SMU runningback Cedrick Dorsey (right) tries to get past Tulane safety Chinonso Echebelem (left) during Saturday night’s game. (John Schreiber)

The Mustangs will have to turn things around on the road if they wish to break their five-game losing streak.

SMU travels to Tulsa this weekend to take on the Golden Hurricane and hopefully get something going for the first time since the Mustangs defeated North Texas in the second game of the season.

But the situation doesn’t look too bright. The Mustangs won just one road game last season and are 0-3 on the road so far this season. Not only that, but their opponent could prove to be a problem wherever they play.

Tulsa’s offense is led by senior quarterback Paul Smith. The Golden Hurricane have the second best scoring offense and the best passing offense in Conference USA, and that is a problem for the Mustangs this season.

The SMU defense has given up big numbers this season, including a 600-yard passing game from North Texas quarterback Daniel Meager, a 300-yard receiving game to UNT’s Casey Fitzgerald and a 300-yard rushing game last week to Matt Forte of Tulane.

The Mustangs’ defense has more problems than that right now. Injuries have slowed the defense down. Defensive end Justin Smart did not play against Tulane and safety David Haynes was helped off the field and later carted to the locker room in the fourth quarter against the Green Wave.

At his weekly press conference, head coach Phil Bennett said he had to change his practice plans due to the injuries. He also said that as of then he did not know who would be healthy enough to play against Tulsa.

One player who has not been injured for the Mustangs is quarterback Justin Willis, even though he has taken some hits that look like they could take him out of the game for a while. In fact, Willis has only missed two plays because of hits.

The first was against Southern Miss when he removed his helmet after a hit and had to sit out a play, and the second was against Tulane when the training staff came onto the field forcing him out for a play.

The biggest hit Willis has taken this season may have been the one that ended the game against Tulane. The hit from Reggie Scott easily dislodged the ball from Willis’ possession, and when Avery Williams recovered it, the game was over.

It was the second straight overtime loss SMU suffered at home this season. The first was against UTEP on Sept. 29.

The goal coming into the season was to compete for a conference championship and make it to a bowl game. It would appear that both are too far out of reach for SMU this season.

But if the Mustangs want to make a run at either one, this may be their last chance to get it done. SMU comes into the game with a 1-6 record, just one loss away from bowl ineligibility.

A loss against Tulsa seals another season with no bowl game for the Mustangs, and may be the final straw before some changes are made on the Hilltop.

Kickoff is at 2 p.m. and the game will be televised locally on TXA 21.

SMU quarterback Justin Willis (16) tries to slip past the tackle of Tulane defensive end Logan Kelley (93) during Saturday’s game at Ford Stadium. (John Schreiber)