SMU
6-1 , 4-1
Cal
3-5 , 2-3
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| SMU | 10 | 7 | 21 | 21 | 59 |
Oct 24 | Football
Jennings Sets New School Record For Career TD Passes, Raphael Rushes For 104 In Win
Box Score | Postgame Notes
Photo Gallery | Video Highlights
Condensed Game Video
DALLAS (AP) -- Kevin Jennings threw three touchdowns to break SMU's career record, Kendrick Raphael ran for 104 yards while accounting for three scores, two on fourth-down plays, and the No. 23 Mustangs beat California 59-20 on Saturday.
The Mustangs (6-1, 4-1 ACC) trailed at halftime before scoring touchdowns on their first six drives after the break. The second of those scores was Jennings' record-breaking 73rd career TD pass, a 21-yarder to Derek McFall, and the third-year starting quarterback added to that with a 17-yarder to Jalen Hale with 6:29 left.
Jennings, already SMU's career leader for passing yards (9,766) and completions (781), surpassed the 72 TD passes by Tanner Mordecai from 2021-22. Jennings had tied that mark with his 22-yard fourth-down pass to Raphael in the first quarter and finished 16 of 23 passing for 223 yards.
Freshman running back Christian Rhodes had TD runs of 5 and 3 yards in SMU's scoring surge in the second half, which Cal (3-5, 2-3) opened with three consecutive three-and-outs.
SMU had 306 of its 492 total yards after halftime.
Raphael's other fourth-down touchdown came on a 1-yard run that tied the game at 17-17 with 1:57 left before halftime. Towns McGough then made a half-ending field goal to put Cal up 20-17.
When California beat SMU 38-35 in last year's regular-season finale, a loss that kept the Mustangs from making the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game for the second year in a row, Raphael scored a game-winning 2-yard TD run in the final minute for the Bears.
Cal's left-handed quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele started for the first time in three games since a concussion late in the first half Oct. 3 at UNLV. He completed 27 of 37 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown. He threw for 330 yards and four TDs in last year's win over SMU.
The Bears have lost four of their last five games. Sagapolutele missed the win over Virginia Tech two weeks ago, and Jackson Brousseau started again last week, though Sagapolutele threw a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the 41-7 loss to Wake Forest.
The Mustangs, who scored TDs on seven consecutive drives overall, are 11-0 at home and 18-3 overall in ACC games since joining that league in 2024. SMU is 24-2 in its last 26 home games while averaging 44 points in those games. Jennings is 25-8 as their starter.
Up next, California is at N.C. State for the second of three consecutive road games next Saturday. SMU plays its only road game in a seven-week stretch at Syracuse next Saturday.
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SMU Postgame Notes – October 24, 2026
- [23/20] SMU 59, Cal 20
- SMU (6-1, 4-1 ACC), Cal (3-5, 2-3 ACC)
- Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas
NEXT GAME
- At Syracuse - Saturday, October 31 – 12pm ET / 11am CT – JMA Wireless Dome – Syracuse, New York
- TV: ESPN2
- Radio: KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM | SMU App/The Varsity APP | Sirius XM
- Tickets: smumustangs.com/tickets
- Score: SMU 42, Cal 0
- Total yards: SMU 306, Cal 50
- First downs: SMU 20, Cal 2
- Third downs: SMU 1-2, Cal 0-7
- Rushing yards: SMU 182, Cal -1
- Passing yards: SMU 124, Cal 51
- Sacks: SMU 2, Cal 0
- First shutout in the second half of an ACC game since Louisville 11/22/25 (17-0 in 2nd half of 38-6 win)
- Per the AP (via Josh Dubow)
- SMU trailed Cal 20-17 at half and won 59-20. The last time a team trailed at half and won by 39+ points came on Nov. 8, 2003 when Texas trailed Oklahoma State 16-14 at half and won 55-16
- https://x.com/JoshDubowAP/status/2114081548870050268?s=20
- Per Stats Perform
- SMU outscored Cal 42-0 in the second half. This is just the third time an ACC team has outscored an FBS team 42-0 or more in the second half since 1996 and just the second time in an ACC game.
