Saturday, October 31
Syracuse, N.Y.
11am CT
SMU
6-2 , 4-2
27
at
30
Syracuse
4-4 , 2-4
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | 10 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
| Syracuse | 7 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 30 |
Oct 31 | Football
Jennings Throws For 351 Yards, 2 TD Passes In Loss
Box Score | Postgame Notes
Photo Gallery | Video Highlights
Condensed Game Video
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) -- Steve Angeli hit little-used tight end Noah Meyers on a 2-yard scoring strike with 17 seconds to go and Syracuse defeated No. 19 SMU 30-27 Saturday.
The Orange (4-4, 2-4 ACC) got the ball on their own 32-yard line with 3:36 remaining while trailing 27-23. Angeli led Syracuse on an 11-play drive capped by Meyers' first touchdown for Syracuse.
It was Syracuse's first win over a ranked team since Nov. 30, 2024.
Angeli was 21 of 34 and 200 yards and opened the scoring with a 26-yard run early in the first quarter. Umari Hatcher had six catches for 65 yards.
Kevin Jennings threw for two scores and Kendrick Raphael ran 14 yards for what appeared to be a game-winner for SMU (6-2, 4-2) with nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter. His score gave the Mustangs a 27-20 lead, but Tripp Woody's third field goal of the game brought Syracuse to 27-23 with 5:26 remaining.
Jennings was 29 of 36 for 351 yards with scoring strikes to Jalen Hale and Yamir Knight. Knight had six receptions for 80 yards. Raphael had five receptions for 33 yards and 51 more on the ground.
SMU's defense, which entered the game allowing opponents to convert on third down only 27.3% of the time, the fourth lowest in the country, held the Orange to 4 of 17 on third down. Syracuse did go 3 for 3 on fourth down, including a 1-yard run by Ahmad Miller.
Syracuse was leading 20-17 when Angeli was penalized for intentional grounding from the end zone, awarding SMU a safety with 12 minutes to go in the game. Raphael's score and a two-point conversion gave SMU a 27-20 lead.
The Orange held SMU nine points below their average.
The Mustangs totaled 421 yards on offense, well below their average of 470, and they just couldn't punch it in when they needed to. SMU could fall out of the AP Top 25.
Up next, SMU returns home against Virginia Tech on Friday, while Syracuse will host Clemson on Nov. 7.
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SMU Postgame Notes – October 31, 2026
- Syracuse 30, [19/16] SMU 27
- Syracuse (4-4, 2-4 ACC), SMU (6-2, 4-2 ACC)
- JMA Wireless Dome – Syracuse, New York
- Game Captains: Marcellus Barnes (#8, CB, Jr.), Alexander Kilgore (#23, LB, Sr.), Yamir Knight (#8, WR, Sr.), Randy Pittman Jr. (#5, TE, Sr.)
