2024 SMU Mustangs football team
| 2024 SMU Mustangs football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conference | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 12 |
| AP | No. 13 |
| CFP | No. 13 |
| Record | 9–1 (6–0 ACC) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Casey Woods (3rd season) |
| Co-offensive coordinator | Rob Likens (2nd season) |
| Co-offensive coordinator | Garin Justice (1st season) |
| Offensive scheme | Spread |
| Defensive coordinator | Scott Symons (3rd season) |
| Co-defensive coordinator | Maurice Crum Jr. (1st season) |
| Co-defensive coordinator | Rickey Hunley Jr. (1st season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Home stadium | Gerald J. Ford Stadium |
Uniform | |
 | |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 13 SMU | 6 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 17 Clemson | 7 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 Miami (FL) | 5 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Syracuse | 4 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisville | 4 | – | 3 | 6 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | 4 | – | 3 | 6 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duke | 3 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia | 3 | – | 3 | 5 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | 3 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Carolina | 3 | – | 3 | 6 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia Tech | 3 | – | 3 | 5 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boston College | 2 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wake Forest | 2 | – | 4 | 4 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NC State | 2 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stanford | 2 | – | 5 | 3 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| California | 1 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida State | 1 | – | 7 | 1 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: December 7, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rankings from CFP Rankings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2024 SMU Mustangs football team represents Southern Methodist University (SMU) in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Mustangs are led by Rhett Lashlee in his third year as the program's head coach. The Mustangs play their home games at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas.
The 2024 season is SMU's first in the ACC since moving from the American Athletic Conference.
Offseason
[edit]Transfers
[edit]Incoming
| Name | Pos. | Height | Weight | Hometown | Prev. school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarian Lee Jr. | LB | 6'2 | 240 | Tallahassee, FL | Georgia Southern |
| Brock O'Quinn | LS | 6'1 | 210 | Southlake, TX | Alabama |
| Andrew Chamblee | OT | 6'6 | 304 | Maumelle, AR | Arkansas |
| Paris Patterson Jr. | IOL | 6'6 | 352 | East Saint Louis, IL | Arkansas |
| Billy Walton III | EDGE | 6'3 | 229 | Dallas, TX | Texas |
| Jaden Milliner-Jones | S | 5'11 | 198 | DeSoto, TX | Colorado |
| Jared Harrison-Hunte | DL | 6'4 | 285 | Middle Village, NY | Miami (FL) |
| Qae'Shon Sapp | IOL | 6'4 | 318 | Leesburg, GA | East Carolina |
| Matthew Hibner | TE | 6'5 | 254 | Burke, VA | Michigan |
| Blake Burris | DL | 6'5 | 300 | Irving, TX | Texas Tech |
| Brashard Smith | WR | 5'10 | 194 | Miami, FL | Miami (FL) |
| Anthony Booker Jr. | DL | 6'4 | 351 | Cincinnati, OH | Arkansas |
| Deuce Harmon | CB | 5'10 | 191 | Denton, TX | Texas A&M |
| Ashton Cozart | WR | 6'3 | 195 | Flower Mound, TX | Oregon |
| Justin Medlock | LB | 6'0 | 220 | Manvel, TX | Utah |
| Omari Abor | EDGE | 6'3 | 258 | Duncanville, TX | Ohio State |
| Savion Byrd | OT | 6'5 | 296 | Duncanville, TX | Oklahoma |
| Nate Anderson | IOL | 6'4 | 309 | Frisco, TX | Oklahoma |
| Mike Lockhart | DL | 6'3 | 308 | Birmingham, AL | West Virginia |
| Jahfari Harvey | EDGE | 6'4 | 252 | Fort Pierce, FL | Miami (FL) |
| Jonathan Jefferson | DL | 6'3 | 295 | Douglasville, GA | Georgia |
Recruiting
[edit]| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Aronson Quarterback |
Vero Beach, FL | Vero Beach High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 202 lb (92 kg) | Jul 29, 2022 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
| ||||||
| Graham Uter Offensive line |
Daphne, AL | Bayside Academy | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 288 lb (131 kg) | Jun 17, 2023 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
| ||||||
| King Large Offensive line |
Bellflower, CA | St. John Bosco High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 288 lb (131 kg) | Jun 19, 2023 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
| ||||||
| Alexander Rodgers Defensive back |
Cedar Hill, TX | Cedar Hill High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Jun 26, 2023 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
| ||||||
| Zach Smith Linebacker |
Red Oak, TX | Red Oak High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Jun 30, 2023 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
| ||||||
| Ka'Davion Dotson-Walker Safety |
Duncanville, TX | Duncanville High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Jul 23, 2023 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
| ||||||
| Jaylen Moses Safety |
Carrollton, TX | Newman Smith High School | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | Jul 27, 2023 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
| ||||||
| Brandon Booker Linebacker |
