Saturday, September 28, 2024 – 7 p.m. CT
[RV/RV] SMU (3-1, 0-0 ACC) vs. Florida State (1-3, 1-2 ACC)
Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas
TV: ACC Network  
Radio: The Ticket - KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM | Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
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SETTING THE SCENE
• SMU is set to play its first ACC game when Florida State visits Ford Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28. 
• After seeing their nine-game home winning streak end during an 18-15 loss to BYU on Sept. 6, the Mustangs bounced back with a dominant 66-42 win during the Battle for the Iron Skillet against TCU on Sept. 21.
• The Mustangs were sparked by three non-offensive touchdowns - interception, fumble and punt return to the house.
• Club Takeaway continued to be in business, forcing five turnovers, the most since East Carolina on Nov. 12, 2016, and has now forced 11 on the season.
• Brashard Smith carried on his breakout season against the Horned Frogs, racking up 127 yards on the ground with a career-best three touchdowns along with 24 yards receiving and a touchdown. He also set a career high for all-purpose yards in a game with 190, and has eclipsed 100 all-purpose yards in all four games this season.
• Ahmaad Moses and Smith both picked up ACC weekly accolades following their performances against TCU, with Moses earning ACC Defensive Back of the Week and Smith being named ACC Running Back of the Week.

QUICK HITS
• The Mustangs are 10-1 in their last 11 home games at Ford Stadium going back to 2022. 
• After setting a new single-game record with five made field goals against BYU, Collin Rodgers tacked on three more during the win over TCU and remains tied for the lead in the nation in made field goals with 11.
• SMU's defense has continued to force turnovers this year, ranking third in the country with 11 turnovers gained, along with being tied for first in defensive touchdowns with three.
• The Mustangs have had at least seven receivers catch a pass in 21 straight games, dating back to at Tulane on Nov. 17, 2022.
• Brashard Smith has made an impact in 2024, ranking eighth in total touchdowns (7), 11th in rushing touchdowns (6), 13th in average kickoff return (25.6), 14th nationally in all-purpose yards (144.25) and 23rd in rushing yards (380).
• Ahmad Moses ranks second in the nation in total interceptions with three after picking off TCU twice during the victory and becoming the first Mustang with multiple interceptions since Nick roberts vs. Houston on Nov. 5, 2022.
• SMU's 46 wins in the last six years are the most by any FBS Texas team.
• The Mustangs are 12-2 in last 14 games.
• SMU has posted a record of 19-1 during Rhett Lashlee's three seasons in charge when they score 30 or more points in a game.
• SMU had 20 players earn various accolades prior to the start of the season. 

THE SERIES
• This is the first meeting between the two schools. 

ABOUT THE SEMINOLES
• Florida State is 1-3 on the season and 1-2 in the ACC. 
• The Seminoles bounced back from an 0-3 start with a 14-9 victory over ACC-foe Cal on Sept. 21 in Tallahassee.
• This will mark FSU's first true road game of the season but enters Dallas with a seven-game road winning streak dating back to 2022.

THE COACHES
• Rhett Lashlee is in his third season as the head coach at SMU and has a 21-10 career record. Lashlee, who served as offensive coordinator for the Mustangs for two seasons (2018-19), also served as the offensive coordinator at Miami in 2020 and 2021. A one-time finalist (2013) and two-time semifinalist (2019, 2020) for the Broyles Award, Lashlee has the distinction of being the only coach ever nominated for the Broyles Award four different times at four different schools (Arkansas State, Auburn, SMU, Miami).

• Lashlee was named a finalist last season for the prestigious Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award, handed out the nation's top coach as voted on by the National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards' Executive Leadership Team, and the Bryant Family. The Arkansas native was also named Co-Coach of the Year by the Dave Campbell's Texas Football publication, a finalist of the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, and a semi-finalist for Coach of the Year Award by the Maxwell Football Club for the job he did in 2023.

• Mike Norvell, who was named Florida State's head football coach on Dec. 8, 2019, enters his fifth season in 2024 after leading the Seminoles to an undefeated regular season and the program's 16th ACC championship in 2023. He as a career record of 

• Norvell earned the Dodd Trophy and Bryant Award in 2023, becoming the eighth coach and second since 2003 to win both national Coach of the Year recognitions in the same season. He also was named ACC Coach of the Year, joining the legendary Bobby Bowden as the only FSU coaches to earn the conference's top coaching honor, and the AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year while also being named one of five finalists for the George Munger Coach of the Year Award presented by the Maxwell Football Club and one of 12 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.

MUSTANG CAPTAINS
• Kevin Jennings, Jonathan McGill, Justin Osborne, Elijah Roberts, Preston Stone and Kobe Wilson were voted captains for the 2024 season. 

FIREWORKS IN FORD
• SMU has been explosive on offense in Ford Stadium in its last 11 home games, scoring 565 points. 
• The Mustangs are averaging SMU is averaging 51.3 points per game during the 11-game span dating back in 2022. 
• SMU has scored 40+ in 10 of 15 home games under Rhett Lashlee.

THIS IS THE NEW SMU
• SMU has continued to produce elite production on both sides of the ball this year, continuing its success from the 2023 season. 
• The Mustangs rank in the top 25 in FBS in multiple categories including defensive touchdowns (first), turnovers gained (third), fumbles recovered (fourth), passes intercepted (eighth), scoring offense (16th), sacks allowed (18th) and rushing defense (25th). 

NEW HIGH SCORE SET
• SMU has put up the points under Lashlee's leadership of the program.
• The Mustangs have registered seven games scoring at least 50 points and are undefeated in those contests (7-0). 

50-point Games Under Head Coach Rhett Lashlee
Nov. 7, 2022        vs. Houston        W, 77-63
Sept. 16, 2023    vs. Prairie View A&M    W, 69-0
Oct. 28, 2023    vs. Tulsa        W, 69-10
Sept. 21, 2024    vs. TCU        W, 66-42
Nov. 25, 2023    vs. Navy        W, 59-14
Aug. 31, 2024    vs. HCU        W, 59-7
Oct. 20, 2023    at Temple        W, 55-0