NEXT GAME
- [rv/rv] Virginia Tech - Friday, November 6 – 6pm CT – Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM | SMU App/The Varsity APP | Sirius XM
- Tickets: smumustangs.com/tickets
- Score: SMU 27, SYR 30
- Total yards: SMU 421, SYR 338
- Passing yards: SMU 351, SYR 200
- Rushing yards: SMU 70, SYR 138
- First downs: SMU 25, SYR 20
- Third downs: SMU 6-13, SYR 4-16
- Tackles for Loss: SMU 3, SYR 6
- Sacks: SMU 1, SYR 4
- SMU entered the game No. 3 ACC / No. 13 FBS in total yards per game at 470.3
- SMU entered the game No. 1 ACC / No. 4 FBS in 3rd-down defense at 27.3%
- SMU entered the game No. 2 ACC / No. 12 FBS in sacks per game at 3.00
- SMU is
- SMU is 44-18 under Rhett Lashlee
- SMU is 33-7 in last 40 regular-season games
- SMU is 35-10 in the last 45 games overall
- SMU is 18-4 in ACC games
- SMU is 7-4 on the road in the ACC
- SMU has 44 wins since 2022 (Entered the game with the second-most in the State of Texas in that span)Â
- Kevin Jennings had 364 yards of total offense and now has 10,815 yards of total offense for his career, extending the program record
- Entered the game eighth among NCAA FBS active players
- Has 9842 yards of total offense in three seasons in the ACC (2024-26), which is 22nd in ACC history
- Kevin Jennings had 29 completions and now has 781 for his career, extending the program record
- Entered the game eighth among NCAA FBS active players
- Kevin Jennings had 2 passing TDs and now has 88 career TDs responsible for (76 pass/ 12 rush), extending the program record
- Entered the game seventh among NCAA FBS active players
- Has 81 career TDs responsible for in three seasons in the ACC (2024-26), which is 19th in ACC history
- Kevin Jennings had 2 TD passes and now has 76 for his career, extending the program record
- Entered the game sixth among NCAA FBS active players
- Has 70 career TDs passes in three seasons in the ACC (2024-26), which is 11th in ACC history
- Kevin Jennings had 351 passing yards and now has 10,122 for his career, extending the program record
- Entered the game sixth among NCAA FBS active players
- 11th career 300-yard passing game, fourth all-time in SMU history
- Has 9,299 passing yards in three seasons in the ACC (2024-26), which is 22nd in ACC history
- Hit 10,000 career passing yards exactly on the 14-yard TD pass to Yamir Knight
- https://x.com/smufb/status/2116598962090324164?a=hDsTaaDauNj4zvBjZY8&s=42
- Entered the game sixth among NCAA FBS active players
- SMU scored 3 TDs
- Kevin Jennings 9-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Hale
- Third straight game with a touchdown reception for Hale
- Kevin Jennings 14-yard touchdown pass to Yamir Knight
- Kendrick Raphel 13-yard rushing touchdown
- Has now scored a touchdown in six games this season
- Kevin Jennings 9-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Hale
- SMU had 5 explosive plays of 20-yards or more yards
- Kevin Jennings 43-yard pass to Derrick McFall
- Kevin Jennings 32-yard pass to Yannick Smith
- Kevin Jennings 21-yard pass to Yannick Smith
- Kevin Jennings 26-yard pass to Yannick Smith
- Kevin Jennings 25-yard pass to Jalen Cooper
- SMU had 351 passing yards (entered game No. 8 NCAA / No. 2 ACC at 294.6 yards per game)
- Kevin Jennings was 29-of-36 passing for 351 Â yards with 2 TDs
- Sixth game this season with multiple passing touchdowns
- Yamir Kight 6-80 receiving, 1 TD
- Third receiving touchdown this season, 12th of his career
- Yannick Smith 5-95 receiving
- Jalen Cooper 5-53 Receiving
- Jalen Hale 3-16 receiving, 1 TD
- Third receiving touchdown this season, fourth of his career
- Randy Pittman Jr. 2-14 receiving
- Kendrick Raphael 5-33 receiving
- Derrick McFall 1-43 receiving
- Christian Rhodes 2-17 receiving
- Kevin Jennings was 29-of-36 passing for 351 Â yards with 2 TDs
- SMU had _8 Mustangs catch a pass
- At least 7 players have a catch in 48 of the past 52 games, including every game this season
- Eight different receivers caught a pass in the first half
- At least 7 players have a catch in 48 of the past 52 games, including every game this season
- SMU had 70 rushing yards
