Dec 21, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton (33) reacts following a sack on Southern Methodist Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (not pictured) during the second quarter in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

No. 6 seed Penn State advances in CFP with easy win over SMU

Dominic DeLuca and Tony Rojas returned interceptions for touchdowns and No. 6 seed Penn State advanced in the College Football Playoff with an easy 38-10 victory over No. 11 seed SMU on Saturday afternoon at University Park, Pa.

DeLuca also had another interception as the Nittany Lions (12-2) built a 28-point halftime advantage in Happy Valley. Penn State will face No. 3 seed Boise State (12-1) in a quarterfinal game at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., on Dec. 31.

Nicholas Singleton rushed for 90 yards and one touchdown and Kaytron Allen had 70 yards and two scores for the Nittany Lions, who thrived in cold weather that was 25 degrees (feels like 12) at kickoff. Drew Allar completed 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards.

Kevin Jennings threw three first-half interceptions for an SMU team that was overmatched from the outset. The Mustangs (11-3) were the final team to earn an at-large bid into the 12-team field, edging Alabama.

Jennings completed 20 of 36 passes for 195 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Roderick Daniels Jr. Brashard Smith had 163 all-purpose yards (77 kickoff, 62 rushing, 24 receiving) for the Mustangs.

Penn State outgained SMU 325-253.

Jennings’ first interception came when DeLuca picked off the throw at the SMU 23-yard line and ran in for the score with 6:08 left in the opening quarter.

His second interception came when Rojas nabbed his pass and meandered 59 yards for a score to give Penn State a 14-0 lead with 13:09 left in the first half.

SMU was threatening to get on the board five minutes later when DeLuca batted a Jennings pass in the air and caught it at the Nittany Lions’ 11 and returned it 14 yards.

Penn State then traveled 75 yards on nine plays to push the lead to 21. Allen capped the drive with a 25-yard run around the left side with five minutes left in the first half.

Singleton scored from the 1 with 1:03 left to give the Nittany Lions a 28-point halftime edge.

SMU got on the board in the third quarter on a 28-yard field goal by Collin Rogers. Penn State got the three points back on Ryan Barker’s 40-yard field goal with 8:13 left in the period.

Allen tacked on a 4-yard run to boost the Nittany Lions’ lead to 38-3 with 12:56 left in the contest.

Jennings hit Daniels from 28 yards out with 7:31 to play.

–Field Level Media

Dec 7, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) throws during the second quarter against the Clemson Tigers in the 2024 ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Meet the 12 CFP Title Contenders: No. 11 SMU

11. SMU Mustangs

11-2 (8-0 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season)

What’s next: at No. 6 Penn State, State College, Pa., Dec. 21, Noon ET

Head coach: Rhett Lashlee (three seasons, 29-11 overall)
About Lashlee: The 41-year-old is enjoying success in his first college head coaching gig and has guided the Mustangs to back-to-back 11-win seasons. He was offensive coordinator at SMU from 2018-19 before heading to Miami for two years and returning to take the head job. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year this season.

Resume
SMU notched ranked wins over then-No. 22 Louisville and then-No. 18 Pitt but really served notice while racking up 66 points in a win over TCU. The Mustangs lost two games by a total of six points: 34-31 to Clemson in the ACC title game and 18-15 to BYU.

Postseason history
This is SMU’s first trip to the playoffs during the CFP era. The Mustangs have lost their past four bowl games, including two under Lashlee. The program had a memorable run in the early 1980s behind stars like Eric Dickerson and Craig James but numerous NCAA violations sank the Mustangs and they eventually served a two-year death penalty.

The road to Atlanta
SMU hits the road for the first-round matchup at No. 6 Penn State. The winner advances to play No. 3 Boise State (12-1) in the quarterfinals in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31.

Names to Know
QB Kevin Jennings
He threw for 304 yards and three TDs in the ACC title game, his fourth game over 300 yards passing this season.

Jennings had a strong regular season with 2,746 yards and 19 TDs in the air and four scores on the ground. He can hurt teams with his feet, proven by a 113-yard outing against Louisville.

“What is new now is the amount of criticism I receive from everyone. I get a lot of comments and messages from people on social media always criticizing everything after each game,” Jennings said.

RB Brashard Smith
Stellar runner averaging 5.9 yards per carry to go with 1,270 yards and 14 TDs on the ground.

LB Kobe Wilson
Stands out against both the run and the pass, leading the team in tackles (110) and adding three sacks and two interceptions.

