Following last week’s thrilling win over North Carolina, the Syracuse football team is back where it started, facing a tough but manageable schedule down the stretch, with a bowl game being the goal. Outside of Notre Dame, the toughest game left on the Orange’s schedule is this week against the SMU Mustangs.
We learned before the season that SMU has tons of talent and big aspirations for the 2026 season. But where do things with the Mustangs currently stand heading into Saturday’s Halloween matinee in the Dome?
Where is SMU ranked?
The Mustangs are currently ranked No. 19 in the AP poll and No. 16 in the Coaches' poll. SMU opened the season No. 19 and climbed as high as No. 16, and is back where it started.
Where is SMU in the ACC standings?
Currently, the Mustangs are 4-1 in ACC play, putting them in a tie with Wake Forest for second place. At the moment, it looks like the winner of a November 14 game between the Mustangs and Demon Deacons could decide Miami’s opponent in the ACC Championship Game. But with six ACC teams with two losses in league play, if both SMU and Wake Forest lose another game, there would be chaos in the title race.
What did SMU do last week?
The Mustangs are coming off their best game of the season, a 59-20 win over Cal. SMU trailed at halftime, but outscored Cal 42-0 in the second half for a convincing win. Prior to that, the Mustangs had a string of rather unconvincing wins as part of their four-game winning streak. Victories over Missouri State, Boston College and Virginia all came by 10 points or less.
Who is SMU’s quarterback?
Kevin Jennings is in his fifth season at SMU and his third as the team’s starting quarterback. His experience and past success made Jennings a preseason dark horse to win the Heisman. However, he’s not among the leading contenders at the moment. Nevertheless, Jennings is putting together a fine season. He’s already passed for more than 2,000 yards with 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He’s also improved his efficiency, completing 72.6% of his passes and averaging 9.6 yards per pass, giving SMU a top-10 passing attack nationally.
Most passing TDs in SMU history 😤
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) October 24, 2026
Kevin Jennings' 73rd career TD pass was one to remember‼️ pic.twitter.com/HfYkypTY4X
Who are SMU’s other stars?
Despite having a high-level passing attack, the Mustangs don’t necessarily have a marquee receiver. The Mustangs have a balanced attack with no player having more than four receiving touchdowns. Yamir Knight is the most frequent target, amassing 38 receptions this season, with no other SMU receiver having more than 22. Knight is also the leading receiver, although Yannick Smith, Jalen Cooper and Jalen Hale are also frequently involved. Meanwhile, running back Kendrick Raphael is having an underrated season, averaging 5.3 yards per carry and scoring eight rushing touchdowns.
Defensively, Marques White is SMU’s best pass rusher, totaling 5.5 sacks, whereas nobody else on the roster has more than 2.5 sacks. Linebacker Alexander Kilgore anchors the defense in the middle and leads the team in tackles. In the secondary, Jayvon Thomas is SMU’s best cover corner, although the Mustangs have just two interceptions this season.
What is SMU’s biggest flaw?
Some of SMU’s obvious flaws are the same as Syracuse’s flaws. While the Mustangs haven’t been quite as bad, they are among the worst offenders when it comes to penalties this season. The two teams also have the same turnover margin, with both the Mustangs and the Orange turning it over more times than they’ve taken it away. It’s also worth noting that until the second half of last week’s game, the Mustangs had largely played down to their competition, failing to put away teams like Missouri State and Boston College that one would assume a ranked team would be able to beat comfortably.
How does Syracuse beat SMU?
There’s no denying that Syracuse will have to do a lot right to upset the Mustangs. But beating a ranked team in the Dome is always possible. Of course, it’s imperative for Fran Brown’s team to avoid beating itself. As mentioned, the Mustangs have hurt themselves with penalties and turnovers, so Syracuse needs to get out of its own way and allow SMU to commit self-inflicted errors. The Orange didn’t turn it over last week and committed a season-low seven penalties, so things are moving in the right direction.
Aside from the obvious, Syracuse needs to get off to a fast start against SMU. While the Orange did well to come from behind last week, they don’t want to do the same against an explosive offense like SMU. Even with Steve Angeli looking better, Syracuse’s strength this season has been running the ball and controlling the clock. They need to keep Jennings off the field and force him into situations where he feels pressure to carry his team, which is when he’s most vulnerable to the types of turnovers that can tip the scales in Syracuse’s favor.
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