No. 9 Texas A&M answered an early test from SMU and pulled away for a 46-14 win Sunday in College Station, Texas.

Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael ran for two touchdowns each for the Aggies, who begin a promising season ranked in the top 10 for the first time since 1999. It could also be their last in the Big 12. A&M intends to leave the conference in July.

SMU is one of the teams reportedly interested in taking the Aggies’ place in the Big 12, but the Mustangs didn’t look ready for the step up in competition Sunday.

SMU coach June Jones benched starting quarterback Kyle Padron, after a pair of early interceptions. Backup J.J. McDermott stepped in and played well, throwing a 27-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Holman that cut A&M’s lead to 20-14 early in the second quarter.

The Aggies answered with 23 straight points, putting the Mustangs away with a 32-yard Ryan Tannehill touchdown pass to Hutson Prioleau that put A&M up by 29 heading into the fourth quarter.

Texas A&M hasn’t lost to SMU since 1984 and is 9-0-1 in the last 10 meetings.

Gray eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark for the eighth straight game.