USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Sep 11, 2026 12:00 PM
No. 17 SMU returns to Gerald J. Ford Stadium looking to build on its dramatic win at Florida State against an undefeated UC Davis team.
SMU plays its first game at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and the Mustangs arrive in considerably better spirits than they might have expected.
The Labor Day trip to Tallahassee was worth the wait, literally. In a game delayed nearly two hours by a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium, SMU won 27-24 on Nick Reed's 20-yard field goal with 21 seconds left.
Kevin Jennings threw for a career-best 430 yards and three touchdowns, shaking off two interceptions to lead the winning drive. The Mustangs climbed to No. 17 in both the AP and Coaches polls as a result.
Now comes the part of the schedule that is supposed to be routine. UC Davis is an FCS program, and SMU is favored by roughly 31 points.
The Aggies are not a pushover, though. They enter Dallas at 2-0 after knocking off Portland State 31-24 and then dismantling San Diego 49-17 on the road. UC Davis is ranked sixth in the FCS, coming off a 9-4 season that ended in the quarterfinals with a No. 8 national finish.
Jackson Kollock, a Minnesota transfer, has settled in quickly at quarterback, and Weber State transfer Chauncey Sylvester has added depth in the backfield. This is a well-coached team that has already handled two road environments successfully.
The trap here is obvious in a look-ahead situation. SMU is coming off an emotional primetime road win and hosting an opponent it is expected to beat comfortably, with a trip to No. 24 Louisville waiting the following week. Lashlee has been around long enough to recognize the setup.
The Mustangs also have things to work on. Jennings and the offense will want cleaner ball security after the two interceptions, and the retooled defensive front gets a chance to build on what it showed in Tallahassee.
This is the first meeting between the two programs.
WHAT: No. 17 SMU (1-0) vs. UC Davis (2-0)
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 12, at 3 p.m. CT
WHERE: Gerald J. Ford Stadium | Dallas, Texas
TV: ACC Network Extra | Commentator: Robert Lee (play-by-play) and Mo Hasan (analyst)
RADIO: KTCK 96.7 FM / 1310 AM and SiriusXM
BETTING ODDS VIA DraftKings
SPREAD: SMU -25.6
TOTAL: 58.5
MONEYLINE: UCD +1300 | SMU -2800
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