No. 17 SMU Rolls In Home Opener Win Over UC Davis, 56-10

Saturday, September 12

Dallas, Texas

3pm CT

SMU

2-0 , 1-0

UC Davis

2-1 , 1-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
UC Davis	0	0	0	10	10
SMU	14	28	7	7	56

No. 17 SMU Rolls In Home Opener Win Over UC Davis, 56-10

Sep 12 | Football

Box Score

Jennings Throws For 337 Yards, 5 TDs, Sets Career Total Offense Record In Win

Box Score | Postgame Notes
Photo Gallery | Game Highlights
Condensed Game Video

DALLAS (AP) -- Kevin Jennings threw for 337 yards and a career-high five touchdowns while playing just the first half, and No. 17 SMU rolled to a 56-10 victory over lower-division UC Davis on a scorching Saturday in Texas.

The teams agreed to play two 12-minute quarters after halftime with SMU leading 42-0. The temperature for the midafternoon kickoff was 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) with a heat index of 107.

Yannick Smith had a 44-yard catch and run to cap the first-half scoring for the Mustangs (2-0) when he attempted to leap two defenders at the 10-yard line but came down between them, and ran through them on the way to the end zone.

Derrick McFall was all alone down the middle on a 52-yard touchdown, and Theo Melin Ohrstrom had two scoring catches. McFall also had a 40-yard run.

A week after throwing for five TDs in a win over San Diego, Treynor Cleeland was 11 of 25 for 83 yards with an interception. The Aggies (2-1), who qualified for the FCS playoffs each of the past two seasons, pulled Cleeland when trailing 49-0 late in the third quarter.

Jennings was 14 of 16 without an interception a week after the Mustangs recorded a 27-24 victory over Florida State.

The Aggies had the ball on second down at their 4-yard line at the 2-minute timeout of the first half, trailing 28-0. Just 96 seconds later, SMU had two more touchdowns while using one timeout. Cleeland's interception on the second-down play gave the Mustangs the ball at the UC Davis 20. A three-and-out with two incompletions on the next possession was followed by Smith's highlight reel TD.

Jennings' school-led Heisman campaign is off to a strong start. He has 767 yards passing and eight touchdowns in two victories. He broke Ben Hicks' decade-old school record of 8,977 total yards. Jennings finished the game at 9,073. On this season's pace, Jennings would break Hicks' record for passing yards in Week 4.

Up next for UC Davis, after three consecutive road games to start the season, the Aggies play the first of three in a row at home next Saturday against Stetson.

SMU has a second ACC game in the first three of the season when the Mustangs travle to No. 24 Louisville next Saturday.

SMU Postgame Notes – September 12, 2026

[17/17] SMU 56, UC Davis 10
SMU (2-0), UCD (2-1)
Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas
Game Captains: Joshua Bates (#64, OL, Sr.), Yamir Knight (#8, WR, Sr), Brandon Miyazono (#29, LB, Sr.), Aakil Washington (#58, DE, Gr.)

NEXT GAME

at [24/rv] Louisville - Saturday, September 19 – 3:30pm ET/2:30pm CT – L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium – Louisville, Kentucky
TV: ESPN2
Radio: KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM | SMU App/The Varsity APP | Sirius XM
Tickets: smumustangs.com/tickets

**Both coaches agreed to 12-minute quarters for the second half

GAME TOTALS

Score: SMU 56, UCD 10
Total yards: SMU 547, UCD 233
First downs: SMU 20, UCD 12
Third downs: SMU 5-10, UCD 2-13
Rushing yards: SMU 93, UCD 62
Sacks: SMU 2 (13), UCD 1 (9)
Tackles for Loss: SMU 6.0 (21), UCD 4.0 (16)
SMU recorded 547 yards (454 passing / 93rushing yards)
SMU led 42-0 at halftime with a 372-121 advantage in total yards

SMU RECORDS

Kevin Jennings (9073 total offense) passed Ben Hicks (8977 total offense) for the program record.
A record 16 different receivers recorded a reception

