SMU handily defeated East Texas A&M 42–13. SMU's defense returned two interceptions for touchdowns. They allowed the Lions to enter the red zone six times during the game, but only half of those trips resulted in scores. QuarterbackKevin Jennings threw for a 63-yard touchdown pass on the first drive of the game and scored two others, but he also threw an interception and lost the ball on a fumble. The team also incurred nearly 100 yards of penalties during the game.[7] Two starters for the team, linebacker Alex Kilgore and wide receiver Jordan Hudson, suffered injuries early in the game.[8]
Baylor, a former rival from both teams' time in the now-defunct Southwest Conference, narrowly upset SMU 48–45 in double overtime. SMU has not defeated Baylor since 1986, losing the last 14 matchups between the teams.[9]
Both teams had impressive showings on offense. QuarterbackKevin Jennings threw for three touchdowns during the game, including two 75-yard touchdown passes in the first half, but Baylor made up this deficit, tying the game in the third quarter. Running backTJ Harden then scored two touchdowns to put the team up by 14 points with only 5 minutes to go, but the team's defense allowed Baylor to tie the game very quickly. Kicker Collin Rogers then missed a walk-off field goal after having missed another earlier, sending the game to overtime.[9]
Both teams scored quickly in the first overtime period, sending the game to a second overtime. SMU's offense failed to score a touchdown, and Rogers missed another field goal leading into Baylor's possession, which allowed them to win the game with a walk-off field goal of their own.[9]
The loss to Baylor put a significant damper on the team's hopes of making the College Football Playoff for a second year in a row, but some have compared it to their loss to BYU early in the previous season.[10] Following the game, SMU reopened its kicking competition in response to Rogers' missed field goals.[11]
This game was the final meeting of the "Battle for the Iron Skillet" rivalry between SMU and TCU for the foreseeable future. At the start of the 2023 season, TCU announced it was not renewing its contract with SMU to play the game after more than 100 years of near-continuous play, preferring to schedule more non-conference games against teams in power conferences.[a][12]
SMU defeated Clemson 35–24 in a rematch of the 2024 ACC Championship Game. Clemson starting quarterback Cade Klubnik did not play due to an ankle injury, with backup Christopher Vizzina taking his place for his first career start.[13]
SMU quarterbackKevin Jennings reaggravated his own ankle injury during the first drive, but he did not exit the game.[14] SMU scored first, with Jennings making a 70-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Hudson late in the first quarter. Vizzina lost a fumble on Clemson's second possession but later threw for a touchdown in the second quarter. Kicker Sam Keltner then made three long field goals to give SMU a 16–7 lead at halftime. Both teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter, with Clemson also scoring a field goal to shrink SMU's lead to one score. Both teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter until SMU scored a second touchdown with one minute left to pad their lead to two scores, leading to their 35–24 victory.[13]
Many compared the game's environment, which took place at Clemson's stadium, nicknamed "Death Valley," to the previous season's ACC Championship game as well as SMU's game against Penn State in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff. All three took place in hostile road environments with large crowds. SMU had been characterized as unprepared for the two 2024 games, especially their blowout loss to Penn State,[15] they maintained much stronger composure against Clemson, winning by two scores.[14][16] SMU's defensive line also performed much better than earlier in the season, forcing three three-and-outs on Clemson's first four drives and a turnover on downs in the second quarter. Kicker Sam Keltner also showed improvement, making three long field goal attempts after having only made one out of four long attempts since taking over as starter.[16]
SMU defeated Miami 26–20 in overtime in the Mustangs' first home win against an AP top 10 opponent since 1974.[17]
Miami largely controlled the game during the first half, outgaining SMU by over 100 yards in that timespan. Despite this, they only scored 10 points during the first half.[18] SMU's longest drive of the first half ended on a fumbled handoff from Kevin Jennings to tight endR. J. Maryland on a fourth down conversion attempt.[19] Penalties stymied several of Miami's drives, with another ending after Joshisa Trader bobbled a pass, allowing SMU's Ahmaad Moses to intercept it. SMU tied the game 7–7 with a touchdown on the following play. Both teams then held each other to a stalemate for the rest of the first half until Miami's Malachi Toney returned a punt to within the 10-yard line. Despite this favorable field position, however, SMU's defense held Miami to only a field goal, sending the game to halftime with Miami up 10–7.[18]
SMU opened the second half with a fumble by Kevin Jennings that was later ruled an incomplete pass. Retaining possession, Jennings led SMU's offense on a 79-yard drive down the field, scoring the touchdown himself on a 3-yard run.[19] Miami quarterback Carson Beck then led his team on their own 75-yard touchdown drive to retake the lead 17–14.[18] Later in the third quarter, a tackle reaggravated an ankle injury Jennings had been dealing with all season, forcing backup Ty Hawkins to take his place for two plays. Jennings then returned, with the drive ending in a game-tying field goal to start the fourth quarter.[19] Miami retook the lead early in the fourth quarter with another field goal, taking a 20–17 lead.[18] SMU was forced to try for another field goal on the following drive after a holding call and a failed trick play. Sam Keltner's kick missed, flying over the right upright of the goalpost, which caused controversy among fans in attendance who believed that constituted a successful score.[20] SMU faced fourth-and-9 on their final offensive drive, but Miami head coachMario Cristobal called for a timeout just before play began to evaluate SMU's formation. Not hearing the whistle, Miami defensive end Marquise Lightfoot ran into Jennings, drawing a 15-yard penalty that revitalized SMU's drive, allowing Sam Keltner to tie the game 20–20 with another field goal to send the game into overtime.[17]
SMU won the coin toss and went on defense first in overtime. Miami drove very close to the goal line, but Ahmaad Moses intercepted the ball to end Miami's possession, giving SMU a substantial advantage heading into their own. After having had their runners stymied all game, SMU exclusively ran the ball during their possession, inching closer to the end zone each time until T. J. Harden scored the game-winning touchdown.[19] SMU fans stormed the field after the 26–20 victory, tearing down one goal post and dumping it in the fountain in front of Dallas Hall.[21]
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