DeSoto, TX | DeSoto High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Sep 19, 2023 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
| ||||||
| Derrick McFall Running back |
Tyler, TX | John Tyler High School | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Nov 27, 2023 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
| ||||||
| William Nettles Defensive back |
Mesquite, TX | Dallas Christian School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Dec 1, 2023 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
| ||||||
Preseason
[edit]ACC media poll
[edit]The Atlantic Coast Conference preseason poll was released on July 31. The Mustangs were predicted to finish seventh in the conference.[4]
| Media poll | ||
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida State | 2,708 (81) |
| 2 | Clemson | 2,657 (55) |
| 3 | Miami | 2,344 (17) |
| 4 | NC State | 2,318 (8) |
| 5 | Louisville | 1,984 |
| 6 | Virginia Tech | 1,968 (5) |
| 7 | SMU | 1,798 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 1,712 |
| 9 | Georgia Tech | 1,539 (1) |
| 10 | California | 1,095 (2) |
| 11 | Duke | 1,056 |
| 12 | Syracuse | 1,035 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh | 1,016 |
| 14 | Boston College | 890 (1) |
| 15 | Wake Forest | 784 |
| 16 | Virginia | 629 |
| 17 | Stanford | 477 |
Schedule
[edit]| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 24 | 7:00 p.m. | at Nevada* | CBSSN | W 29–24 | 20,263 | ||
| August 31 | 7:00 p.m. | Houston Christian* | ACCNX/ESPN+ | W 59–7 | 27,080 | ||
| September 6 | 6:00 p.m. | BYU* |
| ESPN2 | L 15–18 | 31,172 | |
| September 21 | 4:00 p.m. | TCU* |
| The CW | W 66–42 | 33,168 | |
| September 28 | 7:00 p.m. | Florida State |
| ACCN | W 42–16 | 34,879 | |
| October 5 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 22 Louisville | ESPN | W 34–27 | 50,254 | ||
| October 19 | 7:00 p.m. | at Stanford | No. 21 | ACCN | W 40–10 | 19,117 | |
| October 26 | 7:00 p.m. | at Duke | No. 22 | ACCN | W 28–27 OT | 30,241 | |
| November 2 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 18 Pittsburgh | No. 20 |
| ACCN | W 48–25 | 34,648 |
| November 16 | 2:30 p.m. | Boston College | No. 14 |
| ESPN | W 38–28 | 34,438 |
| November 23 | 11:00 a.m. | at Virginia | No. 13 | ESPN2 | |||
| November 30 | 2:30 p.m. | California |
| ESPN2 | |||
| |||||||
Rankings
[edit]| Week | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV | — | — | RV | RV | 25 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 13 | 14 | 13 | ||||
| Coaches | RV | RV | — | — | RV | RV | 25 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 15 | 13т | 12 | ||||
| CFP | Not released | 13 | 14 | 13 | Not released | ||||||||||||
Personnel
[edit]| 2024 SMU Mustangs football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game summaries
[edit]At Nevada
[edit]SMU Mustangs at Nevada Wolf Pack – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mustangs | 0 | 10 | 3 | 16 | 29 |
| Wolf Pack | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Mackay Stadium, Reno, Nevada
- Date: August 24
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT/5:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 56 °F (13 °C)
- Game attendance: 20,263
- Referee: Adam Savoie
- TV announcers (CBSSN): Rich Waltz, Robert Turbin, and Amanda Guerra
- Box score, Recap
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics | SMU | NEV |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 21 | 16 |
| Total yards | 408 | 298 |
| Rushing yards | 100 | 148 |
| Passing yards | 308 | 150 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 23:43 | 36:17 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | Passing | Preston Stone | 17/30, 254 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Brashard Smith | 11 rushes, 67 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | R. J. Maryland | 8 receptions, 162 yards, TD | |
| Nevada | Passing | Brendon Lewis | 14/26, 132 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Brendon Lewis | 18 rushes, 77 yards | |
| Receiving | Cortez Braham Jr. | 4 receptions, 66 yards, TD |
Houston Christian
[edit]Houston Christian Huskies at SMU Mustangs – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huskies | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Mustangs | 28 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 59 |
at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park, Texas
- Date: August 31
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 91 °F (33 °C)
- Game attendance: 27,080
- Referee: Nate Blake
- TV announcers (ACCNX/ESPN+): Doug Sherman, Tyoka Jackson, and Marilyn Payne
- Box score, Recap
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics | HCU | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 10 | 28 |
| Total yards | 157 | 595 |
| Rushing yards | 34 | 369 |
| Passing yards | 123 | 226 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 24:56 | 35:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Christian | Passing | Cutter Stewart | 10/25, 118 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Champ Dozier | 7 rushes, 22 yards | |
| Receiving | Ismael Fuller | 2 receptions, 38 yards | |
| SMU | Passing | Kevin Jennings | 10/14, 148 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Brashard Smith | 9 rushes, 108 yards, 2 TD | |
| Receiving | Jake Bailey | 4 receptions, 59 yards, TD |
SMU handily defeated HCU, a team in the Football Championship Subdivision, 59–7 in the team's home opener. This was the first game played in Gerald J. Ford Stadium following the completion of the Garry Weber Endzone Complex.[6]
BYU
