SMU coach Phil Bennett doesn't really have to answer the tough questions. His team's record and performance are providing the answers for him.

After a 41-34 overtime home loss to Tulane on Oct. 20, Bennett was asked if he were concerned about his job.

Bennett responded, "Next question."

Then he was asked to evaluate his performance.

Bennett responded, "Next question."

There's little question that Bennett is in big trouble with little chance of saving his job now that the Mustangs are 1-6 overall and 0-3 in C-USA in a season that was supposed to produce a winning record and a bowl in Bennett's sixth year on the job.

SMU's only chance to become bowl-eligible and possibly saving the season is to win all of its remaining games. That's not going to happen with a defense that allowed 361 rushing yards, including 342 yards and four touchdown runs by Tulane tailback Matt Forte.

"Our struggles have been defensively," said Bennett, who is 18-47 at SMU. "I never would have imagined we'd be where we are right now defensively. ... It's bitterly, bitterly disappointing."

--QB Justin Willis has had his share of struggles this year after a strong freshman season in 2006, but he's still third in C-USA with 249.9 passing yards per game, eighth with 56.7 rushing yards per game and second in total offense with 306.6 yards per game. Turnovers have been his biggest problems. While he has 12 TD passes, he's also thrown 10 interceptions while fumbling seven times and losing three.

--WR Emmanuel Sanders is another sophomore who carries a big load for SMU. Through seven games, he's second in C-USA with 6.57 receptions per game and seventh with 85.0 yards per game. He's also produced four straight games with 100-plus all-purpose yards.

GAME BALL GOES TO: WR Emmanuel Sanders -- While some of his teammates appear to be giving up on the season, Sanders refuses to give in, producing eight catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns against Tulane.

KEEP AN EYE ON: QB Justin Willis -- Another game, another mix of positives and negatives from Willis. He did complete 28 of 36 passes for career-high 354 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw an interception and lost a decisive fumble. Willis took the Mustangs 81 yards in 1:42 for a 7-yard touchdown pass to Zack Sledge with eight seconds left in regulation, forcing the game into overtime. However, after Tulane scored in overtime, he took a hard hit and lost the ball. Tulane recovered to win the game.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Justin Willis' individual effort was outstanding. He's down about the last fumble, but as I told him, we'd never be in that position without him." -- SMU coach Phil Bennett.

LOOKING GOOD: WR Columbus Givens -- Givens has overcome illness and injuries and came through with a career-high 10 receptions for 76 yards against Tulane.

K/P Thomas Morstead -- He came into the game having missed three of his four previous field-goal attempts but nailed both of his field goals against Tulane and all four of its PATs, making him 7-for-10 on field goals this season with 56 consecutive PATs. Morstead also averaged 42.2 yards on four punts, with two inside the 20.

MLB Damon Hurst -- Hurst is still shaky at middle linebacker, but he did record two sacks.

STILL NEEDS WORK: Run defense -- SMU came out on the wrong end of the run game on both sides of the ball. Tulane's Matt Forte ran for 342 yards, 9.0 yards per carry and four touchdowns, including the game-winning score in overtime.

Run offense -- SMU couldn't get anything going on the ground, with SMU's two leading rushers, James Mapss and DeMyron Martin, carrying 18 times for 54 yards (3.0 yards per carry).

Holding on -- Not only do the Mustangs not hold on or hold together very well in the clutch, but some of the Mustangs hold on too much or too long on offensive plays. SMU picked up four holding penalties, and while three of them wiped out a 6-yard run, an incomplete pass and a 2-yard completion, one negated a 53-yard pass to WR Aldrick Robinson to the Tulane 4-yard line in the second quarter.

ROSTER REPORT: Redshirt freshman DE Justin Smart (groin) missed the Tulane game after starting the three previous games.

With the Mustangs grasping for answers, true freshman De'Von Bailey replaced junior David Haynes at safety in the second half.