Syracuse Football 2025 Opponent Preview: The SMU Mustangs host the Orange on Saturday

Coming off a disconcerting loss to Duke last week, the Syracuse Orange has one more game before its first bye of the season. Fran Brown’s team will visit the SMU Mustangs on Saturday in just the second-ever meeting between the two schools. We know from our preseason look at SMU that the Mustangs were in the College Football Playoff last year and have high hopes for 2025. But let’s get to know the Mustangs a little better a month into the season.

Where is SMU ranked?

SMU was ranked No. 16 in the AP poll at the start of the season, but they have since fallen out of the top 25 and aren’t receiving any votes. The Mustangs also ranked ninth in this week's ACC power rankings.

Where is SMU in the standings?

The Mustangs are one of three ACC teams that have yet to play their first conference game of the season, so they have plenty of ground to make up, especially with three teams already sitting at 2-0.

What did SMU do last week?

SMU had the benefit of a bye last week before hosting the Orange on Saturday. The last time we saw the Mustangs, they lost a rivalry game to TCU 35-24, dropping them to 2-2 on the season.

Who is SMU’s quarterback?

The Mustangs are led by Kevin Jennings, who was also the quarterback when they went to the CFP last year. Jennings has no problem airing it out, passing for at least 260 yards in every game this season. However, he hasn’t been careful with the football, throwing at least one interception in every game this year, leading to a total of five picks this season.

Compared to last season, Jennings has a higher completion percentage and is on pace to throw for a few more touchdowns, as well as a few more interceptions than in 2024. Of course, he’s had the benefit of facing East Texas A&M and Missouri State, so his early-season numbers could be a little inflated, especially with SMU’s toughest games still ahead.

Who are SMU’s other stars?

Jennings has a new set of receivers around him, with Romello Brinson and Jalen Cooper becoming his favorite targets. Brinson missed a big chunk of last season but has returned as SMU’s top receiver in 2025, catching 19 passes and averaging 19.2 yards per catch. Cooper is a true freshman who ranks second on the Mustangs in receiving yards. However, he had just one catch in the team’s loss to TCU.

In the backfield, T.J. Harden is SMU’s bell cow. The senior transferred from UCLA after three seasons with the Bruins. This year, he’s averaging 5.4 yards per carry and has scored five touchdowns, including three in SMU’s double-overtime loss to Baylor.

Meanwhile, the defensive side of the ball hasn’t been SMU’s biggest strength this season. However, defensive backs Isaiah Nwokobia and Ahmaad Moses are considered pro prospects. Defensive linemen Jeffrey M’ba and Cameron Robertson also have three sacks each on the season, so the Mustangs have a viable pass rush.

What is SMU’s biggest flaw?

Despite a decent amount of talent on that side of the ball, the SMU defense has been suspect against quality competition this season. The Mustangs allowed over 600 yards of offense against Baylor, including 440 passing yards. It was a similar story against TCU, as the Horned Frogs racked up 517 total yards, with quarterback Josh Hoover throwing for 379 yards and five touchdowns. Even Missouri State’s quarterback threw for 275 yards against SMU, although three interceptions by the SMU defense helped the Mustangs secure a modest 28-10 win over the FBS newcomers.

How does Syracuse beat SMU?

Needless to say, the Orange must expose SMU’s weakness when it comes to defending the pass. That's the Orange's path to victory as two-touchdown underdogs. The Syracuse wide receivers should be able to make plays down the field and pick up big chunks of yards if Rickie Collins has time in the pocket and can deliver the ball accurately. Collins has to play better in his second career start, and if he does, he has a chance to have a big game.

It’s also critical for the Syracuse defense to generate a consistent pass rush and put pressure on Jennings. That was missing from last week’s game against Duke, allowing Darian Mensah to complete 22 of his 28 passes. If Jennings has a clean pocket, he can carve up the Syracuse defense in a similar fashion. The Orange may need to blitz more and trust its defensive backs to handle one-on-one assignments.