Sep 13, 2026 5:00 PM
SMU’s offense looked sharper and more efficient against UC Davis, with Kevin Jennings throwing five first-half touchdowns and avoiding costly turnovers.
DALLAS - SMU’s offense was explosive in its season-opening win over Florida State. Against UC Davis, it was something even more important: clean.
The No. 17 Mustangs rolled to a 56-10 victory Saturday, and the biggest difference from the 27-24 win at Florida State wasn’t raw yardage. It was efficiency.
SMU actually gained more total yards against the Seminoles, piling up 585 compared with 547 against UC Davis.
But the Mustangs averaged 9.8 yards per play Saturday after posting 8.7 against Florida State, and they eliminated the mistakes that nearly turned the opener into a loss.
That starts with Kevin Jennings.
Jennings was brilliant but occasionally reckless at Florida State, completing 26 of 36 passes for 430 yards and three touchdowns while throwing two interceptions.
SMU also lost two fumbles, finishing with four turnovers despite dominating the game statistically.
Against UC Davis, Jennings looked completely in control.
He completed 14 of 16 passes for 337 yards and five touchdowns, all before halftime. His completion rate jumped to 87.5 percent, and he averaged a staggering 21.1 yards per attempt.
Most importantly, he didn’t turn the ball over.
That allowed SMU to turn explosiveness into points instead of frustration.
Derrick McFall scored on a 52-yard reception, Yannick Smith added a 44-yard touchdown catch, and the Mustangs built a 42-0 halftime lead.
By comparison, SMU led Florida State only 17-10 at halftime despite moving the ball almost at will.
The one area worth monitoring is the running game.
SMU rushed for 155 yards against Florida State but managed only 98 against UC Davis. K
endrick Raphael had 75 yards on 12 carries in the opener, while McFall led the Mustangs Saturday with 46 rushing yards.
That didn’t matter against UC Davis, but it could when ACC play tightens up.
The bigger takeaway is that SMU showed growth from Week 1 to Week 2.
Against Florida State, the Mustangs proved they could create explosive plays against a Power Four defense.
Against UC Davis, they proved they could do it without beating themselves.
If SMU can combine Jennings’ big-play ability with the turnover-free efficiency it showed Saturday, this offense could become one of the most dangerous units in the ACC.
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