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SMU's visit to Baylor, which opens the college football season for both, will happen a day later than scheduled to accommodate national TV.

The non-conference game will instead take place at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 2 and will be aired on FSN.

In addition, Baylor's road opener at Louisiana-Monroe switches to 7 p.m. Sept. 21 and will be carried by either ESPN or ESPN2. The game was originally scheduled for Sept. 22.

SMU ended last season with a 28-6 victory over Pitt in the BBVA Compass Bowl. Baylor won a barnburner over Washington in the Valero Alamo Bowl, 67-56.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Damier Pitts scored all 16 of his points in the second half to help Marshall defeat SMU, 74-56, Wednesday in the first round of the Conference USA tournament.

The sixth-seeded Thundering Herd (19-12) led 33-26 after DeAndre Kane scored 11 of his 18 points in the first half. But Marshall went scoreless for the first 4:29 of the second half as the 11th-seeded Mustangs (13-19) tied it.

A jumper by Pitts ended the drought, and Shaquille Johnson scored seven points during an 11-2 run that gave the Thundering Herd a 44-35 lead with 10:48 remaining.

Johnson added 15 points and Dennis Tinnon had 15 rebounds for Marshall, which will play third-seeded Tulsa in the quarterfinals Thursday.

Rodney Clinkscales led SMU with 17 points. Robert Nyakundi, whose 42.5-percent 3-point shooting led the conference, made just 2 of 10 -- and the Mustangs 6 of 24 -- from long range.

DALLAS -- SMU's move to the Big East in July 2013 has everything to do with setting the program up with the best chance to succeed at football.

That leaves the basketball program in an interesting situation. On one hand, it joins one of the elite basketball conferences in the nation that routinely puts multiple teams in the NCAA tournament.

On the other hand, SMU is historically a middle-of-the-pack Conference USA contender and might have bitten off more than it can chew in its first years in the conference.

That, however, doesn't concern head coach Matt Doherty, who sees an opportunity to pick up top recruits from Texas and the East Coast who will make the Mustangs a threat in the basketball-focused Big East.

The move will bring new faces to Dallas and send the Mustangs to new venues on the road, but Doherty said his team will not adapt to any type of Big East system, but rather will continue to implement the same foundations the team utilized in C-USA.

"I'd like to hope they can adjust to us," Doherty said. "We're not going to change much. We'll play our matchup zone and we'll play our offense, which is actually kind of like Georgetown, so I like to be different. I don't like to be like everyone else, but I think the neat thing about the Big East is they have different kinds of teams."

As far as recruiting goes, Doherty has a card up his sleeve that he thinks will be a hot selling point for East-Coast standouts, literally. SMU students enjoyed a walk to class Thursday in shorts and flip flops, which is a style that won't be seen in the Northeast for several more months.

"Get a recruit to come down here and it's 60. It's a beautiful place and I know how to pitch it," Doherty said.

Houston quarterback Case Keenum talks about overcoming injuries and doubt.

ESPN Dallas provides a quick look at the college basketball contests to watch out for Friday night.

DALLAS -- SMU is one victory shy of being bowl eligible. With six games remaining in the season, the Mustangs are in good shape.

Coach June Jones sees a team coming together, with the latest evidence being Saturday's 38-17 victory over Central Florida. The Mustangs are 5-1 overall and lead the Conference USA West Division at 3-0.

"I'm really pleased with the chemistry of this team," Jones said. "The guys made a commitment at the start of the season … to honor something higher than anything else, and the chemistry is working. We've had some really neat things happen to this team internally that excite me as a team, and the guys are really coming together and bonding. And that's what you've got to do.

"We've got a tough road, even though we're 5-1. It just gets harder from here. The chemistry is the reason we'll still hang together and have a chance to go to a bowl."

SMU's five-game winning streak is the team's longest since 1997. The Mustangs are 12-3 in their last 15 home games.

Jones didn't even let the attendance, or lack of, bring him down. A crowd of 22,932 was announced, but 32,000-seat Ford Stadium appeared to be less than half full on a pleasant afternoon.

"The crowd that was there seemed like they were really loud and into the game," Jones said. "We have had a situation because of where we've been for 25 years where we're still going to take time to build that back. It's a unique place and a great situation, and the potential is all ahead."

It appears as if the Big East is ready to make a move.

ESPN.com's Andy Katz reported late Friday that the league has sent conditional invitations to Houston and SMU in all sports, and Boise State and Air Force in football only. A separate all-sports invitation has been sent to UCF.

According to Katz, if Houston, SMU, Boise State and Air Force all agree to join, then the remaining six football-playing schools will agree to increase the exit fee from $5 million to the $10 million range as a show of commitment to the league. But the remaining football playing schools won't commit to raising the fee unless all four say they will join the Big East.

