UNIVERSITY PARK -- Once the downpour ended and the lightning disappeared and the wackiness waned, SMU's upset bid of No. 16 TCU was dead. It died in the second half of the Mustangs' 42-12 loss to the Horned Frogs on Friday night, after living a life speckled with offense and optimism, oddities and opportunity.
SMU's upset attempt was unexpected, given the Iron Skillet's six-year lease in Fort Worth and the Mustangs' putrid effort in a season-opening loss to North Texas last week. But it was also welcome, and provided a 30-minute spell of confidence for a team still searching for a victory under new coach Sonny Dykes.