[edit]BYU Cougars at SMU Mustangs – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cougars | 7 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 18 |
| Mustangs | 0 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 15 |
at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park, Texas
- Date: September 6
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 86 °F (30 °C)
- Game attendance: 31,172
- Referee: Cravonne Barrett
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Anish Shroff, Andre Ware, and Paul Carcaterra
- Box score, Recap
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics | BYU | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 16 | 18 |
| Total yards | 336 | 261 |
| Rushing yards | 134 | 117 |
| Passing yards | 202 | 144 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 30:53 | 29:07 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYU | Passing | Jake Retzlaff | 15/28, 202 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Miles Davis | 3 rushes, 37 yards | |
| Receiving | Darius Lassiter | 2 receptions, 62 yards | |
| SMU | Passing | Kevin Jennings | 15/32, 140 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Brashard Smith | 14 rushes, 75 yards | |
| Receiving | Key'Shawn Smith | 4 receptions, 46 yards |
SMU lost to BYU 18–15 in a defense-heavy game. Preston Stone started as quarterback for SMU, but was replaced by backup Kevin Jennings three drives into the game. Neither quarterback led the team to a touchdown, with placekicker Collin Rogers instead kicking 5 field goals to score all 15 of the team's points, setting a school record for most field goals in a single game in the process.[7]
TCU
[edit]TCU Horned Frogs at SMU Mustangs – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horned Frogs | 0 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| Mustangs | 17 | 24 | 18 | 7 | 66 |
at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park, Texas
- Date: September 21
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 96 °F (36 °C)
- Game attendance: 33,168
- Referee: Kevin Boitmann
- TV announcers (The CW): Thom Brennaman, Max Browne, and Treavor Scales
- Box score, Recap
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics | TCU | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 24 | 23 |
| Total yards | 480 | 375 |
| Rushing yards | 65 | 238 |
| Passing yards | 415 | 137 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:20 | 27:40 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCU | Passing | Josh Hoover | 28/43, 396 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Cam Cook | 14 rushes, 24 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Jack Bech | 8 receptions, 166 yards, 2 TD | |
| SMU | Passing | Kevin Jennings | 14/19, 137 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Brashard Smith | 18 rushes, 127 yards, 3 TD | |
| Receiving | Romello Brinson | 1 reception, 51 yards |
SMU defeated TCU 66–42 to win back the Iron Skillet. Prior to the game, Kevin Jennings took over the role as starting quarterback from Preston Stone.[8] The team capitalized on a strong defense, which forced five turnovers, two of which were immediately returned for touchdowns. The team additionally scored a touchdown on a punt return.[9] At the beginning of the second half, TCU head coach Sonny Dykes, who was SMU's head coach from 2018–2021, was ejected from the stadium after receiving two consecutive penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct. Dykes had been arguing with officials over a holding penalty that resulted in a kickoff return touchdown being called back. Dykes was the first head coach of a team in a power conference to be disqualified from a game for this reason since the rule was established in 2016.[10]
Florida State
[edit]Florida State Seminoles at SMU Mustangs – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seminoles | 7 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
| Mustangs | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park, Texas
- Date: September 28
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 85 °F (29 °C)
- Game attendance: 34,879
- Referee: Michael Griffith
- TV announcers (ACCN): Wes Durham, Tom Luginbill, and Dana Boyle
- Box score, Recap
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics | FSU | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 13 | 23 |
| Total yards | 295 | 480 |
| Rushing yards | 73 | 226 |
| Passing yards | 222 | 254 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 24:19 | 35:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | Passing | DJ Uiagalelei | 12/30, 222 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Lawrence Toafili | 15 rushes, 67 yards | |
| Receiving | Jakhi Douglas | 2 receptions, 61 yards | |
| SMU | Passing | Kevin Jennings | 16/23, 254 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Brashard Smith | 17 rushes, 129 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Jake Bailey | 2 receptions, 65 yards |
At No. 22 Louisville
[edit]SMU Mustangs at No. 22 Louisville Cardinals – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mustangs | 14 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 34 |
| No. 22 Cardinals | 10 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 27 |
at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky
- Date: October 5
- Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT/12:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 76 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 50,254
- Referee: Justin Elliott
- TV announcers (ESPN): Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick, and Kris Budden
