The Cowboys kept their season alive at Bank of America Stadium just as SMU did here a week ago, only under wildly different circumstances in a vastly different game. For the Mustangs, that meant losing on a last-second field goal but still qualifying for the College Football Playoff.

Less than 100 miles from his hometown, Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle had a day to remember with 149 yards in front of friends and family.

Dowdle leads the Cowboys with 731 rushing yards on 152 carries, both career highs. That he has a chance at 1,000 yards is remarkable in a way, considering the start of the season. The Cowboys began with Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott as a running back by committee. At different times, Dalvin Cook and Deuce Vaughn got some looks as the third runner.