Friday, January 2, 2026 – 7 p.m. CT
[RV/RV] SMU (8-4, 6-2 ACC) vs [20/21] Arizona (9-3, 6-3 Big 12)
Snapdragon Stadium – San Diego, Calif.
TV: Fox
Radio: The Ticket - KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM | Sirius XM 84
Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
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SETTING THE SCENE
• The Mustangs will travel to San Diego to play against Arizona in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl.
• SMU is making its 23rd bowl appearance in program history in the game.
• The Mustangs are coming off a 38-35 loss to Cal to end the regular season on Nov. 29.
• Chris Johnson recorded a career-best 128 yards rushing and a touchdown in the loss.
•
Kevin Jennings threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns.
QUICK HITS
• The Mustangs have been explosive this year, recording 14 offensive scoring drives in 2025 that have resulted in touchdowns in under two minutes.
• The SMU defense has been opportunistic in 2025, ranking fourth in FBS for turnovers gained (27), sixth in red zone defense (0.705), seventh in passes intercepted (17), seventh in fumbles recovered (10), 10th in defensive touchdowns (3), 18th in team sacks (2.83) 19th in rushing defense (105.9).
•
Kevin Jennings continues to be an impact player, ranking in the top 14 in the country in completions per game (ninth, 23.25), passing yards per game (10th, 280.3), passing yards (11th, 3,363) and passing touchdowns (14th, 26).
• The defensive line of the Mustangs has been a force this season with
Isaiah Smith (2nd, 8.5),
Terry Webb (T-15th, 5.5)
Cameron Robertson (T-16th, 5.0) and
Jeffrey M'ba (T-16th, 5.0) ranking in the top 16 in total sacks in the conference.
•
Ahmaad Moses has displayed his ball-hawk instincts in the pass game, ranking sixth in the nation with five total interceptions.
•
Jordan Hudson ranks fourth in receiving yards per game (76.8), fifth in receptions per game (5.6), tied for seventh in receiving touchdowns (4) and tied for ninth in total receiving yards (691).
• The Mustangs have started fast in games this year, outscoring their opponents 184-114 in the first half of games.
• SMU's 62 wins in the last six years are the most by any FBS team in the state with Texas. In addition, the Mustangs have won 27 of those on the road, tops for any team in the state since 2019.
• The Mustangs are 28-8 in their last 36 games, and 27-5 in their last 32 regular-season contests.
• SMU has posted a record of 32-4 during Lashlee's four seasons in charge when they score 30-or-more points in a game.
• The Mustangs have had at least seven receivers catch a pass in 40 of the past 43 games.
•
Rhett Lashlee boasts a 27-5 conference record in his career, best in program history.
THE SERIES
• This is the third meeting in the all-time series.
• The series is tied at 1-1.
• The teams last met in 1985, a 28-6 win for the Wildcats.
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
• Arizona has gone 9-3 in 2025, going 6-3 against Big 12 opponents.
• Most recently, the Wildcats defeated Arizona State 23-7.
THE COACHES
•
Rhett Lashlee is in his fourth season as the head coach at SMU and has a 37-16 career record, with 29 wins the second most for a head coach in his first three years in program history. 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 Coach of the Year by Dave Campbell's Texas Football publication, a finalist of the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, and a semi-finalist for the George Munger National Coach of the Year.
MUSTANG CAPTAINS
•
Kevin Jennings,
Alexander Kilgore,
Ahmaad Moses,
Isaiah Nwokobia,
Logan Parr and
PJ Williams were named captains for the 2025 season.
BEST IN TEXAS
• SMU has enjoyed much success in the past six seasons.
• The Mustangs have recorded 62 wins since 2019, tied with Texas for the most by the 13 FBS teams in the state.
• Of those 62 wins, 27 have come on the road, tops for any team in the state since 2019.
BOWL HISTORY
• The Holiday Bowl marks the 23rd appearance in a bowl game for the Mustangs in program history.
• SMU has a bowl record of 7-12-1 (two were cancelled due to COVID in 2020 and 2021).
• The Mustangs last won a bowl game on Dec. 12, 2012, a 43-10 victory against Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl.
CHEERS ALL-ACC AROUND
• The Mustangs had 13 players garner All-ACC accolades this year.
•
Ahmaad Moses and
Logan Parr made the first team.
•
PJ Williams and
Isaiah Smith were second-team selections.
•
Jordan Hudson got third-team honors.
•
Kevin Jennings,
Matthew Hibner,
Joshua Bates,
Jeffrey M'ba,
Terry Webb,
Deuce Harmon,
Isaiah Nwokobia and
Yamir Knight were honorable mention from the league.
CLOSING TIME
• SMU has been able to close in the month of November under head coach
Rhett Lashlee.
• Lashlee has posted an 14-2 (.875) mark for November as leader of the Mustangs.
• The .875 winning percentage for the month ranks as the highest for a head coach in the program's history.
BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE IN NOVEMBER IN PROGRAM HISTORY
Head Coach Winning % Record
Rhett Lashlee (2022- Pres.) .875 14-2
Bobby Collins (1982-86) .710 13-5-1
Ray Morrison (1922-34) .694 29-10-10
Madison Bell (1935-41, 45-49) .603 30-19-4
Mike Cavan (1997-01) .529 9-8
Ron Meyer (1976-81) .524 11-10
June Jones (2008-14) .500 11-11
Chalmer Woodward (1953-56) .438 7-9
J. Burton Rix (1917-21) .437 5-7-4
Bill Meek (1957-61) .432 9-12-1
Phil Bennett (2002-07) .400 8-12
Sonny Dykes (2017-21) .400 6-9
H.N. Russell (1950-52) .385 4-7-2
James H. Stewart (1942-44) .375 4-7-1
Hayden Fry (1962-72) .349 15-28
Dave Smith (1973-75) .333 3-7-2
Chad Morris (2015-17) .312 5-11
Tom Rossley (1991-96) .279 5-13
Ray Morrison (1915-16) .166 1-7-1
Tom Mason (2014) .000 0-4
Forrest Gregg (1989-90) .000 0-7
LUCKY NUMBER 30
• SMU has posted a record of 32-4 (.888) during Lashlee's four seasons in charge when they score 30 or more points in a game.
CLUB TAKEAWAY
• Club Takeaway is back and open for business again in 2025.
• SMU has forced a turnover in 32 of the past 36 games.
• The Mustangs have forced multiple turnovers in eight out of the 12 games this year.
I WANNA GO FAST
• The Mustangs have proven this year to score quickly when they have the ball on offense.
• SMU has recorded 14 offensive scoring drives in 2025 that have resulted in touchdowns in under two minutes.
• The Mustangs have recorded at least one scoring drive in nine out of the 12 games this season that are two minutes or less.
THE FRONT LINES
• The Mustangs have caused problems to other teams with their pass rush this year, ranking sixth in FBS in sacks with 34 in 11 contests.
•
Isaiah Smith (2nd, 8.5),
Terry Webb (T-15th, 5.5)
Cameron Robertson (T-16th, 5.0) and
Jeffrey M'ba (T-16th, 5.0) ranking in the top 16 in total sacks in the conference.
• SMU has recorded multiple sacks in all but three contests this year.