- ACC vs. FBS, Instances of a 42-0 (or more) Margin (Ahead) in 2nd Half - Since 1996 (reg & bowls)Â
- Pts  Date Team vs Opponent Score Final
- 42Â Â 10/05/2013Â Florida State vs Maryland 42-0 W, 63-0
- 45Â Â 09/14/2013Â Florida State vs Nevada 45-0 W, 62-7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
- ​​​​​​​ACC vs. ACC, Instances of a 42-0 (or more) Margin (Ahead) in 2nd Half - Since 1996 (reg & bowls)Â
- Pts  Date       Team vs Opponent                            Score  Final
- 42  10/05/2013 Florida State vs Maryland                   42-0   W, 63-0 Â
- Score: SMU 59, Cal 20
- Total yards: SMU 492, Cal 305
- First downs: SMU 31, Cal 16
- Rushing yards:Â SMU 256, Cal 40
- Tackles for Loss: SMU 8, Cal 3
- Sacks: SMU 3, Cal 1
| SMU SINGLE-GAME SCORING | Â | Â | Â | |
| 1 | Houston (W, 77-63), 11-5-2022 | Â | 77 | |
| 2 | Houston (W, 72-42), 10-18-2012 | Â | 72 | |
| 3 | Daniel Baker (W, 70-0), 9-25-1920 | Â | 70 | |
| 4 | Prairie View A&M (W, 69-0) 9-16-2023 | 69 | ||
| Â | Tulsa (W, 69-10) 10-28-2023 | Â | Â | 69 |
| 6 | North Texas State (W, 68-0), 9-24-1927 | 68 | ||
| 7 | North Texas State (66-0), 10-7-1922 | Â | 66 | |
| Â | TCU (66-42), 9-21-2024 | Â | Â | 66 |
| 9 | at North Texas (65-35), 9-19-2020 | Â | 65 | |
| 10 | Houston Baptist (63-27), 9-29-2018 | Â | 63 | |
| 11 | at Connecticut (62-50), 11-10-2018 | Â | 62 | |
| 12 | North Texas State (60-6), 9-22-1928 | Â | 60 | |
| Â | Austin College (60-0), 9-28-1935 | Â | 60 | |
| Â | Trinity (60-7), 10-27-1928 | Â | Â | 60 |
| Â | Texas A&I (W, 60-0), 10-3-1936 | Â | 60 | |
| 16 | Grambling (W, 59-27), 9-19-1981 | Â | 59 | |
| Â | ECU (W, 59-51), 11-9-2019 | Â | Â | 59 |
| Â | Temple (W, 59-49), 10-26-2013 | Â | 59 | |
| Â | Navy (W, 59-14), 11-25-2023 | Â | Â | 59 |
| Â | Houston Christian (W, 59-7), 8-31-2024 | 59 | ||
| Â | Cal (W, 59-20), 10-24-2026 | Â | Â | 59 |
TEAM NOTES
- SMU is
- SMU is 44-17 under Rhett Lashlee
- SMU is 33-6 in last 39 regular-season games
- SMU is 35-9 in the last 44 games overall
- SMU is 40-6 at Ford Stadium since 2019
- SMU is 18-3 in ACC games
- SMU is 11-0 at home in ACC games
- SMU has 44 wins since 2022 (Entered the game with the second-most in the State of Texas in that span)
- The Mustangs are 35-5 when scoring at least 30 points or more under Rhett Lashlee
- This is the 9th time the Mustangs have scored at least 50 points under Rhett Lashlee (8 of those at Ford Stadium)
- The SMU defense started the second half holding Cal to 3-straight 3-and-outs and –1 yards
- Kevin Jennings had 249 yards of total offense and now has 10,451 yards of total offense for his career, extending the program record
- Entered the game 8th  among NCAA FBS active players
- Has 9478 yards of total offense in three seasons in the ACC (2024-26), which is 29th in ACC history
- Kevin Jennings had 16 completions and now has 781 for his career, extending the program record
- Entered the game 8th among NCAA FBS active players
- Kevin Jennings had 3 passing TDs and now has 86 career TDs responsible for (74 pass/ 12 rush), extending the program record
- Entered the game 7th among NCAA FBS active players
- Has 79 career TDs responsible for in three seasons in the ACC (2024-26), which is T-20th in ACC history
