SMU
Syracuse
Oct 27 | Football
Saturday, October 31, 2026 – 11:00 a.m. CT
[19/16] SMU (6-1, 4-1 ACC) at Syracuse (3-4, 1-4 ACC)
JMA Wireless Dome – Syracuse, N.Y.
TV: ESPN2
Radio: KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM & SiriusXMÂ
Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
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SETTING THE SCENE
• The 19th-ranked Mustangs return to the road to face Syracuse in a national matchup on Saturday on ESPN2.
• SMU comes into the game ranked 19th in the AP Top 25 Poll and 16th in the US LBM Coaches Poll.
• The Mustangs dominated this past Saturday, winning 59-20 against Cal at Ford Stadium.
• Kendrick Raphael led the way again for SMU, finishing with 104 yards on the ground, his third game this year with at least 100.
• Kevin Jennings continued to rewrite the program record book, this time setting the record for most career passing touchdowns after tossing three in the win.
• SMU outscored the Golden Bears 42-0 in the second half while limiting them to just 50 total yards in half.
QUICK HITS
• The Mustangs have gone 18-3 in ACC play since joining the conference in 2024, the most wins by an ACC team during that span.
• SMU has recorded 145 sacks since 2023, that is the most in all FBS during that span.
• The SMU defense has held opponents to 27-99 (.273) on third down this season, fourth best in the country.
• Since 2024, the Mustangs have forced 56 turnovers, which ranks 15th in the in country during that span and the second-most in the ACC.
• Jennings has posted a record of 25-8 as the starter for the Mustangs.
• Jennings is the ACC active leader in career passing yards (9,771) and career total yards (10,451).
• Jennings is one of nine FBS active quarterbacks with at least 10,000 yards of total offense.
• The Mustangs are 35-9 in their last 44 games, and 33-6 in their last 39 regular-season contests.
• SMU has posted a record of 35-5 during Lashlee's five seasons in charge when they score 30-or-more points in a game.
• The Mustangs have had at least seven receivers catch a pass in 47 of the past 51 games.
• SMU recorded 29 offensive scoring drives since 2025 that resulted in touchdowns in under two minutes.
• Rhett Lashlee boasts a 31-6 conference record in his career, best in program history.
THE SERIES
• This is the third meeting in the series.
• SMU holds a 2-0 lead in the series.
• The Mustangs won the last meeting, 31-18, at home in Ford last season.
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ABOUT THE ORANGE
• Syracuse is coming off a 31-30 overtime win at North Carolina this past weekend.
MUSTANGS STAY RANKED
• SMU has featured inside the top-25 in the AP Poll every week since the preseason poll dropped in August. It's the longest such streak since the 1985 season.
3RD AND GOOD LUCK
• The SMU defense has held opponents to 27-99 (.273) on third down this season.
• The mark leads the ACC and puts the Mustangs at No. 4 in the country.
LUCKY NUMBER 30
• SMU has posted a record of 35-5 (.872) during Lashlee's five seasons in charge when they score 30 or more points in a game.
PASS ME THE ROCK
• Lashlee's offense is second in the ACC and ranks seventh in the country this season at 313.1 passing yards per game.
I WOULD WALK 500 YARDS...
• Lashlee's offense has produced 500+ yards of total offense in three of the five contests to open the 2026 campaign.
• The last time SMU recorded back-to-back games with 500 yards of total offense was in 2023 (at Temple - 563, vs. Tulsa - 638)
JOIN THE SACK CLUB
• The Mustangs have caused problems to other teams with their pass rush over the last three years.
• SMU has recorded 145 sacks since 2023, that is the most in all FBS during that span.
MOST SACKS IN FBS SINCE 2023
1. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â SMUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 145Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
2.           JMU                    143
3.           Tennessee          142
4.           Miami                 141
5            Texas                  138
I WANNA GO FAST
• The Mustangs proved last year that they could score quickly when they have the ball on offense.
• SMU recorded 29 offensive scoring drives since 2025 that resulted in touchdowns in under two minutes.
• The Mustangs have put together 15 scoring drives of less than two minutes this season, including five against UC Davis and at least one in each contest.
CLUB TAKEAWAY
• Club Takeaway is back and open for business again in 2026.
• The Mustangs have recorded six takeaways this season.
• SMU has forced a turnover in 37 of the past 43 games.
• Since 2024, the Mustangs have forced 56 turnovers, which ranks 16th in the in country during that span and the second-most in the ACC.
