With college football season around the corner, here's a look at why SMU could be better or worse in 2017:
Why SMU could be better
Ben Hicks was a shaky starting quarterback at best as a redshirt freshman. He feels more confident this fall camp and is showing a better grasp of the offense. A better collection of offensive linemen in front of him gives the SMU offense a chance to make a leap forward. Likewise, a strong defensive line gives hope that SMU can defend the passing game better than a year ago, when the Mustangs ranked 80th in the country in that regard.