- Kevin Jennings had 3 TD passes and now has 74 for his career, SETTING THE SMU CAREER RECORD
- Graphic from @SMUFB https://x.com/SMUFB/status/2114064058836300191?s=20
- Entered the game 5th among NCAA FBS active players
- Kevin Jennings had 223 passing yards and now has 9771 for his career, extending the program record
- Entered the game 6th among NCAA FBS active players
- Has 8948 passing yards in three seasons in the ACC (2024-26), which is 26th in ACC history (Entered the game 31st in league history)
- SMU scored 8 TDs
- Kendrick Raphael (1 yard run, 1 yard run, 22-yard reception)
- Second 3-TD game this season
- First time in his career with a rushing TD and a receiving TD in the same game
- First receiving TD of the season, 2nd of his career, 25th total TD of his career
- Christian Rhodes (5-yard run, 3 yard run)
- First TDs of his career
- 21-yard TD reception by Derrick McFall from Kevin Jennings
- Third receiving TD of the season for McFall, fifth of his career, 11th career TD
- Jennings passes Ben Hicks for SMU career TD Pass (73)
- 10-yard TD rush by EJ Kelly
- First career TD
- 17-yard TD reception by Jalen Hale from Kevin Jennings
- Second straight game with a receiving TD
- Kendrick Raphael (1 yard run, 1 yard run, 22-yard reception)
- SMU had 223 passing yards (entered game No. 5 NCAA / No. 2 ACC at 326.0 yards per game)
- Kevin Jennings was 16-23 Â passing for 223 Â yards with 3 TDs
- Yamir Kight 3-25 receiving
- Yannick Smith 3-24 Â receiving
- Jalen Hale 2-34 receiving with a TD
- Randy Pittman Jr. 2-27 receiving
- Kendrick Raphael 1-22 receiving with a TD
- Derrick McFall 1-21 receiving with a TD
- SMU had 256 rushing yards
- Kendrick Raphael was 22-104 with 2 TDs
- Raphael recorded his third 100-yard rush game of the season, his sixth career.
- Ty Hawkins 3-60
- Kevin Jennings 7-26
- EJ Kelly 2-20 with a TD
- Christian Rhodes 7-41 with 2 TDs
- Kendrick Raphael was 22-104 with 2 TDs
- SMU recorded 8 TFLs (entered game No. 2 ACC / No. 8 NCAA FBS in TFLs per game at 7.8)
- TFLs: Marques White (2), Christian Davis (1), Alexander Kilgore (1), Brandon Miyazono (1), Sael Reyes (1), La'Modrick Spencer (1), Woo Spencer (1)
- SMU recorded 3 sacks (entered game No. 2 ACC / No. 14 NCAA FBS in sacks per game at 3.00)
- Sacks: Brandon Miyazono (1), Woo Spencer (1), Marques White (1)
- Mustangs have 145  since 2023 (Entered the game  No. 1 in the country during that time span)
- Held Cal to 5-16 on 3rd down (entered game No. 1 ACC / No. 4 NCAA FBS in 3rd-down defense at 26.5 %)
- 27-99 (.273) on 3rd down this season
- Brandon Baird was 1-1 FGs, 8-8 PATs
- 29-yard FG
- Wade McSparron 2-95 punting
- Kendrick Raphael (3) and Christian Rhodes (2) each scored multiple TDs. The last time SMU had multiple players score multiple touchdowns was TJ Harden (3) and Romello Brinson (2) against Baylor on Sept. 6, 2025.
- Raphael and Rhodes each had 2 rushing TDs. The last time SMU had two players with two or more rushing TDs was Ulysses Bentley (2) and Tyler Lavine (2) vs. Navy on Oct. 31, 2020.
- Kendrick Raphael had 22-104 rushing for his second straight 100-yard rushing game. The last time SMU had a player with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games was Brashard Smith against Pitt (161) and Boston College (120) in 2024.