Houston athletic director Mack Rhoades issued a statement late Friday night saying, "We are aware of the growing speculation regarding conference realignment and do not feel it would be appropriate to comment on the possible intentions of another league. We are flattered to be mentioned as an athletics program of national importance and we are grateful for our strong traditions and the dedication of our fans, alumni, staff and student-athletes.”

Earlier in the day, the Mountain West and Conference USA announced the formation of a football alliance. On a conference call announcing the move, C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky said he had been informed by UCF of its discussions with the Big East. But he said he was unaware of any discussions between SMU, Houston and the Big East. Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson confirmed Boise State and Air Force were in discussions with the Big East. All four of those schools participated in the vote to form the new MWC/C-USA alliance.

Many of the players on this TCU Horned Frogs team do not know life out of the top 25 polls. They do now.

Saturday's 40-33 overtime loss at home to the SMU Mustangs tumbled previously No. 20 TCU out of both polls. In fact, the Frogs, who lost at home for the first time in 23 games, dropped all the way out of the Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls, meaning even the "others receiving votes" category.

SMU (4-1) has found its way into the latter portion of both polls, receiving five votes in the AP poll to come in 35th (of note: I am not a voter in the AP poll). The Mustangs received 10 votes in the coaches poll to come in 34th.

TCU coach Gary Patterson, who for last two years has received lavish national praise, and rightfully so, for the rise of the Frogs, did not take his team's second loss in five games particularly well. He is not happy with a defense that has allowed numerous big plays. At one point during his Saturday postgame news conference Patterson described a play in which poor coverage led to a big gain and said, "My mom might have knocked it away."

Despite Patterson's faltering defense and particular difficulty in the secondary, TCU is incredibly close to being 5-0. It's two losses have come by a combined nine points. Baylor won, 50-48, on a last-possession field goal after the Frogs took the lead and the Mustangs needed overtime to finish the job.

However, TCU fell behind big in both games and needed major fourth-quarter comebacks to have a chance late. Especially hard on Patterson is his typically rock-solid 'D.' He came to TCU as the defensive coordinator and in his 11th season as head coach he still calls the plays. The unit has ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense (yards allowed per game) at the end of each of the last three seasons, but this one is especially susceptible to giving up big plays over the top.

SMU, like Baylor, burned the Frogs multiple times down field, including a 71-yard touchdown pass and a 21-yarder.

"Our group is going to have to do some soul searching," Patterson said following Saturday's loss. "We've got a better team to play next week who has had two weeks to prepare." (SMU bulletin board material for next season's Iron Skillet or Patterson putting his team on notice?)

That would be San Diego State, a club that nearly pulled off the upset last season in Fort Worth. The Aztecs' accomplished senior quarterback Ryan Lindley will surely be excited for the rematch as will tailback Ronnie Hillman, the Mountain West Conference's leading rusher at 151. 5 yards a game.

TCU has allowed two rushers -- Baylor's Terrance Ganaway and SMU's Zach Line -- to pound away for 120 yards each, and Portland State's Shaquille Richard to go for 90.

The Frogs dropped to 90th in the nation in total defense, 59th in run defense and 101st in pass defense.

"If I had an answer for it I'd write a book," Patterson said, "Then I wouldn't have to be doing this and putting my life in the hands of 18-year-olds."

The Mustangs have a week off before playing host to Central Florida, the team that beat SMU in last season's Conference USA title game.

DALLAS -- SMU athletic director Steve Orsini put out a plea for Pony backers to support the football program as it heads into a fourth season under coach June Jones and seeks a third consecutive bowl game.

Orsini said Pony fever hasn't exactly caught fire. He described ticket sales for the 2011 season as "flat."

"It's time to rally the community," Orsini said. "The SMU community, the student body and the Dallas community because it is, we're there, we're knocking on the door, something they've wanted for 25 years, since the Death Penalty, so it's time we all rally."

SMU ranked 30th in the NCAA last season in largest average attendance increase, jumping from an average home attendance of 21,348 in 2009 to 23,515 in 2010. By comparison, TCU, which finished last season ranked No. 2 in the nation, was 16th in largest attendance increase, from 38,187 to 42,466. And, SMU was behind seven other Texas schools in the category.

The Mustangs open the season at No. 9 Texas A&M on Sept. 4 and play at No. 15 TCU on Oct. 1, so there a chances for SMU to drum up excitement outside of the more ho-hum Conference USA schedule. SMU opens the home schedule on Sept. 10 against UTEP. The rest of the home slate includes: Northwestern State, Central Florida, Tulane, Navy and Rice.