S Isaiah Nwokobia
He has enjoyed an outstanding season with 91 regular-season tackles and three interceptions while patrolling the back end. He has nine career interceptions.

DT Jared Harrison-Hunte
A force with 6.0 sacks, one interception and 38 tackles. He’s in his first season with SMU after four at Miami. He has 15 career sacks.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs safety Brandon Crossley (1) celebrates a defensive stop against the California Golden Bears during the first half at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

No. 9 SMU blows out Cal to win 9th straight, improve to 11-1

No. 9 SMU jumped out to a three-touchdown lead then sealed the game with a fourth-quarter explosion in their 38-6 win over visiting Cal in an Athletic Coast Conference matchup in Dallas on Saturday.

The Mustangs (11-1, 8-0 ACC) were already assured of a berth in the conference title game on Dec. 7. They will play Clemson, which qualified when No. 6 Miami fell at Syracuse on Saturday.

Kevin Jennings threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Brashard Smith had rushing and receiving scores, and Derrick McFall also ran for a touchdown for SMU.

The Mustangs had 251 total yards in the first half as they built a 21-0 lead but tallied only 17 yards in the third quarter before regaining steam. They finished with 415 yards to 254 for Cal.

SMU also had 17 penalties for 137 yards, with 85 of those yards coming after intermission.

The Mustangs’ defense, meanwhile, had five sacks, two by Kobe Wilson, among their 16 tackles for loss. Jonathan McGill’s interception in the fourth quarter set up Jennings’ 23-yard touchdown strike to Smith to effectively put the game away.

Reserve quarterback Preston Stone hit Key’Shawn Smith for a 40-yard touchdown with 3:38 left in the game to complete the scoring.

Chandler Rogers had 84 yards passing before leaving with an apparent leg injury in the third quarter for Cal (6-6, 2-6), and CJ Harris came on to throw for 75 yards and was intercepted once. Nyziah Hunter finished with 85 yards on five receptions.

The Golden Bears’ only points came on field goals of 40 and 53 yards by Ryan Coe in the second half.

After picking up a combined 35 yards on its first three possessions, Cal had a golden opportunity to draw within striking distance.

Trailing 21-0, the Golden Bears moved from their own 25-yard line to the Mustangs’ 3. But Rogers lost 2 yards on a rush, 10 more on a sack by Elijah Roberts and, after an incompletion, 5 yards for delay of game. Derek Morris’ 38-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs tight end Stone Eby (44) and wide receiver Roderick Daniels Jr. (13) and wide receiver Moochie Dixon (5) and quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) celebrate a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

No. 9 SMU aims to improve playoff odds vs. Cal

SMU has plenty to play for when it closes the regular season against California on Saturday afternoon in Dallas.

The Mustangs (10-1, 7-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who checked in at No. 9 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday, would like to send their seniors off the right way. They would also like to complete a perfect regular season before appearing in the ACC title game in their first year in the conference. Most importantly, they want to continue to strengthen their playoff case.

“You’ve got the College Football Playoff, so every game matters. That’s what’s so cool about it now. The regular season is important,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. “We’d like to finish well in everything we do, particularly on Saturday, to finish off the regular season, continue our momentum into the following week. Hopefully, continue to show the committee and others that we’re worthy of continuing to play this year.”

The Mustangs are a worthy playoff team to date. Kevin Jennings has established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the country, throwing for 2,521 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also has rushed for 315 yards and four TDs. Brashard Smith has been another standout, rushing for 1,089 yards and 13 TDs. Defensively, the Mustangs rank tied for 14th in the country with 20 takeaways.

“Obviously they’ve had a phenomenal season,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said of SMU. “As soon as you turn the tape on, it doesn’t take very long to see why their record is what it is. They’re very, very good really in every phase of the game – extremely explosive and quick and fast. They’ve got a dominant D-line. We’ve got a lot of challenges in front of us and our guys are excited for that.”

Cal (6-5, 2-5) is coming off an emotional win, defeating rival Stanford 24-21 on Saturday to secure a bowl berth. The Golden Bears will appear in consecutive bowls for the first time since 2018-19 and are now looking to clinch their first winning season since 2019.

SMU is not overlooking Cal, as all five of the Golden Bears’ losses have come by one score.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find a better 6-5 team in America,” Lashlee said. “I think you can conservatively say they very, very easily could be 9-2.”