TOUCHDOWNS

SMU scored 8 touchdowns
- 5-yard run by Kendrick Raphael
  - First touchdown as a Mustang, 18th rushing TD of his career
- 52-yard reception (Kevin Jennings to Derrick McFall)
  - 3rd receiving touchdown in McFall's career, 9th in his career and the longest career reception
- 2-yard reception (Kevin Jennings to Theo Melin Ohrstrom)
  - First touchdown as a Mustang and the 4th of his career
- 2-yard reception (Kevin Jennings to Randy Pittman)
  - Second as a Mustang and 10^th of his career
- 14-yard reception (Kevin Jennings to Theo Melin Ohrstrom)
  - Second TD as Mustang, fifth of his career
- 44-yard reception (Kevin Jennings to Yannick Smith)
  - Second TD of the season, 11^th of his career
  - Back-to-back games with a 40-plus yard TD reception
- 8-yard reception (Ty Hawkins to Zack Turner)
  - First career TD pass for Hawkins
  - First career TD reception for Turner
- 3-yard reception (Ty Hawkins to Aljour Miles II)
  - Second career TD pass for Hawkins
  - First career TD reception for Aljour Miles II)

OFFENSE

SMU recorded 8 explosive plays
- 51 pass to Jalen Hale
- 52-yard TD pass (Keving Jennings to Derrick McFall)
- 33-yard pass to Yamir Knight
- 31-yard pass to Dramekco Green
- 23-yard pass to Kendrick Raphael
- 42-yard pass to Jalen Hale
- 24-yard pass to Yamir Knight
- 44-yard TD pass to Yannick Smith
SMU had a record 16 different players record a reception. The Mustangs had 13 different players make a catch against Tulsa (10/28/23).

DEFENSE

SMU recorded 6 TFLs (2 sacks)
- Jimmy Wyrick 1 TFL, 1 sack (4 yards)
  - Second consecutive game with a sack
- Jayvan Thomas 0.5 TFL
- Marques White 0.5 TFL
- Ira Singleton 1 TFL
- Jakai Anderson 1 TFL
- Amontre Harris 1 sack/TFL
SMU recorded two takeaways
- Jarvis Lee Interception
- Jaylen Moses fumble recovery

100 CLUB

Derrick McFall recorded 103 all-purpose yards (46 rushing, 57 receiving)

TEAM NOTES

Scoring Quick
- SMU Had 5 scoring drives of 2-minutes or less.
- The Mustangs have 7 drives of 2-minutes or less this season and 22 since the start of 2025
SMU is
- SMU is 40-16 under Rhett Lashlee
- SMU is 22-4 at home under Rhett Lashlee
- SMU is 29-5 in last 34 regular-season games
- SMU is 30-8 in the last 38 games overall
SMU is 33-4 under Rhett Lashlee when scoring at least 30 points
SMU had an SMU-record 16 Mustangs catch a pass
- At least 7 players have a catch in 42 of the past 45 games
- At least 8 in both games this season
SMU had 2 takeaways (1 interception, 1 fumble)
- 53 takeaways since the start of the 2024 season (entered the game second in the ACC in that stretch)
- Fumble Recovery: Jaylen Moses
- Interceptions: Jarvis Lee (1:51 in the second QTR)

LAST TIME:

SMU led 42-0 at halftime. Most points in the first half since 42 vs Houston Christian 8/31/24 (W, 59-7)
Jennings had 337 first-half passing yards, the first time a QB has thrown for over 300 yards in a half since Preston Stone (332) vs. Navy, Nov. 25, 2023.
First time since 2023 with back-to-back games with over 500 total yards (at Temple 10/20/23 – 563, vs Tulsa 10/28/23 – 638)
First time holding a team scoreless through three quarters since at Virginia (20-0), Nov. 23, 2024.
SMU had a record 16 different players record a reception. The record was 13 different players make a catch against Tulsa (10/28/23).
First time with seven different players scoring a touchdown since vs. Houston Christian 8/31/24 (7).

HIGHLIGHTS

ACCNX
- Kendrick Raphael 5-yard touchdown run - https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/49918007
- Kevin Jennings 52-yard touchdown pass to Derrick McFall - https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/49918452
- Kevin Jennings 2-yard touchdown pass to Theo Melin Ohrstrom - https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/49918524
- Jarvis Lee Jr. interception - https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/49918984
- Kevin Jennings 44-yard touchdown pass to Yannick Smith - https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/49919105
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

KICKOFF TEMPERATURE

It was 100 degrees at kickoff, T-4^th in SMU history
- 111 degrees at TCU (W, 45-21) 9/10/77
- 107 degrees vs Kansas (W, 31-17) 9/2/00
- 101 degrees vs Texas Tech (L, 41-23) 8/30/13
- 100 degrees vs North Texas (W, 49-27) 9/7/19
- 100 degrees vs UC Davis 9/12/26

