In a season of firsts, the SMU Mustangs continue to defy expectations and rewrite history. On a night when they honored the legendary 1982 “Pony Express” team, the Mustangs delivered a performance that would make Eric Dickerson proud, routing the previously undefeated Pitt Panthers 48-25 to improve to 5-0 in their inaugural ACC campaign.
Making a Statement on the National Stage
SMU’s dominant victory was a resounding statement to the college football world that they belong among the elite. It marked their first win over a 7-0 or better team since toppling Arkansas in 1954 and their first home triumph in an AP-ranked matchup since besting Texas in 1949.
Head coach Rhett Lashlee didn’t mince words about the significance of the win. “Our program belongs at this level and our program is capable of competing at a high level at this level, which we all believe,” he declared. “We had to go do it. We’re not done and we’ve not accomplished anything yet, but we put ourselves in a position in the middle of November where we’re competing for a conference championship in the ACC in our first year in the league.”
Jennings and Smith Shine on Offense
Quarterback Kevin Jennings, lauded by Alabama’s Nick Saban as “the most underrated player in the country,” proved his mettle once again. Bouncing back from a five-turnover outing against Duke, Jennings dissected the Pitt defense, completing 17 of 25 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns.
“That means a lot honestly. Just seeing a legend like that say that about me, it was a real moment.”
– Kevin Jennings on Nick Saban’s praise
Not to be outdone, running back Brashard Smith gashed the ACC’s top-ranked rush defense for 161 yards and two scores, including an electrifying 71-yard touchdown scamper. The Mustangs’ balanced attack overwhelmed the Panthers, staking SMU to a commanding 31-3 halftime lead.
Staying Focused Amid the Hype
With the first College Football Playoff rankings set to be unveiled on Tuesday, Lashlee knows the national spotlight will only intensify. However, he remains laser-focused on the task at hand.
“We’re going to celebrate this win, maybe since we don’t play next week, through Monday. And then we’re going to start worrying about Boston College because if we get ahead of ourselves, none of it will matter.”
– Rhett Lashlee on maintaining focus
The Mustangs have a bye week to savor their historic start before welcoming the Boston College Eagles to Dallas on November 16th. BC stunned SMU in last year’s Fenway Bowl, adding an extra layer of motivation for the Mustangs to maintain their momentum coming out of the break.
Chasing Greatness, One Game at a Time
With each passing week, the once-unthinkable notion of SMU crashing the College Football Playoff grows more plausible. Jennings, for one, isn’t shying away from the program’s lofty aspirations.
“It means a lot just to see this team come this far in our first year in the ACC. It’s kind of unheard of for a team to do this. I’m excited that I’m with this group and I’m excited to keep rolling with guys and go get there to the playoffs.”
– Kevin Jennings on SMU’s playoff hopes
As the Mustangs continue to gallop through uncharted territory, one thing is certain: they’ve captured the attention of the college football world. With a November gauntlet looming, SMU’s meteoric rise from alignment afterthought to ACC juggernaut will be put to the ultimate test. But if their first five conference games are any indication, doubting these Mustangs would be a grave mistake.
