Tag: Mustangs

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

Posted on | by Field Level Media

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Sep 1, 2022; Fresno, California, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs wide receiver Jalen Moreno-Cropper (5) is tackled by Cal Poly Mustangs defensive lineman Elijah Ponder (14) after making a catch in the third quarter at Valley Children's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Stanford hosts Cal Poly, looking for first home win since 2022

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Still seeking its first home win under coach Troy Taylor, Stanford will host FCS opponent Cal Poly on Saturday in Stanford, Calif.

The Cardinal (0-1) opened Taylor’s second season of leading the program with a 34-27 loss last week to visiting TCU, Stanford’s eighth defeat at home since the beginning of last season.

The Cardinal’s home woes include a 30-23 setback against Taylor’s former team and Cal Poly’s Big Sky Conference counterpart Sacramento State last season.

“FCS is really good football, and they’ve got good coaches,” Taylor said Tuesday. “With the amount of talent that is out there, especially with the transfer portal, you can create a really good football team in a short amount of time.

“There’s no overconfidence in us. We lost to an FCS team last year,” he added.

While Sacramento State came to Stanford having become a perennial playoff team under Taylor, Cal Poly represents the other end of the Big Sky standings.

The Mustangs (0-1) have not had a winning record since 2016 and finished their first season under coach Paul Wulff at 3-8 last year.

Wulff said before the 2024 opener that Cal Poly has “been growing this thing for a couple years, and we feel now we’re in a position to be competitive and surprise some people.”

Year 2 with Wulff opened with a 27-21 loss at San Diego last week. A 36-yard scoop-and-score by Budha Boyd Jr. gave Cal Poly a lead early in the third quarter, but San Diego rolled off 17 consecutive points.

Quarterback Bo Kelly threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Jackson Akins came on in the fourth quarter and finished strong with a touchdown pass.

Creating scoring opportunities from takeaways could be key for the Cardinal on Saturday. Taylor praised the Stanford defense’s improvement from a season ago, showing up when Jay Green and David Bailey each forced fumbles against TCU.

Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels threw for a touchdown and rushed for 89 yards in Week 1 but was just 17-of-35 passing for 163 yards and took four sacks.

The Cardinal offensive line can expect another challenge protecting Daniels from Cal Poly’s talented edge rusher, Elijah Ponder. Ponder’s 10 sacks in 2023 were the sixth-most in the FCS.

–Field Level Media

Nevada takes on SMU at Mackay Stadium in Reno on Aug. 24, 2024.

After comeback win, SMU returns home vs. Houston Christian

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SMU looks to find some consistency when it hosts FCS up-and-comer Houston Christian on Saturday evening in Dallas.

The Mustangs (1-0) carry momentum into their second game after a 29-24 comeback win at Nevada in their season opener last Saturday.

SMU got 254 yards passing from Preston Stone, with 162 of those going to RJ Maryland. The tight end had eight receptions, including the game-winning touchdown.

Stone hit Maryland for a 34-yard TD pass with 1:18 left to cap the Mustangs’ 16-point fourth quarter, which they entered trailing 24-13.

LJ Johnson Jr. and Brashard Smith rushed for TDs of 1 and 4 yards, respectively, for SMU in its first game as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Mustangs overcame 125 yards on 11 penalties, with 10 of those flags coming over the first three quarters.

“First game of the season, they’re always crazy and weird,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said Tuesday.

” … Now that we’ve had summer, fall camp and an actual game in an adverse situation, we know how our team will respond. We just don’t need to put ourselves in those positions any more than we have to.”

Houston Christian travels to Dallas to kick off its 11th season since debuting in 2014.

The Huskies posted their first winning campaign in 2023, going 6-5 under head coach Braxton Harris before he left for the same job at Campbell University.

Jason Bachtel takes over at Houston Christian after previously serving as the team’s offensive coordinator.

The Huskies were picked in the Southland Conference preseason poll to finish seventh in the nine-team league.

Houston Baptist’s attack will be led by its running back trio of Jesse Valenzuela, Darrlye Evans and Champ Dozier, who combined to amass 1,272 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023. Dozier had the highest yards per game average, with 73.5 across four contests.

Bachtel says he wants the Huskies to push the pace in 2024.

“Offensively, we want to be a power-spread, power running team and vertical passing,” Bachtel said. “We want to try to snap it 85, 90 times a game. We want to play as fast as we possibly can, get after it and create a fun style of football with tough-minded and physical players on both sides of the ball.”

The teams have played just once, a 63-27 win by the Mustangs in Dallas in 2018.

–Field Level Media

SMU's Bryan Massey (0) returns an interception on the final play of Saturday's game against ACU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Sept. 4, 2021. The Mustangs won 56-9. Hof 8420 2

Reports: ACC considering SMU for expansion

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Stanford and Cal aren’t the only schools the Atlantic Coast Conference is weighing for potential expansion.

SMU, the private university in the Dallas metro area, is a third option being considered for an ACC invite, Yahoo Sports and The Athletic reported Tuesday.

ACC administrators are meeting Tuesday evening to review the financial outlooks for adding all three schools or adding just the two California schools, according to the reports.

SMU currently plays in the American Athletic Conference and has been passed over as an expansion target for other power conferences like the more geographically fitting Big 12.

The Mustangs claimed national football titles in 1935, 1981 and 1982. A longtime member of the Southwest Conference, SMU went on to play in the Western Athletic Conference and Conference USA after the Southwest folded.

A pay-to-play scandal led SMU to receive the so-called death penalty in the 1980s. The program was not allowed to compete in the 1987 and 1988 seasons.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bearcats cornerback Arquon Bush (9) tackles Southern Methodist Mustangs wide receiver Rashee Rice (11) in the fourth quarter of the American Athletic Conference game at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. Cincinnati Bearcats defeated Southern Methodist Mustangs 29-27. Cincinnati Bearcats At Southern Methodist Mustangs 730

SMU WR Rashee Rice ruled out for New Mexico Bowl

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SMU star wide receiver Rashee Rice will sit out the upcoming New Mexico Bowl, coach Rhett Lashlee announced Saturday.

Rice reportedly has been nursing a broken toe since the Mustangs’ 42-34 loss to TCU on Sept. 24.

The senior recorded 96 catches for a school-record 1,355 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games this season. His average of 112.9 yards per game led the nation.

Rice totaled 233 receptions for 3,111 yards and 25 touchdowns during his four-year career at SMU. His receiving yards are good for No. 5 on SMU’s all-time list.

He was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2022.

The Mustangs (7-5) will play BYU (7-5) in the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 17 in Albuquerque, N.M.

–Field Level Media