- SMU was 7-7 on scoring in the red-zone
- The Mustangs are 32-37 Â on red-zone trips this season
- SMU had 10 Â Mustangs catch a pass
- At least 7 players have a catch in  47 of the past 51 games
- The CW
- Kevin Jennings 22-yard TD pass to Kendrick Raphael https://x.com/SMUFB/status/2114038905926189301?s=20
- Christian Rhodes 5-yard TD run https://x.com/SMUFB/status/2114059296585511404?s=20
- Kendrick Raphael 1-yard TD run https://x.com/SMUFB/status/2114049590848790741?s=20
- Kevin Jennings 21-yard TD pass to Derrick McFall https://x.com/SMUFB/status/2114062993990250554?s=20
- 73rd Career TD pass - SETS SMU CAREER RECORD
- Christian Rhodes 3-yard TD run https://x.com/SMUFB/status/2114066427661762983?s=20
- Kendrick Raphael 1-yard TD run https://x.com/SMUFB/status/2114073107988361388?s=20
- Kevin Jennings 17-yard TD pass to Jalen Hale https://x.com/SMUFB/status/2114075352817619333?s=20
- SMU Radio Network (Highlights) – KTCK "The Ticket" 96.7 FM, 1310 AM (Rich Phillips pxp, Scott Garner analyst, Steve Lansdale sideline)
- ​​​​​​​SMU Postgame Press ConferenceÂ
- Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, 5th) – Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Second Team, DCTF All-Texas Second Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Second Team, Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List, Walter Camp Player of the Year Preseason Watch List, Senior Bowl Top 300 Watch List, Johnny Unitas Gold Arm Award Top 15, Manning Award Preseason Watch List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Preseason Watch List, Pony Express Award Watch List (w/ Yamir Knight)
- 25-8 as a starter
- 16-23 passing for 223 yards with 3 TDs plus 7-26 rushing
- TDs to:
- Kendrick Raphael (22 yards)
- Derrick McFall (21 yards)
- Jalen Hale (17 yards)
- TDs to:
- 249 yards of total offense (entered the game No. 1 in the ACC / No. 4 in the NCAA in total offense per game)
- 2062 passing yards this season (entered the game No. 4 in the ACC / No. 12 in the NCAA in passing yards per game)
- 19 passing TDs this season (entered the game No. 3 in the ACC / No. 10 in the NCAA in passing TDs)
- 3 TD passes, now has 74 for his career (SETS the SMU CAREER RECORD)
- 3 TDs responsible for, now has 86 for his career (Extends SMU CAREER RECORD)
- 249 yards of total offense, now has 10,451 for his career (Extends SMU CAREER RECORD)
- 223 passing yards, now has 9,771 for his career (Extends SMU CAREER RECORD)
- 16 completions, now has 781 for his career (Extends SMU CAREER RECORD)
| CAREER TD PASSES | Â | Â | |
| 1 | Kevin Jennings | 71+2 | |
| 2 | Tanner Mordecai, 2021-22 | 72 | |
| 3 | Ben Hicks, 2016-18 | Â | 71 |
ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Joshua Bates (#64, OL, Sr.) - Campbell Award Semifinalist, Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC First Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC First Team, All-ACC Preseason Team, Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List, Rimmington Trophy Preseason Watch List
- Has started all 20 games at SMU
- ​​​​​​​Brandon Booker (#28, LB, Jr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team
- 1 tackle
- ​​​​​​​Jalen Hale (#2, WR, Sr.) - College Football Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
- 2-34 receiving with a TD
- ​​​​​​​Alexander Kilgore (#54, LB, Sr.) - DCTF All-Texas First Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team, Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
- 4 tackles including a TFL
- ​​​​​​​Yamir Knight (#8, WR, Sr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Third Team, DCTF All-Texas Second Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Second Team, Bruce Feldman's College Football's Freaks List, Pony Express Award Watch List (w/ Kevin Jennings)
- 3-25 receiving
- Jarvis Lee (#1, S, Sr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team
- 2 tackles and a QBH
- Derrick McFall (#0, WR/RB, Jr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team
- 1-21 receiving with a TD
- ​​​​​​​Randy Pittman (#5, TE, Sr.) - Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
- 2-27 receiving
- ​​​​​​​Addison Nichols (#63, OL, 5th) - Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Second Team
- Has started all 20 games at SMU
- ​​​​​​​Theo Melin Ohrstrom (#18, TE, 5th) - Senior Bowl Top 300 Watch List
- 1-27 receiving
- ​​​​​​​Kendrick Raphael (#6, RB, Sr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Third Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Third Team, Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List
- 22-104 rushing with 2 TDs, 1-22 receiving with a TD
- Recorded his third 100-yard rush game of the season, his sixth career.
