SMU 42-16 Florida State (September 28, 2024) Game Recap

DALLAS – Kevin Jennings passed for a career-best three touchdowns and Kobe Wilson returned one of three SMU interceptions 82 yards for a score as the Mustangs beat Florida State 42-16 in their ACC debut Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd.

Jennings threw TD passes of 11 and 15 yards to RJ Maryland and a flea flicker score of 42 yards to Jordan Hudson.

“It means a lot to come here and get a ‘W’ against any team,” Jennings said, “but for the ACC (opening game), it’s a home game and a packed stadium, it means a lot to the city of Dallas .”

Former President George W. Bush, a Dallas resident, conducted the pregame coin toss.

Jennings was 16 of 23 passing for a career-best 254 yards. When the flea flared, Roderick Daniels Jr. immediately turned and threw the ball back to Jennings. He threw a pass up the middle to Hudson, who backed up at the 10 and headed toward the end zone.

Wilson intercepted the ball between the markers, raced toward the right sideline, broke a tackle near midfield and crossed a teammate while being escorted into the end zone.

“I just saw green grass and then I saw some people coming towards me, so I got scared,” Wilson said. “I thought I was going to go under, but I ended up in the end zone. It was like the blink of an eye.”

Brashard Smith and Roderick Daniels Jr. scored rushing touchdowns for the Mustangs (4-1, 1-0) from 13 and 2 yards, respectively. Daniel’s score ended a drive that continued when FSU’s Omarion Cooper received a facemask penalty on the Mustangs’ punt from the 26-yard line.

Smith, a transfer this year from Miami, led SMU with a season-high 129 yards rushing despite missing most of the second quarter with an injury.

With 467 total yards, the Mustangs gained the most yards against the reigning conference champions this season.

DJ Uiagalelei was 12 of 30 passes for 222 yards, three interceptions and TD passes of 9 yards to Kentron Poitier and 20 yards to Landen Thomas for Florida State (1-4, 1-3). Uiagalelei was replaced by Brock Glenn in the final minutes.

The Seminoles also scored a safety in the final seconds of the half when long snapper Will Benton IV sailed the ball over Isaac Pearson’s head and beyond the end zone, forcing a punt from SMU’s 9.

Florida State has lost at least three of its first four games for the third time in coach Mike Norvell’s five seasons.

THE TAKEAWAY

Florida State continues to fight on the ground. The Seminoles entered the game averaging 67.75 rushing yards per game, the fourth-fewest among FBS teams. They gained 75 on 26 attempts, an average of 2.9 yards per carry, and were led by Lawrence Toafili with 67 yards.

SMU leads FBS with five non-offensive touchdowns this season – two interception returns, two fumble returns and one punt return.

NEXT

Florida State hosts Clemson on Oct. 5, where Uiagalelei played his first three college seasons before spending 2023 at Oregon State.

SMU will play the first of three straight ACC road games against Louisville on Oct. 5.

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