat Haden (color commentator), and Pat O'Brien (sideline reporter)
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
Pittsburgh
SMU
3
Pittsburgh
43-yard field goal by Eric Schubert
3
0
3
SMU
Lance McIlhenny 9-yard touchdown run, Jeff Harrell kick good
3
7
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
3
7
Statistics
Pittsburgh
SMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Pittsburgh
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
SMU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Roster
1982 SMU Mustangs football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
TE
87
Rickey Bolden
Jr
OL
67
Andrew Campbell
QB
Jeff Courtwright
Sr
RB
36
Mark Crites
Jr
RB
19
Eric Dickerson
Sr
FB
28
Charles Drayton
Sr
RB
21
Reggie Dupard
Fr
OT
70
Dale Hellestrae
So
RB
32
Craig James
Sr
QB
2
Don King
Fr
WR
7
Bobby Leach
So
QB
11
Lance McIlhenny
Jr
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
DB
13
Keith Brooks
Fr
DT
74
Michael Carter
So
DB
29
Russell Carter
Jr
DB
46
Wes Hopkins
Sr
CB
1
Rod Jones
Fr
LB
91
Clarence McDade
Jr
CB
5
Reggie Phillips
So
DB
23
Blane Smith
Sr
DT
78
Richard Neely
Sr
OLB
54
Tony Good
Jr
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
K
3
Jeff Harrell
Jr
P
32
Craig James
Sr
Head coach
Bobby Collins
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Awards and honors
Eric Dickerson, consensus All-American, third in the Heisman Trophy voting, despite splitting time with Craig James.
NFL draft
Six Mustangs were selected in the 1983 NFL draft, which lasted 12 rounds (335 selections).
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