SMU
Cal
Oct 20 | Football
Saturday, October 24, 2026 – 11:00 a.m. CT
[23/20] SMU (5-1, 3-1 ACC) vs. California (3-4, 2-2 ACC)
Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas
TV: The CW
Radio: KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM & SiriusXM
Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
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SETTING THE SCENE
• The 23rd-ranked Mustangs are set to take on California on Saturday in another nationally televised game at Ford Stadium.
• SMU comes into the game ranked 23rd in the AP Top 25 Poll and 20th in the US LBM Coaches Poll.
• The Mustangs got the victory against Virginia this past weekend, 23-13.
• Kendrick Raphael led the way for SMU, finishing with 119 yards on the ground, his second game this year with at least 100.
• Kevin Jennings continued to close in on another program record, finishing with two passing touchdowns to bring him within one of tying the record for most passing touchdowns in a career at 72.
QUICK HITS
• SMU has posted a 30-6 record against conference opponents since 2022, highlighted by the 20-game winning streak that lasted from 2022-25.
• The Mustangs have gone 17-3 in ACC play since joining the conference in 2024, the most wins by an ACC team during that span.
• SMU has recorded 142 sacks since 2023, that is the most in all FBS during that span.
• The SMU defense has held opponents to 22-83 (.265) on third down this season, fourth best in the country.
• Since 2024, the Mustangs have forced 56 turnovers, which ranks 14th in the in country during that span and the second-most in the ACC.
• Jennings has posted a record of 24-8 as the starter for the Mustangs.
• Jennings is the ACC active leader in career passing yards (9,548) and career total yards (10,202).
• Jennings is one of eight FBS active quarterbacks with at least 10,000 yards of total offense.
• The Mustangs are 34-9 in their last 43 games, and 32-6 in their last 38 regular-season contests.
• SMU has posted a record of 34-5 during Lashlee's five 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 46 of the past 50 games.
• SMU recorded 27 offensive scoring drives since 2025 that resulted in touchdowns in under two minutes.
• Rhett Lashlee boasts a 30-6 conference record in his career, best in program history.
THE SERIES
• This is the fourth meeting in the series.
• SMU holds a 2-1 lead in the series.
• Cal won the last meeting this past season, 38-35, at their place.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS
• Cal is coming off a 41-7 loss to Wake Forest on Oct. 17.
MUSTANGS STAY RANKED
• SMU has featured inside the top-25 in the AP Poll every week since the preseason poll dropped in August. It's the longest such streak since the 1985 season.
3RD AND GOOD LUCK
• The SMU defense has held opponents to 22-83 (.265) on third down this season.
• The mark leads the ACC and puts the Mustangs at No. 4 in the country.
LUCKY NUMBER 30
• SMU has posted a record of 34-5 (.872) during Lashlee's five seasons in charge when they score 30 or more points in a game.
PASS ME THE ROCK
• Lashlee's offense is second in the ACC and ranks fifth in the country this season at 325.2 passing yards per game.
JOIN THE SACK CLUB
• The Mustangs have caused problems to other teams with their pass rush over the last three years.
• SMU has recorded 142 sacks since 2023, that is the most in all FBS during that span.
MOST SACKS IN FBS SINCE 2023
1. SMU 142
2. JMU 140
3. Miami 139
4 Texas 138
5. Tennessee 137
I WANNA GO FAST
• The Mustangs proved last year that they could score quickly when they have the ball on offense.
• SMU recorded 27 offensive scoring drives since 2025 that resulted in touchdowns in under two minutes.
• The Mustangs have put together 13 scoring drives of less than two minutes this season, including five against UC Davis and at least one in each contest.