- 22-104 rushing with 2 TDs, 1-22 receiving with a TD
- ​​​​​​​Sael Reyes (#22, S, So.)
- Tied career with a team-high 6 tackles including a TFL
- ​​​​​​​Yannick Smith (#3, WR, Jr.)
- 3-24 receiving
- ​​​​​​​PJ Williams (#59, OL, 5th) - Phil Steele Preseason All-America Second Team, Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC First Team, DCTF All-Texas First Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-America Fourth Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC First Team, All-ACC Preseason Team, Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List, On3 Preseason All-America Third Team, Senior Bowl Top 300 Watch List, Pro Football Network Top 100 NFL Draft Prospect, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Preseason Watch List
- Has started the last 33 games he has played
- Marques White (#16, DE, Sr.)
- 3 tackes, including 2 TFLs and a sack
- Athlon Sports Preseason All-American – PJ Williams
- Maxwell Award Watch List – Kevin Jennings
- Outland Trophy Watch List – Joshua Bates, PJ Williams
- Patrick Mannelly Watch List – Morgan Tribbett
- Mackey Award Watch List – Randy Pittman Jr.
- Rimington Trophy Watch List – Joshua Bates
- Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List – Alexander Kilgore
- Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List – Kevin Jennings
- Doak Walker Award Watch List – Kendrick Raphael
- Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 15 – Kevin Jennings
- Davey O'Brien Award Watch List – Kevin Jennings
- Manning Award Watch List – Kevin Jennings
- Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watchlist – Abel Hoopii
- Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watchlist – Kevin Jennings, PJ Williams
- Comeback Player of the Year Watchlist – Jalen Hale, Jonathan Jefferson
- Pony Express Award Watch List – Kevin Jennings & Yamir Knight
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
CAL 7, SMU 0
CAL - Hendricks,Chase 10 yd pass from Sagapolutele,Jaron-Keawe (McGough,Towns kick) 7 plays, 65 yards, TOP 03:16
CAL 7, SMU 3
SMU - Baird,Brendan 29 yd field goal 8 plays, 53 yards, TOP 02:39
CAL 7, SMU 10
SMU - Raphael,Kendrick 22 yd pass from Jennings,Kevin (Baird,Brendan kick) 9 plays, 79 yards, TOP 03:32
CAL 14, SMU 10
CAL - Mini,Mason 1 yd run (McGough,Towns kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 07:01
CAL 17, SMU 10
CAL - McGough,Towns 41 yd field goal 10 plays, 57 yards, TOP 05:10
CAL 17, SMU 17
SMU - Raphael,Kendrick 1 yd run (Baird,Brendan kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:15
CAL 20, SMU 17
CAL - McGough,Towns 37 yd field goal 9 plays, 56 yards, TOP 01:57
CAL 20, SMU 24
SMU - Rhodes,Christian 5 yd run (Baird,Brendan kick), 7 plays, 61 yards, TOP 02:51
CAL 20, SMU 31
SMU - McFall,Derrick 21 yd pass from Jennings,Kevin (Baird,Brendan kick) 4 plays, 35 yards, TOP 01:24
CAL 20, SMU 38
SMU - Rhodes,Christian 3 yd run (Baird,Brendan kick), 6 plays, 65 yards, TOP 01:53
CAL 20, SMU 45
SMU - Raphael,Kendrick 1 yd run (Baird,Brendan kick), 8 plays, 41 yards, TOP 04:34
CAL 20, SMU 52
SMU - Hale,Jalen 17 yd pass from Jennings,Kevin (Baird,Brendan kick) 5 plays, 34 yards, TOP 02:54
CAL 20, SMU 59
SMU - Kelly,EJ 10 yd run (Baird,Brendan kick), 5 plays, 78 yards, TOP 02:41