Orsini knows -- just as has been the case to the west at TCU -- continued success on the field -- translating to national rankings and higher profile bowl games -- is the best way to drive ticket sales.

"It's very important for our community, and all the things that are happening in college athletics today, the timing is just right," Orsini said, referencing renewed speculation of major conference realignment. "It's time for SMU to get back into the national landscape, to be relevant again. I believe we're accomplishing that and yet we still have a long way to go.

FORT WORTH, Texas -- When asked about his thoughts on the current BCS system at the Texas High School Coaches Association Coaching School, SMU head coach June Jones jokingly said, "I'm supposed to have no comment on that."

But Jones did make a few comments on the matter, supporting a one-game playoff after what is currently the BCS Championship game.

"Let's look at the last three years at that final game that they claimed was the national championship," Jones said. "If there was one more game, there would be no discussion on who the best team was every year. It seems to me there is enough to just formulate a system using the existing bowls and rotate it for that one extra game."

If the non-automatic qualifying Mustangs could put together an undefeated season, like Boise State, TCU and Utah have done in recent years, they would automatically be put into the argument of teams to test the winner of the BCS No. 1-vs.-No. 2 game with out having to have that automatic bid.

While he didn't stick with "no comment," Jones gave his opinion with a few laughs and the disclaimer that he was trying to dodge the question as best he could.

"That's just me, but that will get shot down I assure you," Jones said.

The 51 preseason candidates for the 2011 Doak Walker Award presented to the nation's top running back were announced Friday.

Two TCU running backs made the list: Matthew Tucker and Ed Wesley. SMU's Zach Line and North Texas' Lance Dunbar also represent DFW schools.

Texas A&M's Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael were also tabbed. Nebraska back and Plano product Rex Burkhead also appears.

Last season's recipient, Oregon junior and Texarkana native LaMichael James, returns to the watch list after leading the nation in scoring and rushing in 2010.

Semifinalists will be named Nov. 11, and finalists will be determined Nov. 21. The winner will be announced Dec. 8 on ESPN.

The Davey O'Brien Foundation announced its watch list Friday featuring the nation's top 38 collegiate quarterbacks.

Baylor's Robert Griffin and Oklahoma's Landry Jones -- both 2010 semifinalist -- return to the list. Also appearing are SMU's Kyle Padron, Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill and Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden.

Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the Davey O'Brien Award. Quarterbacks from all 120 Division I FBS schools are eligible until the field is narrowed to 16 candidates on Oct. 24. The three finalists will be announced Nov. 21, and the winner Dec. 8.

Two of the last three winners of the award have come from the Big 12 South. Texas' Colt McCoy was honored in 2009, and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford won the year before. Auburn's Cam Newton was the 2010 winner.

The 35th Davey O'Brien Awards dinner will be Feb. 20, 2012, in Fort Worth.

With the college football season just around the corner, the Maxwell Football Club announced watch lists for two of its awards Tuesday.

The Maxwell Award has been presented to the country's top collegiate football player since 1937. The Bednarik Award, which has been around since 1995, goes to the nation's top defensive player.

The lists include 15 candidates from Big 12 South and DFW schools. Returning Maxwell semifinalists include Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma receiver Ryan Broyles and Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin.

The Big 12 South landed 11 players on the lists. TCU has three representatives on the list: running back Ed Wesley and linebackers Tanner Brock and Tank Carder. SMU running back Zach Line is also up for the Maxwell.

Semifinalists for the awards will be announced Oct. 31st, and the three finalists for each will be revealed Nov. 21. Winners will be announced as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 8.

Watch lists for the Biletnikoff and Mackey Awards will be released Wednesday.

Duncanville's Nick Russell, who spent two seasons as a shooting guard at Kansas State, is transferring to SMU.

"We are thrilled to add Nick to our program," SMU coach Matt Doherty said. "He is a big guard that we pursued when he was coming out of high school. His skill and athleticism will fit in very well with our system. Nick is a great addition to an already terrific recruiting class."

Russell averaged 4.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in 12.2 minutes at Kansas State last season. He played in 46 games over two seasons, starting 14 of them. The Wildcats made the NCAA Tournament in each of Russell's two seasons and reached the Elite Eight in 2010.

But the 6-4 guard saw his playing time diminish as a sophomore, going from a starter to a seldom-used backup.

"I feel like it's a better fit for me to go somewhere else so I can try to continue to grow as a basketball player," Russell told The Kansas City Star in May.

Russell was rated as high as the No. 4 prospect in Texas when he finished his career at Arlington's Grace Prep Academy in 2009. He led Grace Prep to three straight TAPPS 5A-4A state title games. As a senior, his team went 31-5 while he averaged 17.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists.