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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Kevin Jennings shook off a pair of interceptions to lead No. 19 SMU's winning scoring drive, capped by Nick Reed's 20-yard field goal with 21 seconds to play, to wrap up a 27-24 win on Monday night.

Jennings completed 26 of 36 passes for 430 yards and three touchdowns as SMU (1-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) outlasted Florida State in a game that was delayed nearly two hours due to a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Jennings had a 50-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Cooper and a 10-yard touchdown pass to Randy Pittman, a Florida State transfer, to help the Mustangs rack up 585 offensive yards.

Ousmane Kromah had 22 carries for 116 yards, including a 54-yarder and a 7-yard touchdown to lead Florida State. Kromah has back-to-back 100-yard games to begin his sophomore season.

Ashton Daniels completed 12 of 23 passes for 125 yards and a 39-yard touchdown pass to Samuel Singleton Jr.

Daniels also had an 8-yard touchdown run to help Florida State (1-1, 0-1) wrap up a 14-play, 75-yard drive in the first quarter.

Ashlynd Barker and Nehemiah Chandler had second-half interceptions for Florida State. The Seminoles also forced a muffed punt, which led to a third-quarter touchdown.

SMU and Florida State were set to kick off at 7:35 p.m. but were instead pushed back to 9:15 p.m. due to a power outage. The game began with referees keeping the time on the field.

The Mustangs made plenty of opening-game mistakes but converted 8 of 14 third-down opportunities and had two fourth-quarter scoring drives.

The Seminoles failed to convert on their first 10 third-down attempts, finishing 2 of 15. But Florida State made enough plays on the ground to pick up 177 yards and battle SMU.

Up next, SMU will play host to UC Davis on Saturday. Florida State has a bye and will play at No. 13 Alabama on Sept. 19.

 

• [19/20] SMU 27, [-/rv] Florida State 24
• SMU (1-0, 1-0 ACC), FSU (1-1, 0-1 ACC)
• Doak Campbell Stadium – Tallahassee, Florida
• Game Captains: Brandon Booker (#28, LB, Jr.), Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, 5^th), Alexander Kilgore (#23, LB, Sr.), PJ Williams (#59, OL, 5^th)

• UC Davis - Saturday, September 12 – 3pm CT – Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas
• TV: ACCNX
• Radio: KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM | SMU App/The Varsity APP | Sirius XM
• Tickets: smumustangs.com/tickets

• Score: SMU 27, FSU 24
• Total yards: SMU 585, FSU 330
• First downs: SMU 23, FSU 16
• Third downs: SMU 8-14, FSU 2-15
• Rushing yards: SMU 155, FSU 199
• Sacks: SMU 3 (19), FSU 0 (0)
• Tackles for Loss: SMU 8 (30), FSU 4 (10)
• SMU recorded 585 yards (430 passing / 125 rushing yards)
  • SMU outgained FSU by 173 yards in the first half (328-165)
• SMU's 585 yards was the most against an ACC opponent in program history 

• SMU scored 3 touchdowns
  • Jalen Cooper 50-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter
    • First touchdown of the season for SMU
    • Third career receiving touchdown
  • Randy Pittman 10-yard touchdown reception
    • First touchdown as a Mustang, sixth career receiving touchdown
  • Yannick Smith 79-yard touchdown
    • First touchdown as a Mustang, ninth career receiving touchdown 

• Kevin Jennings had a career-high 430 passing yards, 3 passing TDs
  • Jennings became the first Mustang to throw for over 400 yards since Tanner Mordecai (432) at UNT, Sept. 3, 2022
  • It was his 10^th career 3+ passing TD game
• SMU recorded 6 total explosive plays in the game
• SMU recorded 4 explosive plays in the first half
  • 50-yard TD pass (Kevin Jennings to Jalen Cooper)
  • 30-yard pass (Kevin Jennings to Randy Pittman)\
• 64-yard pass (Kevin Jennings to Jalen Hale)
  • Career-long reception from Jalen Hale
• 23-yard rush by Kendrick Raphael
• SMU recorded 2 explosive plays in the second half
  • 79-yard TD pass (Kevin Jennings to Yannick Smith)
    • Career-long reception for Yannick Smith
  • 29-yard pass (Kevin Jennings to Dramekco Green)
    • Career-long reception Dramekco Green