- Kendrick Raphael was 14-51 with 1+TDs
- 13-yard rushing touchdown
- Ninth rushing touchdown of the season, 26th of his career
- 13-yard rushing touchdown
- Christian Rhodes 3-22
- Career-long 19-yard rush
- Kevin Jennings 13-(-5)
- Derrick McFall 1-2
- Kendrick Raphael was 14-51 with 1+TDs
- SMU recorded 3 TFLs (entered game No. 2 ACC / No. 10 NCAA FBS in TFLs per game at 7.9)
- TFLs: Sael Reyes (1), , La'Modrick Spencer (1)Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder (0.5), Jakai Lang (0.5)
- SMU recorded 1 sacks (entered game No. 2 ACC / No. 12 NCAA FBS in sacks per game at 3.00)
- Sacks: Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder (0.5), Jakai Lang (0.5)
- Mustangs have 146 since 2023 (Entered the game  No. 1 in the country during that time span)
- Held Syracuse  to 4-16 on 3rd down (entered game No. 1 ACC / No. 4 NCAA FBS in 3rd-down defense at 27.3 %)
- 31-115 (.270) on 3rd down this season
- Sael Reyes recorded a career-high 10 tackles
- Brandon Book's 8 tackles tied a career high
- Yamir Kight totaled 101 all-purpose yards (80 receiving, 17 kick return, 4 punt yards)
- Second game this season with over 100 all-purpose yards, seventh of his career
- Brandon Baird 1-1 FGs, 2-2 PATs
- Made a 40-yard field goal
- Second FGM of 40 yards or longer
- Made a 40-yard field goal
- Wade McSparron 5-226 punting
- Long on 49, two inside the 20
- Returns
- 3 kickoff returns for 60 yards
- Christian Rhodes 2-43, long of 23
- Yamir Knight 1-17Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
- 3 kickoff returns for 60 yards
- Jalen Hale recorded a TD reception for the third-straight game. The last time an SMU player had a TD catch in three straight games was Jordan Hudson in 2024 (Boston College, Louisville, Cal).
- SMU forced a safety in the fourth quarter, the first time forcing a safety since at Stanford, Oct. 19, 2024
- SMU converted a 2-point conversion on a Keving Jennings throw to Derrick McFall, first 2-point conversion since vs. TCU, Sept. 21, 2024 (Brashard Smith reception)Â
- SMU was 4-4 on scoring in the red-zone
- Has scored on 18 consecutive red-zone trips
- The Mustangs are 36-41 on red-zone trips this seasonÂ
- ESPN2
- Brendon Baird 40-yard FG https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401858278
- Kevin Jennings 9-yard TD pass to Jalen Hale https://www.espn.com/college-football/video/_/gameId/401858278
- Kevin Jennings 14-yard TD pass to Yamir Knight https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/50337959
- Kendrick Raphael 13-yard TD run https://www.espn.com/college-football/video/_/gameId/401858278
- SMU Radio Network (Highlights) – KTCK "The Ticket" 96.7 FM, 1310 AM (Rich Phillips pxp, Scott Garner analyst, Steve Lansdale sideline)
- SMU Postgame Press Conference
- 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)
- 25-9 as a starter
- 29-36 passing for 351 yards with 2 TDs
- 11th career 300-yard passing game
- TDs to:
- 9-yard touchdown to Jalen Hale
- 14-yard touchdown to Yamir Knight
- Has now thrown multiple touchdown passes in six games this season
- TDs to:
- 346 yards of total offense
- 2413 passing yards this season
- 21 passing TDs this season (entered the game No. 3 in the ACC / No. 10 in the NCAA in passing TDs)
- 2 TD passes, now has 76 for his career (Extends SMU CAREER RECORD)
- 2 TDs responsible for, now has 88 for his career (Extends SMU CAREER RECORD)
- 346 yards of total offense, now has 10,797 for his career (Extends SMU CAREER RECORD)
- 351 passing yards, now has 10,122 for his career (Extends SMU CAREER RECORD)
- 11th career 300-yard game
- 29 completions, now has 810 for his career (Extends SMU CAREER RECORD)Â Â
| CAREER 300-YD PASSING GAMES | ||||
| 1 | Tanner Mordecai, 2021-22 | 13 | ||
| 2 | Ben Hicks, 2016-18 | Â | 12 | |
| Â | Shane Buechele, 2019-20 | 12 | ||
| 4 | Kevin Jennings, 2022-26 | 11 | ||
- ACC CAREER TD PASSES
- Jennings now has 70 TD passes in three seasons in the ACC
- 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 21 games at SMU
- Brandon Booker (#28, LB, Jr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team
- 8 tackles
- Jalen Cooper (10, WR, So.)
