Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Sep 25, 2026 8:00 PM
No. 22 SMU returns home against Missouri State looking to clean up turnovers, fix its run defense and get Kevin Jennings back on track.
No. 22 SMU gets a chance to reset Saturday night when Missouri State visits Gerald J. Ford Stadium for Family Weekend.
The Mustangs are 2-1 after last week’s 41-31 loss at Louisville, a game that exposed two issues Rhett Lashlee wants corrected immediately: turnovers and run defense.
SMU has a minus-four turnover margin through three games, while Louisville gashed the Mustangs for 265 rushing yards at 7.2 yards per carry.
That puts quarterback Kevin Jennings back at the center of the conversation.
Jennings has completed 64 of 87 passes for 989 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions, good for a 73.6 percent completion rate.
His arm talent has rarely been the issue. The bigger concern is avoiding the mistakes that shorten drives and give opponents extra possessions.
Missouri State, meanwhile, enters 1-2 under first-year head coach Casey Woods, who spent the previous four seasons as SMU’s offensive coordinator. That familiarity adds an interesting wrinkle to a game SMU otherwise enters as a massive favorite.
The Bears have enough offense to make SMU pay if the Mustangs are sloppy. Quarterback Skyler Locklear has thrown for 567 yards with three touchdowns over the past two games, including 309 yards and two scores against Marshall. Missouri State lost that game 30-24, but the Bears showed they can move the ball through the air.
SMU should also have an advantage on the ground. Kendrick Raphael leads the Mustangs with 275 rushing yards and four touchdowns, and this is a good spot for Lashlee to reestablish offensive balance after last week’s uneven performance.
The teams met last season in Springfield, with SMU winning 28-10.
Missouri State running back Breezy Dubar is one of the biggest names to watch. Dubar left last week’s loss to Marshall with a lower-body injury and was considered questionable early this week.
He has 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns this season. Head coach Casey Woods said the injury was not expected to be long term.
Defensive lineman Tim Brantley Jr. and center Isaiah Villanueva were also limited against Marshall, though Woods indicated the rest of the roster was generally in position to play.
For SMU, running back LJ Rhodes remains out for the season with a knee injury. Tight end Matthew Uter and running back Chris Rhodes had previously been listed as questionable with undisclosed injuries, while running back E.J. Kelly was considered probable.
The matchup is straightforward for SMU: protect the football, stop giving up chunk runs and use the talent advantage before Missouri State gets comfortable. If Jennings plays clean football, this should be an opportunity for the Mustangs to get back on track before returning to ACC play.
WHAT: Missouri State at No. 22 SMU
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 26 | 8 p.m. CT
WHERE: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas
TV: ACC Network
RADIO: KTCK 96.7 FM / 1310 AM and SiriusXM
BETTING ODDS via DRAFTKINGS
SPREAD: SMU -34.5 (-105) | Missouri State +34.5 (-115)
TOTAL: 59.5 | Over -110, Under -110
MONEYLINE: SMU -50,000 | Missouri State +4,000
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