- Box score, Recap
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics | SMU | LOU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 26 | 21 |
| Total yards | 481 | 461 |
| Rushing yards | 190 | 132 |
| Passing yards | 291 | 329 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:37 | 34:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | Passing | Kevin Jennings | 21/27, 281 yards |
| Rushing | Kevin Jennings | 10 rushes, 113 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | R. J. Maryland | 6 receptions, 83 yards | |
| Louisville | Passing | Tyler Shough | 22/35, 329 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Isaac Brown | 10 rushes, 117 yards | |
| Receiving | Ja'Corey Brooks | 3 receptions, 121 yards, 2 TD |
SMU defeated Louisville 34–27, their first win against a ranked opponent for the season. Quarterback Kevin Jennings became the first SMU player to pass for over 200 yards and rush for over 100 yards in a game since 2014, including a 59-yard touchdown run. Jennings sustained a minor injury during a drive in the first quarter, forcing backup quarterback Preston Stone to finish the drive, but Jennings returned to the field shortly after. The team took an 11-point lead entering halftime, but Louisville came back to tie the game during the third quarter. SMU's defense prevented Louisville from scoring during the fourth quarter, enabling SMU to take the victory with one final touchdown and an interception by safety Isaiah Nwokobia.[11] Many observers saw SMU's victory as placing them in contention for a spot in the ACC Championship.[12]
At Stanford
[edit]No. 21 SMU Mustangs at Stanford Cardinal – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 21 Mustangs | 21 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 40 |
| Cardinal | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics | SMU | STAN |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 22 | 15 |
| Total yards | 501 | 206 |
| Rushing yards | 179 | 33 |
| Passing yards | 322 | 173 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:15 | 32:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | Passing | Kevin Jennings | 17/27, 322 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Brashard Smith | 8 rushes, 67 yards | |
| Receiving | Moochie Dixon | 1 reception, 87 yards, TD | |
| Stanford | Passing | Elijah Brown | 16/32, 153 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Micah Ford | 13 rushes, 31 yards | |
| Receiving | Sam Roush | 6 receptions, 75 yards |
SMU defeated Stanford 40–10, but star tight end R. J. Maryland was injured after being tackled at the knees during the game. The injury removes Maryland from play for the remainder of the season.[13]
At Duke
[edit]No. 22 SMU Mustangs at Duke Blue Devils – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 22 Mustangs | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
| Blue Devils | 7 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 27 |
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Overtime
|
| Statistics | SMU | DUKE |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 23 | 24 |
| Total yards | 469 | 393 |
| Rushing yards | 211 | 98 |
| Passing yards | 258 | 295 |
| Turnovers | 6 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:28 | 32:32 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | Passing | Kevin Jennings | 13/24, 258 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Brashard Smith | 26 rushes, 117 yards, 2 TD | |
| Receiving | Roderick Daniels Jr. | 2 receptions, 153 yards, TD | |
| Duke | Passing | Maalik Murphy | 27/48, 295 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Star Thomas | 17 rushes, 65 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Eli Pancol | 11 receptions, 138 yards, TD |
SMU narrowly defeated Duke in overtime after Duke failed a two-point conversion attempt. Quarterback Kevin Jennings threw three interceptions and turned the ball over on two fumbles. Overall, the Mustangs turned the ball over six times, while Duke did not turn the ball over a single time. Despite this, Duke never scored off of any turnover. SMU became one of only two teams in the twenty first century to win despite committing at least six more turnovers than their opponent.[14] Duke kicker Todd Pelino missed an extra point in the third quarter, although the team made up the points with a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter to tie the game. Pelino missed one field goal during the fourth quarter that would have given Duke the lead, while SMU defensive end Jahfari Harvey blocked another field goal as time expired, sending the game to overtime.[15]
No. 18 Pittsburgh
[edit]No. 18 Pittsburgh Panthers at No. 20 SMU Mustangs – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 18 Panthers | 3 | 0 | 8 | 14 | 25 |
| No. 20 Mustangs | 7 | 24 | 3 | 14 | 48 |
at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park, Texas
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics | PITT | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 30 | 19 |
| Total yards | 453 | 467 |
| Rushing yards | 103 | 161 |
| Passing yards | 350 | 306 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 31:44 | 28:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | Passing | Eli Holstein | 29/47, 248 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Desmond Reid | 13 rushes, 49 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Kenny Johnson | 8 receptions, 81 yards, TD | |
| SMU | Passing | Kevin Jennings | 17/25, 306 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Brashard Smith | 23 rushes, 161 yards, 2 TD | |