Cal is led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who has thrown for 3,004 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Tight end Jack Endries leads the team with 555 yards receiving, while wide receiver Nyziah Hunter has caught a team-leading five touchdowns.

Defensively, Cal has the ACC’s top scoring defense (20.7 points per game) and is tied with Clemson for the ACC’s best turnover margin (plus-13). Defensive back Nohl Williams is the star of the group — he leads the country with seven interceptions.

Even though oddsmakers are heavily favoring SMU, Cal is going into the game with a simple mindset.

“Our task at hand is to make the best bowl game right now,” Mendoza said. “And the way to do that is to go into Dallas, give it our best and ruin SMU’s season.”

Saturday will mark the first conference meeting between these ACC newcomers, and just the second meeting between the programs all time. SMU won a 13-6 game back in 1957.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; Stanford, California, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee (center) during the fourth quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

SMU coach Rhett Lashlee lands another contract extension

SMU and head football coach Rhett Lashlee are in agreement on a contract extension.

The school announced the extension on Friday but, as a private university, is not required to disclose any terms. He previously received a contract extension last November.

Lashlee is in his third season at SMU and the Mustangs are 9-1 (6-0 Atlantic Coast Conference). They are No. 13 in the College Football Playoff rankings and have two games remaining on the regular season — Saturday at Virginia and Nov. 30 at home against Cal — before a potential appearance in the ACC championship game on Dec. 7.

This is the Mustangs’ first season in the ACC.

In 2023, he led SMU to an 11-3 record as a member of the American Athletic Conference and to its first league title since 1984.

“Rhett was the clear choice when we conducted our head-coaching search in 2021, and everything he and his staff have accomplished only validates our decision,” athletic director Rick Hart said. “He has operated in alignment with our values and represents SMU with class and integrity. As we go through a time of significant change in college athletics and the college athletics model, Rhett has been an invaluable partner and leader.”

Lashlee, 41, has a 27-10 record with the Mustangs. He previously worked as the offensive coordinator at SMU as well as at Miami, UConn, Auburn, Arkansas State and Samford.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee leads the Mustangs on to the field to face the Pittsburgh Panthers at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Matt Leinart’s QB son commits to SMU

Cole Leinart, the son of former Southern California star quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, announced on social media Wednesday that he has committed to SMU.

A quarterback at Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, Calif., Cole Leinart is a three-star prospect rated the No. 81 quarterback in the Class of 2026 and No. 158 player in California, according to 247Sports.

“The culture they’re building at SMU — I just want to be a part of it,” Leinart told ESPN. “I love the coaching staff. They’re literally like family now. I just want to be part of what they have there.”

The recruiting service had Leinart, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound junior, choosing SMU over offers from Colorado, Pittsburgh, Georgia State and UNLV. He formerly attended Mater Dei High School and Newport Harbor before transferring to Redondo Union this fall.

His father played for USC in 2003-05, winning the Heisman in 2004 and national championships in 2003 and 2004. Leinart played in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals (2006-09), Houston Texans (2011) and Oakland Raiders (2012). The Cardinals selected him 10th overall in the 2006 draft.

SMU (8-1) is No. 13 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, which were released Tuesday. The Mustangs are also No. 13 in the latest Associated Press poll.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; Stanford, California, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) throws a pass against the Stanford Cardinal during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Starting QBs questionable for No. 18 Pitt-No. 20 SMU showdown

The status of both starting quarterbacks is the top storyline heading into Saturday’s Top 25 matchup between No. 18 Pitt and No. 20 SMU in Dallas.

Coach Pat Narduzzi said the Panthers (7-0, 3-0 ACC) are taking a “wait-and-see” approach when it comes to Eli Holstein. Similarly, SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said Kevin Jennings is questionable for the Mustangs (7-1, 4-0).

Holstein sustained an undisclosed injury in the fourth quarter of Pitt’s 41-13 victory over Syracuse last week.

Narduzzi reiterated that he does not discuss injuries publicly during his news conference.

If Holstein is unavailable, Pitt’s backup is Nate Yarnell. Yarnell has seen action in three games this season, going 17-of-26 passing for 171 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Holstein, meanwhile, has thrown for 1,808 yards with 17 TDs and five interceptions in seven games.

Whoever is at quarterback will face a challenge against SMU’s defense, which ranks tied for 33rd in the country in total defense (327 yards per game) and tied for seventh in interceptions (12).

