Kevin Jennings was initially not a player Rhett Lashlee intended to scout when he attended his first Texas high school playoff game shortly after being appointed as SMU’s head coach three years ago. Now, Jennings is the lone quarterback from his hometown team participating in the inaugural expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. He stands among six starting quarterbacks who remained at their original schools, with Clemson’s Cade Klubnik also competing in his hometown for Texas in their first-round matchup this Saturday.
Among the six who transferred, four are expected to play their final games with these teams. Kurtis Rourke of Indiana and Riley Leonard from Notre Dame will clash in a playoff opener on Friday, showcasing the trend of one-year players amid this playoff system. Meanwhile, ACC newcomer SMU is set to play against Penn State on Saturday, where Drew Allar, in his second year as a starter, has already confirmed his return next season, making this the only first-round game where both quarterbacks hail from their original academic institutions.
“That’s quite a notable fact,” remarks Lashlee, emphasizing how special it is for Jennings to represent Dallas high school football with continued commitment to SMU.
Klubnik and Texas starter Quinn Ewers share a history, having previously faced off in the Texas Class 6A state championship in January 2021, where Klubnik and Austin Westlake emerged victorious. Ewers subsequently transferred to Ohio State, where he played minimally as a freshman before returning to Texas.
In conjunction with them, redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava will spearhead Tennessee’s efforts against Ohio State, led by Will Howard, who’s firmly established himself this year after prior success at Kansas State.
“It’s imperative that I push and lead this team throughout the game,” Howard stated, highlighting his commitment to the team’s performance.
Reflecting on how Lashlee discovered Jennings, the coach recounted that after formally taking charge at SMU, he dedicated himself to retaining the 8-4 roster amidst the opening of the transfer portal. Following the early signing period, it was during a Texas 5A playoff game that Jennings, then quarterback for South Oak Cliff, captured Lashlee’s attention by leading his team to victory, ultimately winning the first state title for a Dallas Independent School District team in over six decades.
“There’s a reason everything aligns the way it does. The timing was perfect, and Kevin was destined to be here as our quarterback. I’m incredibly thankful for how it all turned out,” Lashlee stated regarding the serendipity of that day.
Jennings has already announced his intention to return for another season at SMU. His debut as a starter occurred in the American Athletic Conference championship game after an injury sidelined Preston Stone, who had started the first three games of the current season.
Looking ahead, the second round might host a matchup featuring original-school quarterbacks in the Fiesta Bowl. Either SMU or Penn State will advance to meet Boise State, where Maddux Madsen has stepped up as the starting quarterback for the first time this season. The Sugar Bowl will see either Rourke or Leonard take the field. Even in the event that Georgia’s Carson Beck is unable to play following a recent injury, redshirt sophomore Gunner Stockton remains an original member of the Bulldogs.
Additionally, Arizona State’s redshirt freshman, Sam Leavitt, has found success with a remarkable 11-game winning record after transferring from Michigan State, leading the Sun Devils to a matchup against either Texas or Clemson in the Peach Bowl. The Rose Bowl will feature the winners of Ohio State or Tennessee against top-ranked Oregon and Dillon Gabriel, who is wrapping up a college career that commenced at UCF before transitioning to Oklahoma.
Rourke, having spent five years at Ohio and earning the Mid-American Conference’s top-player honors in 2022, was recruited to Indiana by new head coach Curt Cignetti. He helped the Hoosiers to a school-record 11 regular-season victories, exceeding preseason expectations significantly.
Leonard, a dual-threat quarterback, has impressed after spending three seasons at Duke, completing two-thirds of his passes at Notre Dame for significant yardage and touchdowns, along with impressive rushing stats.
Howard’s experience includes being part of a Big 12 championship-winning team at Kansas State, where he contributed significantly during a key victory against an undefeated TCU team in the 2022 conference title match, despite TCU still qualifying for the playoffs.
Ewers, rejuvenating the Longhorns since his return from Ohio State, helped Texas secure a Big 12 title and make the CFP last year. The Longhorns return as SEC runners-up, with their setbacks solely against Georgia.
