DALLAS — In a significant matchup, Kevin Jennings showcased his talents by throwing for 298 yards and securing three touchdowns as the 14th-ranked SMU Mustangs edged closer to clinching a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship game. They achieved this feat during their conference debut, triumphing over Boston College with a score of 38-28 on Saturday.
With an impressive 24 completions from 35 attempts, Jennings delivered a pivotal 38-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Hudson, who managed to evade defenders and catch the ball just inside the five-yard line. This electrifying play occurred with 8:52 remaining in the third quarter, giving the Mustangs (9-1, 6-0 ACC) the lead for good and marking their seventh consecutive victory. A subsequent two-point conversion run by Brashard Smith pushed the score to 28-21.
Currently, SMU stands as the only team among the 17 ACC members without a league loss, while No. 12 Miami and No. 17 Clemson have each suffered one defeat. The ACC titleholder is assured a spot in the upcoming expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
In contrast, Boston College (5-5, 2-4) opened the second half with momentum, executing an eight-play, 83-yard drive which concluded with new starting quarterback Grayson James securing a 20-yard touchdown run, giving the Eagles a 21-20 lead. James, a transfer from Florida International University, completed 18 of his 32 passes for 237 yards, including two crucial 19-yard throws to Reed Harris during the drive.
Brashard Smith’s performance was notable as he became the 12th player in SMU history to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a season. His four-yard touchdown run prior to halftime followed a draw for pass interference on third down, wrapping up a robust 92-yard drive.
Collin Rogers contributed with three successful field goals for SMU, overcoming an early miss on a 24-yard attempt in the first drive. His 41-yarder just before halftime gave SMU a slight edge at 20-14 after both teams exchanged interceptions.
In the closing moments of the first half, James connected with Kamari Morales on a 13-yard touchdown pass. This culminated a drive where he made essential completions of 32 yards and another of 19 yards on crucial third and fourth downs, respectively. However, shortly after the Eagles regained possession, James faced a setback when Isaiah Nwokobia intercepted a pass in the end zone following a prior interception by Carter Davis.
Boston College’s first-year head coach, Bill O’Brien, opted to start James after he fueled a second-half turnaround in last week’s victory over Syracuse. His prior start resulted in a comeback against Western Kentucky when Thomas Castellanos was sidelined due to injury. The Eagles accumulated 417 total yards—marking their highest since Week 2 against Duquesne—and showed promise under James’ leadership as they aim for bowl eligibility.
For SMU, this season is unprecedented, as no team moving into a power conference has started with a record of 6-0. The Mustangs have excelled in recent times, winning 17 out of their last 18 regular-season games and notching a school record of 15 straight conference wins, including their nine consecutive victories in the American Athletic Conference from the previous year’s championship run.
In terms of rankings, following an idle week, SMU was bumped down from the 13th position in the AP Top 25—its highest ranking since 1985. The only ACC team ahead of them in the standings is the idle No. 12 Miami.
Looking ahead, Boston College will conclude its regular season with two home games, beginning with a matchup against North Carolina next Saturday. Meanwhile, SMU’s next challenge will be their road finale at Virginia on Saturday.