SMU Earns Solid Win Over ACC Foe Syracuse

The lights of Gerald J. Ford Stadium were shining brightly on Saturday afternoon, but for the SMU Mustangs, the spotlight felt even brighter. This wasn’t just another game; it was a dominant conference win with the final score being closer than the game actually was. They secured a decisive 31-18 victory over a struggling Syracuse Orange team. The message was clear: SMU is here, and they mean business.

The architect of this statement win was none other than quarterback Kevin Jennings. The Mustangs’ star played with a poise that defied his years, dissecting the Syracuse defense with surgical precision. It was a career day for Jennings, who threw for 285 yards and four touchdowns, looking every bit the part of an ACC-caliber field general. He was in complete command, completing an astonishing 29 of his 35 passes. It was a performance that had the 34,000 plus fans in attendance buzzing, a sign that the step up in competition might not be as steep as some had feared.

SMU’s Offense Finds its Rhythm

From the opening whistle, SMU looked like a team with something to prove. After a methodical opening drive led to a 26-yard field goal by Sam Keltner, the offense truly came alive in the second quarter. Jennings was masterful, spreading the ball around and keeping the Orange defense on its heels.

He connected with Yamir Knight for a 15-yard touchdown, then found his reliable tight end RJ Maryland for a 16-yard score. The onslaught continued with a 14-yard strike to Derrick McFall, sending the Mustangs into the locker room with a commanding 24-3 lead. The energy was electric; this was the welcome party SMU had dreamed of hosting. When Jennings hit Jordan Hudson for a 9-yard touchdown early in the fourth, stretching the lead to 31-3, the game felt all but over. The celebration had officially begun on the SMU sideline.

Syracuse’s Struggles Continue Without Angeli

For Syracuse, the story was one of frustration and missed opportunities. The team is still reeling from the season-ending Achilles injury to star quarterback Steve Angeli, and his absence was very noticeable again. Making his second consecutive start, LSU transfer Rickie Collins showed flashes of potential, throwing for 279 yards, but his inexperience proved costly.

Collins was haunted by three crucial interceptions, each one coming deep inside SMU territory and extinguishing any hope of a comeback. It was a classic case of a young quarterback trying to do too much, and a disciplined SMU defense made him pay. The Orange went eight straight quarters without finding the end zone before Collins finally broke the drought with a 6-yard scramble in the fourth quarter. It was a glimmer of hope, but far too little, too late. A subsequent touchdown pass and a safety on a tackle in the end zone padded the score, but it only served as a cosmetic fix to a deeply disappointing performance.

A Tale of Two Defenses

Coming into the game, the narrative was centered around SMU’s porous pass defense, which ranked a dismal 134th in the nation. But on this day, they flipped the script. The Mustangs’ secondary played with a newfound aggression and confidence, holding Syracuse to a season-low 279 passing yards and, more importantly, coming up with game-changing turnovers. Brandon Miyazono’s interception set up an early field goal, setting the tone for a defense that seemed determined to shed its reputation.

What’s Next?

The win puts SMU at 3-2 on the season but, more significantly, 1-0 in conference play. They’ll look to carry this momentum into next week’s home game against Stanford. Meanwhile, Syracuse drops to 3-3 and will limp into a much-needed bye week, searching for answers and a way to salvage a season that is quickly slipping away.