• SMU had 8 Tackles for Loss in the game
• SMU had 4 TFLs in the first half
  • Jimmy Wyrick recorded the first sack of his career
• SMU held FSU to only 65 yards in the first quarter
• FSU was 0-8 on third down to start the game
  • 0-6 in the first half
• SMU had 4+ TFLs in the second half
  • Aakil Washington recorded the first sack of his Mustang career and now has 8.5 overall
  • Malcom Alcorn-Crowder recorded his first sack for the Mustangs and now has 2.5 total 

• SMU and Nick Reed was 2-for-3 in the game
  • Nick Reed scored his first points as a Mustang

• Yannick Smith hauled in a 107 receiving yards
  • His 4^th career 100-yard receiving game
• Dramekco Green finished with 103 all-purpose yards

• SMU ran for 155 yards on 31 carries
  • Kevin Raphael ran for 75 yards on 12 carries – 6.3 ypr.
    • Fourth 100-yard game of his career
  • Dramekco Green ran for 43 yards on 13 carries – 3.3 ypr
  • Kevin Jennings ran for 33 yards on 5 carries – 6.6 ypr.
  • Jalen Hale ran for 4 yards on 1 carry – 4 ypr.

• Scoring Quick
  • SMU had 2 scoring drives under 2 minutes (had 15 in 2025)
• SMU is
  • SMU is 39-16 under Rhett Lashlee (5-0 in season openers)
  • SMU is 28-5 in road conference games under Rhett Lashlee
  • SMU is 15-2 in ACC games
  • SMU is 28-5 in last 33 regular-season games
  • SMU is 29-8 in the last 37 games overall
  • SMU is 13-2 in the last 15 road conference games
  • 8 straight season-opening wins
• SMU had 8 Mustangs catch a pass
  • At least 7 players have a catch in 41 of the past 44 games
• SMU had 1 takeaway (1 fumble)
  • 51 takeaways since the start of the 2024 season (entered the game second in the ACC in that stretch)
  • Fumble Recovery: La'Modrick Spencer (1)
• SMU had 3 sacks, 8 TFLs and 3 pass breakups
  • Sacks: Jimmy Wyrick (1), Aakil Washington (1), Malcom Alcorn-Crowder (1)
    • SMU has 127 sacks since the start of 2023 (2^nd highest in FBS)
  • TFLs: Jimmy Wyrick (1), Alexander Kilgor (1), Ira Singleton (0.5), Aakil Washington (1.5), Christian Davis (1), Jarvis Lee (1), Malcom Alcorn-Crowder (1), Brandon Miyazono (1)
  • PBUs: Jimmy Wyrick (1), Malcom Alcorn-Crowder (1), William Nettles (1)
• Series History: SMU is 2-0 vs Florida State (W, 42-16 in 2024)

• SMU and Kevin Jennings had 3 passing touchdowns. The last time SMU had 3 passing touchdowns was vs. Louisville in 2025
• Kevin Jennings became the first Mustang to throw for over 400 yards since Tanner Mordecai (432) at UNT, Sept. 3, 2022
• Kevin Jennings' 463 total yards of offense (430/33) is the sixth-most yards in a single game in program history. The most since Shane Buechele vs Memphis, 2020, 501 (474/27)
• SMU had 430 yards passing. It was the first time the Mustangs had 400 total passing yards since combining for 446 against Tulsa (Oct. 28, 2023).

• ESPN
  • Kevin Jennings 50-yard TD to Jalen Cooper - https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/49864523
  • Kevin Jennings 10-yard TD to Randy Pittman - https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/49864768
  • Nick Reed 22-yard FG - https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/49864850
  • Kevin Jennings 79- TD to Yannick Smith - https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/49865272
• SMU Radio Network (Highlights) – KTCK "The Ticket" 96.7 FM, 1310 AM (Rich Phillips pxp, Scott Garner analyst, Steve Lansdale sideline
• SMU Postgame Press Conference

• Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, 5^th) – Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Second Team, DCTF All-Texas Second Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Second Team, Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List, Walter Camp Player of the Year Preseason Watch List, Senior Bowl Top 300 Watch List, Johnny Unitas Gold Arm Award Preseason Watch List, Manning Award Preseason Watch List,  Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Preseason Watch List
  • 20-7 as a starter
  • 26-36 passing for a career high 430 yards with 3 TDs
    • TDs to Yannick Smith, Randy Pittman Jr., Jalen Cooper.
    • Multiple passing TDs in four of his past five games played
  • 5-33 rushing with 430 yards passing for 463 yards of total offense
    • Sixth most single-game yards in program history, most since Shane Buechele vs Memphis, 2020 501 (474/27)
  • 10^th-career 3 Passing TD game

• Josh Bates (#64, OL, Sr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC First Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC First Team, All-ACC Preseason Team, Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List, Rimmington Trophy Preseason Watch List
  • Has started all 14 games at SMU
• Brandon Booker (#28, LB, Jr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team
  • 4 tackles
• ​​​​​​​Jalen Cooper (#10, WR, So.)
  • 4-71 receiving, 1 TD
    • 50-yard touchdown reception
• ​​​​​​​Dramekco Green (#4, RB, So.)
  • 13-43 rushing, 2-35 receiving
    • Career-long 29-yard reception
• ​​​​​​​Jalen Hale (#2, WR, Sr.) - College Football Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
  • 2-70 receiving
• ​​​​​​​Jonathan Jefferson (#94, DL, 5^th) - College Football Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
  • ____ tackles
• ​​​​​​​Alexander Kilgore (#54, LB, Sr.) - DCTF All-Texas First Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team, Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
  • 3 tackles
• ​​​​​​​Yamir Knight (#8, WR, Sr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Third Team, DCTF All-Texas Second Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Second Team, Bruce Feldman's College Football's Freaks List
  • 6-49 receiving, long of 18 yards
• ​​​​​​​Jarvis Lee (#1, S, Sr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team
  • 3 tackles, 1 TFL
• ​​​​​​​Brandon Miyazano (#29, LB, Sr.)
  • 3 tackles, 1 TFL
• Randy Pittman (#5, TE, Sr.) - Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
  • 5-75 receiving, 1TD, long of 30 yards
    • 10-yard touchdown reception
• ​​​​​​​Addison Nichols (#63, OL, 5^th) - Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Second Team
  • Has started all 14 games at SMU
• Theo Melin Ohrstrom (#18, TE, 5^th) - Senior Bowl Top 300 Watch List
• ​​​​​​​Tyren Polley Jr. (#10, S, So.)
  • Career-high 10 tackles
• ​​​​​​​Kendrick Raphael (#6, RB, Sr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Third Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Third Team, Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List
  • 12-75 yards rushing, avg 6.3 yards a carry
• ​​​​​​​Nick Reed (#99, K, Sr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Second Team, DCTF All-Texas First Team
  • 3-3 PAT
  • 2-3 FG (22, 20)
    • Made go-ahead 20-yard field goal with 21 seconds left in the game
• ​​​​​​​Yannick Smith (#3, WR, Jr.)
  • 5-107 receiving, 1 TD
    • Career-long 79-yard reception
• ​​​​​​​Morgan Tribbett (#48, LS, Jr.) - Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC First Team, Patrick Mannelly Award Preseason Watch List
  • 1-49 punts
• ​​​​​​​PJ Williams (#59, OL, 5^th) - Phil Steele Preseason All-America Second Team, Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC First Team, DCTF All-Texas First Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-America Fourth Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC First Team, All-ACC Preseason Team, Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List, On3 Preseason All-America Third Team, Senior Bowl Top 300 Watch List, Pro Football Network Top 100 NFL Draft Prospect, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Preseason Watch List
  • Has started the last 28 games he has played

• Athlon Sports Preseason All-American – PJ Williams
• Maxwell Award Watch List – Kevin Jennings
• Outland Trophy Watch List – Joshua Bates, PJ Williams
• Patrick Mannelly Watch List – Morgan Tribbett
• Mackey Award Watch List – Randy Pittman Jr.
• Rimington Trophy Watch List – Joshua Bates
• Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List – Alexander Kilgore
• Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List – Kevin Jennings
• Doak Walker Award Watch List – Kendrick Raphael
• Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List – Kevin Jennings
• Davey O'Brien Award Watch List – Kevin Jennings
• Manning Award Watch List – Kevin Jennings
• Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watchlist – Abel Hoopii
• Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watchlist – Kevin Jennings, PJ Williams
• Comeback Player of the Year Watchlist – Jalen Hale, Jonathan Jefferson