“Defensively, they’re four-down, change it up coverage-wise a little bit, but to me they’re very similar to us defensively in my opinion because I think they’re simple,” Narduzzi said. “I don’t think they do a lot. I think what they do is sound and they just play hard and play fast. That’s why they’ve had so much success.”

For SMU, if Jennings is not cleared, backup Preston Stone would get the nod. Jennings was injured Saturday but did not miss a drive during SMU’s 28-27 overtime win over Duke.

“Our guy’s availability is up in the air,” Lashlee said. “We got a bunch of guys beat up and most of them practiced today, not all of them, but even Kevin, not 100 percent sure he’s cleared yet.”

But signs seemingly point toward Jennings being available as he met with the media this week. Jennings has thrown for 1,594 yards with 10 TDs and five interceptions this season.

“I feel great, just trying to get my body back right,” Jennings told reporters. “As of right now, feel really good. Just stay in the treatment room and get myself back up. It was a really tough hit. I was down for a little bit, but thank God I was able to bounce back and come back in the game.”

SMU receiver Jake Bailey, who is considered day-to-day, has caught 19 passes for 275 yards with one TD this season.

Outside of the injury concerns, this is a must-see ACC matchup pitting teams who were not favored to contend for a conference championship.

SMU was picked seventh while Pitt was picked 13th in the ACC preseason rankings.

This will be Pitt’s first trip to SMU, which has won the last three matchups, including a 28-6 victory in the Compass Bowl on Jan. 7, 2012 in their most recent meeting. The teams have met six times, four at Pitt and twice in a bowl game.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs running back Brashard Smith (1) is tackled by Duke Blue Devils safety Jaylen Stinson (2) and  linebacker Ozzie Nicholas (45) but scores a touchdown during the first half of the game at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Despite 6 turnovers, No. 22 SMU sinks Duke in OT

Brashard Smith ran 24 yards for a touchdown on the second play of overtime and No. 22 SMU stopped Duke’s two-point conversion pass attempt in a 28-27 victory Saturday night at Durham, N.C.

SMU (7-1, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) committed six turnovers, but survived because of Duke’s kicking woes.

Maalik Murphy threw 25 yards to Eli Pancol on Duke’s first snap of overtime before the Blue Devils opted to go for the win.

SMU blocked Todd Pelino’s 30-yard field goal attempt on the last play of regulation, the third kick to go awry for the Blue Devils in the second half.

Smith finished with 117 rushing yards and two scores on 26 carries. Kevin Jennings threw for 258 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions.

Duke (6-2, 2-2) was trying to rally from a double-digit second-half deficit to win for the second time after overcoming a 20-point hole in last month’s one-point victory against North Carolina. Murphy threw for three touchdowns and 295 yards on 27-for-48 passing.

Duke’s Ozzie Nicholas recovered Jennings’ fumble and returned it 21 yards to the SMU 14 with 58 seconds to play before the blocked field goal.

Tre Freeman’s interception gave the Blue Devils the ball at SMU’s 37, but Pelino’s 42-yard field goal attempt was wide left with 5:38 to go.

Duke got the ball back on Chandler Rivers’ interception but ended up punting before the Jennings fumble.

It took SMU just two plays to score with five minutes left in the third. Jennings connected with Roderick Daniels Jr for an 81-yard touchdown play as the margin grew to 21-7.

The Blue Devils responded by going 75 yards in nine plays, capped with Murphy’s 12-yard pass to Jordan Moore. The extra-point kick was off the mark.

Duke scored on its next possession on Star Thomas’ 1-yard run on third down, with Murphy’s two-point conversion pass to Eli Pancol tying the score at 21-21 with 9:02 remaining.

SMU led 14-7 at halftime, rolling up 232 yards of total offense but committing the only three turnovers to that juncture.

Duke got on the board first when Murphy connected with Que’Sean Brown on a 43-yard touchdown throw.

The Mustangs, who lost a fumble after reaching the Duke 4 on their first drive, then went 75 yards in 12 plays to score on Smith’s 1-yard run. SMU took its first lead with 3:56 left in the first half when Jennings received his own fumble for a 3-yard scoring play on a drive that covered 85 yards, consumed more than seven minutes and used 17 plays.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA;  Southern Methodist Mustangs running back Brashard Smith (1) runs the ball against Louisville Cardinals defensive back Tamarion McDonald (12) during the second half at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

No. 21 SMU hits the road for ACC game vs. Stanford

Having successfully dealt with two of their new rivals to the east, SMU turns its attention west when the No. 21 Mustangs make their first Atlantic Coast Conference trip to Stanford on Saturday night.

