Since the change to QB Kevin Jennings, SMU looks complete, consistent and competitive in ACC

UNIVERSITY PARK – Five games into the season with conference play underway, most teams know what their identity is.

For SMU’s first three games of the season, a different team with different struggles took the field each night, sometimes pulling out a win and sometimes not.

But over the past two weeks in the two toughest games of SMU’s season so far, the Mustangs have shown the kind of team they can be when playing to their full potential: a well-rounded group that can win in many ways and that belongs to a power conference.

SMU earned its first victory in the Atlantic Coast Conference on Saturday night at Ford Stadium, defeating Florida State, the conference’s reigning champions, 42-16. The Mustangs saw the offense click again as their defense made some critical plays to help put the game out of reach.

“I just told the team that I’m in awe of them,” Lashlee said. “I thought last week we set a standard for how we can play, and I thought maybe they surpassed it tonight.”

SMU’s defense has looked consistent since the first game of the season. On Saturday, he limited Florida State to 297 yards of offense and forced three turnovers, bringing his total to 14 in the last four games. Those turnovers led to 21 points, one of which was returned directly 82 yards by linebacker Kobe Wilson for the touchdown.

SMU now leads all FBS teams with five non-offensive touchdowns this season.

“That’s our culture,” Wilson said. “We are proud to celebrate our culture.”

The offense, on the other hand, showed a more balanced appearance than in the first four games. While Brashard Smith eclipsed the 100-yard all-purpose mark for the fifth time this season, SMU passed more than it ran.

Since Kevin Jennings replaced Preston Stone as the starting quarterback, SMU has relied more on the running game to move the offense. But due to a depleted running back slot, which even saw Smith miss a few series due to injury, the passing game had to become a bigger factor.

Jennings had a career day, passing his career-high with 254 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He hit tight end RJ Maryland in the end zone twice and wide receiver Jordan Hudson once. Despite not being known for airing it, Jennings had six passes for more than 15 yards, including a 42-yard long to Hudson on the scoreboard.

“It shows different teams a different look,” Jennings said. “We can run the ball. “We can pass the ball, so they don’t know what to prepare for.”

Both SMU’s offense and defense have been consistent over the last two games. Arguably the team’s biggest struggle has been on special teams, particularly the punting unit, but it should be an easy fix.

Still, SMU has proven that it is a well-rounded and consistent team. Although SMU didn’t play its best game against BYU in the 18-15 loss, that loss doesn’t look too bad with the Cougars now ranked 22nd after wins over Kansas State and Baylor.

Entering a four-game stretch in which SMU faced BYU, TCU, Florida State and Louisville next week on the road, the Mustangs were eager to prove they could compete.

Against BYU, they showed they could compete at the power conference level. Against TCU they showed that they could win. Against Florida State, they showed they can win in the ACC, and against No. 15 Louisville next week, they’ll get a chance to show if they can compete with the best in the country.

“We feel like we can compete with anyone,” Wilson said. “We’re not just trying to prove that we belong, but that we’re here to compete with everyone.”

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