DALLAS, TEXAS — SMU continued its dominant season with a 35-14 victory over Boston College in front of a sellout crowd of 34,438 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium—the Mustangs’ third consecutive sellout and part of a season attendance record of 195,385 through six home games. This surpasses the previous mark of 164,602 set in 2010. Four of the top 11 crowds in the stadium’s history (opened in 2000) have come this season, reflecting SMU’s growing momentum.
The win marks SMU’s 15th straight conference victory, the longest streak in program history. The Mustangs are now 6-0 in ACC play for the second consecutive season and 9-1 overall, their best start since 2019. Under head coach Rhett Lashlee, SMU has gone 19-3 in conference games and is 24-1 when scoring at least 30 points.
Jennings, Brashard Shine on Offense
Sophomore quarterback Kevin Jennings, a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, led the charge with 298 passing yards and three touchdowns, finding Roderick Daniels Jr., Jordan Hudson, and Key’Shawn Smith in the end zone. Jennings has thrown for at least 250 yards in every ACC game this season and has five games with multiple touchdown passes.
Senior running back Brashard Smith added 120 rushing yards and a touchdown, his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season. Smith now has 1,026 rushing yards in 2023, becoming the 12th Mustang to achieve a 1,000-yard season. His 1,470 all-purpose yards this year rank 12th in SMU history.
Defense Seals the Victory
The Mustangs’ defense stepped up late, with back-to-back sacks by Kobe Wilson and Jahfari Harvey on Boston College’s final possession to secure the win. Wilson, who recorded a career-high 16 tackles, played a pivotal role, as did Isaiah Nwokobia, whose interception was his third of the season and ninth of his career. SMU’s defense has now forced 20 takeaways this season while limiting opponents to just 17 points off turnovers.
The defensive unit also held Boston College to 3-of-6 on fourth-down attempts and allowed zero points off turnovers in the game. SMU finished with three sacks and five quarterback hurries, with contributions from Mike Lockhart and Harvey.
Season Milestones
- SMU has at least 438 yards of offense in every ACC game this season.
- The Mustangs rank 13-1 in their last 14 home games and 17-1 in their last 18 regular-season contests.
- Justin Osborne has played in 55 career games, tying for sixth-most in program history.
Next, SMU hits the road to face Virginia on Saturday, November 23, as the Mustangs look to extend their win streak and maintain their position atop the ACC standings.