Riding high off a bye following a 34-27 win at then-No. 22 Louisville, SMU (5-1, 2-0 ACC) will face an opponent it hasn’t seen since the 1935 Rose Bowl, a game Stanford won 7-0 to hand the Mustangs their only loss that season.

Despite the defeat, SMU was declared the 1935 national champion by two prominent ranking methods — a mathematical points formula known as the Dickinson System and a strength-of-schedule calculation known as the Houlgate System.

The Mustangs haven’t won a widely recognized national title since.

The Associated Press poll made its debut in 1936.

Looking ahead to a remaining schedule that doesn’t include either ACC frontrunners Clemson or Miami and features just one other currently ranked team (No. 20 Pittsburgh), SMU will be seeking its fourth straight win against a Stanford squad that has lost three in a row.

The Mustangs head west as a ranked team. They moved into the rankings after the Louisville victory prior to having a bye. They moved up four spots in Sunday’s poll.

Being ranked is something coach Rhett Lashlee has cautioned his guys has its positives and negatives.

“We’ve had a week to hear about our press, our ranking and all that. And that’s great — our guys have earned it,” Lashlee said. “But if we don’t stay present, we don’t focus on the task at hand when we go to Stanford, then we’re going to be that statistic that they played well, but then they fell off.”

The Mustangs have averaged 40.8 points in their first six games, led by running back Brashard Smith, who currently is tied for second in the ACC with eight touchdowns, seven of which have been on the ground.

SMU will be looking for its eighth straight road victory.

Meanwhile, Stanford (2-4, 1-2) has allowed 30.8 points per game, including a season-high in a 49-7 drubbing at the hands of Notre Dame last week.

Interestingly, the game matches teams that like to play multiple quarterbacks.

After beginning the season with Preston Stone as their primary signal-caller, the Mustangs have gradually transitioned to sophomore Keith Jennings, who threw for a season-best 254 yards in a win over Florida State on Sept. 28 before bettering that with 281 yards in SMU’s most recent game against Louisville.

Stone threw just one pass in the Louisville game, but it was a big one — a 10-yard touchdown to Key’Shawn Smith that gave SMU an early lead.

Stanford coach Troy Taylor, a former collegiate quarterback at Cal, has been impressed by both guys and the game plan they share.

“Real explosive on offense. Fast tempo. They have two quarterbacks who can play,” Taylor observed. “You have to be able to really handle them tempo-wise, one of the fastest in the country. So be ready for their tempo.”

The Cardinal began ACC play with a 26-24 win at Syracuse on Sept. 20, but they have since lost conference games to Clemson and Virginia Tech by a total score of 71-21.

Stanford used both its quarterbacks — Ashton Daniels and Justin Lamson — in last week’s loss to Notre Dame. Daniels returned after missing the Cardinal’s loss to Virginia Tech with a leg injury.

The Cardinal’s most productive offensive player of late has been freshman running back Chris Davis Jr., who has gone from three to eight to 10 carries in his last three games. His 233 rushing yards for the season rank second on the team behind Daniels’ 292.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; SMU Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) runs with the ball against Temple Owls safety Brenyen Scott (14) during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

SMU replacing QB Preston Stone with Kevin Jennings

SMU coach Rhett Lashlee announced a quarterback change during the team’s bye week on Tuesday.

Kevin Jennings will start in place of Preston Stone when the Mustangs (2-1) host rival TCU (2-0) on Sept. 21.

Jennings took over after Stone was sacked twice in SMU’s first two series in last Friday’s 18-15 loss to BYU. Jennings finished with 140 yards on 15-of-32 passing with one interception, plus nine carries for 38 yards.

Both quarterbacks played in each of the first three games, including a 29-24 win at Nevada on Aug. 24 and a 59-7 victory over Houston Christian on Aug. 31.

Stone has completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 336 yards with three touchdowns and one interception this season. Jennings is at 56.9 percent with 342 yards, one TD and one pick. Jennings has also rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown.

Stone passed for 3,197 yards with 28 TDs and six interceptions in 12 games last season. Jennings started in the American Athletic Conference championship game win against Tulane, throwing for 203 yards and one TD.

The Mustangs play their Atlantic Coast Conference opener against Florida State on Sept. 28 in Dallas.

–Field Level Media