SMU piled up 592 yards in a 34-24 win over Missouri State, but turnovers, missed kicks and an early hole exposed problems before Boston College.
SMU got the win it needed Saturday night, but the 34-24 victory over Missouri State also gave Rhett Lashlee plenty to clean up before the Mustangs return to ACC play.
The box score looked impressive. SMU finished with 592 total yards, including 464 through the air, and quarterback Kevin Jennings completed 33 of 39 passes for 464 yards and three touchdowns. He also completed a school-record 21 consecutive passes.
But the first quarter was ugly.
The Mustangs fell behind 10-0 after two costly turnovers. Yamir Knight fumbled deep in SMU territory, leading to a Missouri State field goal, and Jennings later threw an interception that Joel Boamah returned 60 yards for a touchdown.
SMU also left points on the field. The Mustangs failed on fourth down during their opening possession and later missed two field goals, making the night far more uncomfortable than it needed to be.
To their credit, the Mustangs recovered.
Kendrick Raphael rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown, while Yamir Knight caught 11 passes for 164 yards and a score.
Jalen Cooper added eight catches for 125 yards. Defensively, SMU produced 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks, showing that the front can still take over games when the offense gets out of rhythm.
Jennings eventually found his groove and helped turn a shaky first half into another productive offensive night.
But the concern heading into Boston College is obvious: SMU can’t keep spotting opponents opportunities with turnovers and missed scoring chances.
The Mustangs are now 3-1, but ACC play brings a much smaller margin for error.
Boston College visits Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. CT for SMU’s ACC home opener.
If SMU plays clean, the offense has enough firepower to overwhelm teams. If it doesn’t, Saturday’s problems may become much more expensive.
