Welcome to the weekly college wrap-up at Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. This is your one stop to quickly get up to date with all the FBS happenings in the state Texas from Week 1.

The Mean Green have arrived

UNT had national expectations heading into 2018 for the first time in a long time. There were plenty of questions – including from me – about whether it would be a distraction

Consider that test passed with flying colors.

North Texas absolutely demolished SMU in one of the biggest games in the history of the program. The 46-23 final score wasn’t remotely indicative of how dominant the Mean Green were against their cross-Metroplex rival.

SMU mustered just 46(!) offensive yards through three quarters, and scored zero points. All 23 of its points came in garbage time, when many of UNT’s starters were already out of the game. It was an embarrassing display in new coach Sonny Dykes’ first game at SMU.

North Texas quarterback Mason Fine made his All-America case with a blistering performance. He completed 40-of-50 passes for 444 yards, 3 touchdowns and zero turnovers. His numbers could have been better, but Seth Littrell pulled Fine early in the fourth quarter.

Remember, SMU has historically been a much more successful program than UNT. The Mustangs were a cool 31-5-1 against UNT heading into the matchup on Saturday in Denton. They also play in the American Athletic Conference, which is considered by most to be a step above Conference-USA.

UNT couldn’t care less. They wiped the floor with SMU in every aspect of the game.

The timing couldn’t have been better. Conference-USA favorite FAU and headline-grabbing coach Lane Kiffin faced Oklahoma in its opener. The Owls were obliterated 63-14, and struggled to get anything going against a young Sooner defense.

UNT was a fairly large step behind FAU last season. That may no longer be the case. And if the Owls have taken a step back, the Mean Green suddenly might have a real chance to win the conference this season – and maybe more.

Look at the schedule. There are two games that seem especially concerning: vs. FAU and at Arkansas. If Saturday’s record crowd of 29,519 at Apogee Stadium is any indication, the FAU game should be raucous. Beating Arkansas will be harder.

This is still a program that has two 10-win seasons in history, and only one at what is now the FBS level. The expectations are still there, but killing SMU is a great way to start.

Texas falters for second straight year

This year was supposed to be different, at least according to the Texas coaching staff. But one game into the 2018 season, it sure looks like the same old underachieving Longhorns.

For the second straight year, Texas lost to the Maryland Terrapins. Granted, this game was in Maryland, but that doesn’t make the 33-29 loss at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., any less embarrassing for the program.

Maryland was in the midst of major program turnover. The Terrapins are without head coach DJ Durkin, who is suspended surrounding the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair. It didn’t matter; interim coach and offensive coordinator Matt Canada outschemed the heck out of Texas.

The offense did look better. Running back Keontay Ingram lived up to the hype, posting 37 yards and a touchdown on just six carries. Unfortunately, quarterback Sam Ehlinger threw two backbreaking interceptions, including one on the final drive of the game for Texas. These boneheaded mistakes keep happening at the worst times.

One year ago, Texas slipped up. That’s fine, it happens. It’s not necessarily an indictment of a team. Heck, Herman led Houston to that kind of game against Oklahoma in 2016. The Sooners adjusted, blew through their next nonconference schedule in 2017 and made the College Football Playoff.

Texas had another crack at Maryland, to avenge its performance. Not getting up for that rematch in a year when the programs motto is “Prove Us Right?” It’s incomprehensible.

Maryland is ranked No. 71 in preseason S&P+ per SB Nation’s Bill Connelly. It’s not a perfect metric, and will change with results, but it’s a good baseline. Only one Big 12 team ranks behind the Terrapins in the preseason rankings – Kansas. The schedule won’t get any easier.

Texas doesn’t have any time to waste.

Texas Tech defense goes back to drawing board

Following a lengthy training camp battle, senior McLane Carter won the starting quarterback job. That didn’t even last a quarter, as Carter went out with what appeared to be a fairly severe ankle injury. In his place, former Grapevine quarterback Alan Bowman took the reins. But it wasn’t enough in a 47-27 loss to Ole Miss.

Bowman had a slow start, but looked decent by the end. He finished with 273 yards and a touchdown. Bowman completed 59 percent of his passes, and didn’t turn it over. Ultimately, that’s what head coach Kliff Kingsbury wanted from him.

Unfortunately, the bigger issue was Tech’s new-look defense. All four Ole Miss offensive touchdowns were from 34 yards or further out. The Rebels do have talented wide receivers, but that level of collapse is unacceptable. Ole Miss eventually

Granted, safety Jah’Shawn Johnson was out with a shoulder injury. Cornerback Desmon Smith also was ejected for targeting in the first quarter. The loss of both was felt when it came to downfield tackling.

“It was just lack of experience maybe,” Kingsbury said. “You get Des and Jah’Shawn and Oct not back, who all started last year, against a team like that, those other guys have to be ready to go. I’m not sure they were ready for that type of speed and offense right now. We have to get those guys going.”

But if Texas Tech’s defense is only one or two defensive backs away from bottom five in the country once again, then the level of concern rises tremendously.

Around the state:

• Texas A&M 59, Northwestern State 7: Jimbo Fisher’s tenure is off to a great start in Aggieland. Texas A&M dominated the Demons in every phase of the game. Kellen Mond looked poised and accurate, even under pressure. Running back Trayveon Williams (240 yards, 3 touchdowns) is a bonafide superstar. 

• Texas Tech 27, Ole Miss 47: Big plays absolutely killed the Red Raiders in a blowout loss to Ole Miss. All four Ole Miss offensive touchdowns were from 34 yards or further. Things should get better when Jah’Shawn Johnson gets healthy, but it’s not an ideal start for what was meant to be an improved Texas Tech defense. Starting quarterback McLane Carter could be out for a while with an ankle injury.

• Houston 45, Rice 27: Houston offensive coordinator had a tough time finding a rhythm early in this game. Rice took an impressive 27-17 lead in the second half, and had a shot to win. Houston QB D’Eriq King responded with three second half touchdowns to pull away, but the Cougars have to get better. Rice quarterback Shawn Stankavage looked impressive and threw three touchdowns in his second start.

• Baylor 55, Abilene Christian 27: Matt Rhule surely didn’t think it would take until Sept. 1, 2018, to win his first home game at Baylor, but the Bears were prepared right from the start this year. Grad transfer quarterback Jalan McClendon was very impressive, completing 10-of-13 passes for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns. The defense missed middle linebacker Clay Johnston, but he could be back in the next couple of weeks.

• TCU 55, Southern 7: The Horned Frogs did exactly what they were supposed to do against an FCS opponent. Quarterback Shawn Robinson looked comfortable his in second career start, completing 17-of-24 passes and accounting for five total touchdowns. If not for a defensive breakdown in the second quarter, it would have been a perfect day in Fort Worth.

• UTSA 7, Arizona State 49: This sure didn’t look like the same UTSA team that started last season. The Roadrunners missed defensive end Marcus Davenport, but the offensive line was especially pitiful. UTSA allowed nine sacks and mustered a total of two rushing yards – two! – against an opponent not exactly known for stout defense.

• UTEP 10, Northern Arizona 30: The Dana Dimel era got off to a subpar start in El Paso. Ryan Metz’s first pass attempt was picked off, and Northern Arizona scored a touchdown seven plays later. Kai Locksley got the offense moving a little better, but he also threw a key interception late. It’s going to be a process in El Paso.

• Texas State 7, Rutgers 35: The Bobcats were on the road against a Big Ten opponent, but the offense looked woeful. Texas State did pick off Rutgers' freshman quarterback three times, but the offense couldn't do anything with the opportunities in a dominant loss.