What to know before Stanford kicks off against SMU

"STANFORD AT SMU Records: Stanford 2-3, 1-1 ACC. SMU 3-2, 1-0. Kickoff: 9 a.m. PT at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas TV: The CW Radio: KNBR 1050 AM Series history: Tied 1-1. SMU won 40-10 last year at Stanford Stadium, while Stanford won 7-0 in the 1936 Rose Bowl. SMU and Cal are Stanford's protected rivals in the ACC, which means the teams will play each other every season."

"The Cardinal have an extra week to prepare and are coming off its most thrilling win of the season, a come-from-behind, last-minute 30-29 win over local rival San Jose State. Will that be enough to overcome a 9 a.m. Pacific kickoff against a team that dominated the Cardinal last season? Stanford has been awful on the road, losing to Hawaii and getting blown out by BYU and Virginia."

"Stanford's defense has allowed the second-most trips to the red zone of any team in the country (28), but ranks ninth in opponents' red zone touchdown percentage (39.3%). The game will feature three of the top 10 tacklers in the ACC in Stanford's Matt Rose (sixth, 8.0 tackles per game) and Scott Edwards (seventh, 7.8) and SMU's Isaiah Nwokobia (ninth, 7.4). Rose will miss the first half due to a targeting penalty against San Jose State."

Stanford is 2-3 (1-1 ACC) and SMU is 3-2 (1-0) with a 9 a.m. PT kickoff at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. Stanford has an extra week to prepare and is coming off a come-from-behind, last-minute 30-29 win over San Jose State but has been poor on the road, losing to Hawaii and getting blown out by BYU and Virginia. SMU began the season ranked 16th in the polls, lost to Baylor and TCU, and its defense ranks second nationally with nine interceptions. Stanford's defense has allowed 28 trips to the red zone but limits opponents' red-zone touchdown percentage to 39.3%. The matchup includes top tacklers Matt Rose (who will miss the first half), Scott Edwards, and Isaiah Nwokobia. Stanford quarterback Ben Gulbranson has completed 66% for 916 yards and five touchdowns over his last three games. SMU has nine touchdown drives that have lasted less than two minutes.

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