| Receiving | Matthew Hibner | 3 receptions, 108 yards, TD |
SMU handily defeated Pitt 48–25, giving the team their first loss of the season.[16] Following their victory, SMU was ranked number 13 in the country by the Associated Press, the highest such rating the team had received since 1985.[17] A concurrent loss by Clemson left SMU and Miami as the only remaining undefeated teams in ACC conference play, clearing SMU's potential path to the ACC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. SMU's 5–0 start in conference play made them the best performing former Group of Five team in their first year in a Power conference.[18]
Boston College
[edit]Boston College Eagles at No. 14 SMU Mustangs – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| No. 14 Mustangs | 10 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 38 |
at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park, Texas
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
| Statistics | BC | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 23 | 25 |
| Total yards | 417 | 438 |
| Rushing yards | 180 | 140 |
| Passing yards | 237 | 298 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 35:09 | 24:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston College | Passing | Grayson James | 18/32, 237 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Kye Robichaux | 21 rushes, 90 yards, 2 TD | |
| Receiving | Reed Harris | 4 receptions, 78 yards | |
| SMU | Passing | Kevin Jennings | 24/35, 298 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Brashard Smith | 18 rushes, 120 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Jordan Hudson | 7 receptions, 99 yards, TD |
At Virginia
[edit]No. 13 SMU Mustangs at Virginia Cavaliers – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 13 Mustangs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cavaliers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Virginia
- Date: November 23
- Game time: 11:00 a.m.
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Roy Philpott, Sam Acho, and Taylor Davis
| Statistics | SMU | UVA |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Turnovers | ||
| Time of possession |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Virginia | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
California
[edit]California Golden Bears at SMU Mustangs – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mustangs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park, Texas
- Date: November 30
| Statistics | CAL | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Turnovers | ||
| Time of possession |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| SMU | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
References
[edit]- ^ "SMU 2024 Football Commits". 247Sports. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ "2024 SMU Mustangs Football Commitment List". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ "SMU Mustangs 2024 Football Player Commits". ESPN. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ "Florida State Favored to Repeat in 2024 ACC Football Preseason Poll". July 31, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ "2024 SMU Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ Baden, Abigail; Yaffe, Kaitlyn; Rosado, Anthony (September 1, 2024). "SMU bests HCU in a blowout victory at home, 59-7". The Daily Campus. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Hawkins, Stephen (September 7, 2024). "BYU beats SMU 18-15 to end high-scoring ACC newcomer Mustangs' 9-game win streak at home". AP News. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Assimakopoulos, Lia (September 17, 2024). "SMU confident in 'fearless' Kevin Jennings ahead of first start vs. TCU". Dallas News. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
- ^ Johnston, Steven (September 21, 2024). "Debacle in Dallas: How the Horned Frogs were blown out by SMU in the Battle for the Iron Skillet". Fort Worth Star Telegram. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
- ^ Olson, Max (September 22, 2024). "TCU's Dykes ejected in Frogs' 66-42 loss to SMU". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
- ^ Assimakopoulos, Lia (October 5, 2024). "5 thoughts from SMU-Louisville: Kevin Jennings leads Mustangs in upset. AP top 25 next?". Dallas News. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Patterson, Chip (October 5, 2024). "Resilient SMU outlasts Louisville to emerge as ACC championship dark horse Mustangs expected to be all along". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Adelson, Andrea (October 22, 2024). "SMU TE Maryland (knee) out remainder of season". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ Northam, Mitchell (October 27, 2024). "No. 22 SMU beats Duke 28-27 in overtime after Blue Devils fail to convert winning 2-point conversion". AP News. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ Assimakopoulos, Lia (October 27, 2024). "5 thoughts from SMU-Duke: Mustangs escape with unlikely OT win, set up pivotal ACC matchup". Dallas News. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ Hawkins, Stephen (November 3, 2024). "Smith, No. 20 SMU overwhelm previously undefeated No. 18 Pitt 48-25". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
- ^ "AP college football poll (Nov. 3): SMU receives highest ranking since 1985; Texas in top 5". Dallas News. November 3, 2024. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
- ^ Fischer, Bryan (November 3, 2024). "SMU Back in National Spotlight and Has Control of College Football Playoff Destiny". SI. Retrieved November 15, 2024.