The SMU Mustangs overpowered Missouri State 28-10 in the Bears’ first home game as an FBS program in Conference USA on Saturday afternoon.

After a disappointing 2OT loss to cross-town rival Baylor last week, Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings threw for 281 yards and a touchdown, while T.J. Harden ran for 96 and two more scores. SMU trailed 10-0 early before responding with four unanswered scores.

Bears quarterback Jacob Clark threw for 275 yards and a score, but was also picked off three times, including once in the end zone when Missouri State had a chance to take the lead in early in the third quarter. It was the Bears’ third game as an FBS program. They were blown out by USC, then scored a rebound win against Marshall last week. Missouri State turned an early Jennings interception into three points, then went 74 yards in six plays and finished with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Dash Luke for a 10-0 lead early.

The Mustangs’ offense finally woke up late in the second quarter. SMU had drives of 73 yards and 80 yards on back-to-back possessions to lead 14-10 at halftime. Harden added a 37-yard touchdown run in the second half, and R.J. Maryland caught a fourth-quarter touchdown pass that put the score out of reach for the Bears.

Rhett Lashlee’s Mustangs have not looked like the same team that met Penn State in the College Football Playoff last season, or even the team that competed for an ACC title in its first season as part of the conference.

Up next, the Mustangs meet TCU in Fort Worth on Saturday.