K7NG OF DALLAS, Kevin Jennings Heisman Campaign

Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, 5^th) – 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 Preseason Watch List, Manning Award Preseason Watch List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Preseason Watch List
- 21-7 as a starter
- 14-16 passing for 337 yards with a career-high 5 TDs
  - 1 TDs to Derrick McFall
  - 2 TDs to Theo Melin Ohrstrom
  - 1 TDs to Randy Pittman
  - Multiple passing TDs in five of his past six games played
- 5 rushing with 337 yards passing for 342 yards of total offense
- 11^th-career 3-TD Passing game
- 5 TD passes, now has 63 for his career (entered the game 8^th among active FBS players)
- 5 TDs responsible for, now has 73 for his career (entered the game 13^th among active FBS players)
- 342 yards of total offense, now has 9073 for his career (entered the game 8^th among active FBS players)

SINGLE-GAME TOUCHDOWNS PASSES

9 Tanner Mordecai vs. Houston, 2022
7 Tanner Mordecai vs. ACU, 2021
6 Mike Romo vs. Vanderbilt, 1990
6 Shane Buechele vs. Temple, 2019
5 Garrett Gilbert vs. Rutgers, 2013
5 Bo Levi Mitchell vs. Texas State, 2008
5 Justin Willis vs. Sam Houston St., 2006
5 Shane Buechele vs. ECU, 2019
5 Tanner Mordecai at La Tech, 2021
5 Preston Stone vs. PVAM, 2023
5 Kevin Jennings vs UC Davis, 2026

CAREER PASSING YARDS
1	Ben Hicks, 2016-18	9081
2	Kevin Jennings 2022-26	8476

SMU CAREER TOTAL OFFENSE - YARDS (Pass \| Run)
1	Kevin Jennings, 2022-	9073	8476	597
2	Ben Hicks, 2016-18	8977	9081	-104

CAREER COMPLETIONS
1	Ben Hicks, 2016-18	718
2	Kevin Jennings, 2022-	665

CAREER TD PASSES
1	Tanner Mordecai, 2021-22	72
2	Ben Hicks, 2016-18	71
3	Kevin Jennings, 2022-26	63

CAREER TDs RESPONSIBLE FOR (Pass/Run)
1	Tanner Mordecai, 2021-22 (72/4)	76
2	Ben Hicks, 2016-18 (71/3)	74
3	Kevin Jennings, 2022-	73

CAREER 300-YD PASSING GAMES
1	Tanner Mordecai, 2021-22	13
2	Ben Hicks, 2016-18	12
	Shane Buechele, 2019-20	12
4	Garrett Gilbert, 2012-13	9
	Kevin Jennings, 2022-26	9

ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Josh Bates (#64, OL, Sr.) - 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 15 games at SMU
Brandon Booker (#28, LB, Jr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team
- Started for 13^th time in past 14 games
Jalen Cooper (#10, WR, So.)
- 1-42 receiving
Dramekco Green (#4, RB, So.)
- 4-19 rushing, 1-31 receiving
- First start of his career
Jalen Hale (#2, WR, Sr.) - College Football Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
- 1-51 receiving
Jonathan Jefferson (#94, DL, 5^th) - College Football Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
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
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
- 3-62 receiving
Jarvis Lee (#1, S, Sr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team
- 1 tackle and 1 interception
  - 3^rd career INT
Derrick McFall (#0, RB, Jr.)
- 2-57 receiving with a TD
- 6-46 rushing
- 103 all-purpose yards
Randy Pittman (#5, TE, Sr.) - Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
- 1-2 receiving with a TD
  - Second straight game with a receiving TD (10 total for his career)
Addison Nichols (#63, OL, 5^th) - Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Second Team
- Has started all 15 games at SMU
Theo Melin Ohrstrom (#18, TE, 5^th) - Senior Bowl Top 300 Watch List
- 3-25 receiving with a career-high 2 receiving TD's
  - First touchdown as a Mustang
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
- 3-3 rushing with a TD
- First touchdown in his SMU career, 18^thrushing TD of his career, 19^th total TD
Nick Reed (#99, K, Sr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Second Team, DCTF All-Texas First Team
- 6-6 PAT
Yannick Smith (#3, WR, Jr.)
- 1-44 receiving with a TD
- Second straight game with a TD
Morgan Tribbett (#48, LS, Jr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC First Team, Patrick Mannelly Award Preseason Watch List
- SMU was 3-127 on punts and 8-8 on PATs
PJ Williams (#59, OL, 5^th) - 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 29 games he has played