- 5-53 receiving
- Jalen Hale (#2, WR, Sr.) - College Football Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
- 3-16 receiving, 1 touchdown
- 9-yard touchdown reception
- Third receiving touchdown this season, fourth of his career
- Third straight game with a touchdown reception for Hale
- ​​​​​​​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
- 2 tackles
- ​​​​​​​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)
- 6-80 receiving, 1 TD
- 101 all-purpose yards
- 14-yard touchdown reception
- Third receiving touchdown of the season, eighth as a Mustang, 12th of his career
- ​​​​​​​Jarvis Lee (#1, S, Sr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team
- 2 tackles
- ​​​​​​​Derrick McFall (#0, WR/RB, Jr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team
- 1-43 receiving
- ​​​​​​​Randy Pittman (#5, TE, Sr.) - Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
- 2-14 receiving
- ​​​​​​​Addison Nichols (#63, OL, 5th) - Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Second Team
- Has started all 21 games at SMU
- Theo Melin Ohrstrom (#18, TE, 5th) - Senior Bowl Top 300 Watch List
- ​​​​​​​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
- 14-51 rushing, 5-33 receiving
- 13-yard rushing touchdown
- Ninth rushing touchdown of the season, 26th of his career
- 13-yard rushing touchdown
- 14-51 rushing, 5-33 receiving
- Sael Reyes (#22, S, So.)
- Career high 10 tackles, 1 TFL
- ​​​​​​​Yannick Smith (#3, WR, Jr.)
- 5-95 yards
- ​​​​​​​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 34 games he has played
- ​​​​​​​Jimmy Wyrick (#21, S, Gr.)
- 8 tackles
- 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
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/ FootballTeam Stats
SMU
SYR
Total Yards
421
338
Pass Yards
352
200
Rushing Yards
69
138
Penalty Yards
90
49
1st Downs
25
20
3rd Downs
6
4
4th Downs
0
4
TOP
30:26
29:34
1st Quarter
SMU 0, SYR 7
SYR - Angeli,Steve 26 yd run (Woody,Tripp kick), 7 plays, 55 yards, TOP 03:07
SMU 3, SYR 7
SMU - Baird,Brendan 40 yd field goal 9 plays, 52 yards, TOP 03:54
SMU 10, SYR 7
SMU - Hale,Jalen 9 yd pass from Jennings,Kevin (Baird,Brendan kick) 12 plays, 88 yards, TOP 04:40
2nd Quarter
SMU 10, SYR 10
SYR - Woody,Tripp 29 yd field goal 13 plays, 64 yards, TOP 06:04
SMU 10, SYR 13
SYR - Woody,Tripp 25 yd field goal 5 plays, 15 yards, TOP 01:42
SMU 10, SYR 20
SYR - Miller,Ahmad 1 yd run (Woody,Tripp kick), 9 plays, 50 yards, TOP 02:57
3rd Quarter
SMU 17, SYR 20
SMU - Knight,Yamir 14 yd pass from Jennings,Kevin (Baird,Brendan kick) 10 plays, 85 yards, TOP 04:30
4th Quarter
SMU 19, SYR 20
SMU - 0 yd safety
SMU 27, SYR 20
SMU - Raphael,Kendrick 13 yd run (McFall,Derrick pass), 7 plays, 67 yards, TOP 02:57
SMU 27, SYR 23
SYR - Woody,Tripp 26 yd field goal 10 plays, 67 yards, TOP 03:38
SMU 27, SYR 30
SYR - Meyers,Noah 2 yd pass from Angeli,Steve (Woody,Tripp kick) 11 plays, 68 yards, TOP 03:19
Game Leaders
CMP
29
TD
2
YDS
352
INT
0
Tuesday, November 03
Tuesday, November 03
Monday, November 02
Sunday, November 01
