Since switching to QB Kevin Jennings, SMU has looked complete, consistent and competitive in the ACC

UNIVERSITY PARK – Five games into the season, with conference play underway, most teams know their identity.

During SMU’s first three games of the season, a different team took the field each night with different issues, sometimes with a win and others not.

But over the past two weeks, in SMU’s toughest two games of the season yet, the Mustangs have shown what kind of team they can be when they reach their full potential: a well-rounded group that can win in a lot of ways and that in a lot of ways can win. belongs to a power conference.

5 thoughts from SMU-Florida State: Mustangs show they belong in ACC with statement win

SMU earned its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory Saturday night at Ford Stadium, defeating Florida State, the reigning conference champion, 42-16. The Mustangs saw the offense click again, while their defense made some critical plays to put the game out of reach.

“I just told the team I’m in awe of them,” Lashlee said. “I thought last week we set a standard for how we can play, and I thought maybe they exceeded it tonight.”

SMU’s defense has looked consistent since the first game of the season. On Saturday, the team held Florida State to 297 yards of offense and forced three turnovers, bringing its total to 14 in the last four games. That turnover led to 21 points, one of which was immediately returned 82 yards by linebacker Kobe Wilson for the touchdown.

“That’s just our culture,” Wilson said. “We are proud to celebrate our culture.”

Rhett Lashlee leads SMU back to the big time with defeating Florida State in ACC debut

The attack, on the other hand, showed a more balanced picture than in the first four games. While Brashard Smith eclipsed the 100 all-purpose yards mark for the fifth time this season, SMU went for more than he ran.

Since Kevin Jennings took over for Preston Stone as the starting quarterback, SMU has relied more on the run game to move the offense. But due to a depleted running back room, which even caused Smith to miss a few drives with an injury, the passing game had to become a bigger factor.

Jennings had a career day, passing for his personal best of 254 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He hit tight end RJ Maryland in the end zone twice and wide receiver Jordan Hudson once. Despite not being known to broadcast it, Jennings had six passes for more than 15 yards, including a distance of 42 yards to Hudson on the score.

“It gives different teams a different look,” Jennings said. “We can run the ball. We can pass the ball, so they don’t know what to prepare for.”

Both SMU’s offense and defense have been consistent over the past two games. The team’s biggest struggles have undoubtedly been on special teams – specifically the punting unit – but it should be a simple solution.

Still, SMU has shown that it is a complete and consistent team. Even though SMU didn’t play its best game against BYU in the 18-15 loss, that loss doesn’t look that bad with the Cougars now ranked 22nd after wins over Kansas State and Baylor.

Entering a four-game stretch that saw SMU face BYU, TCU, Florida State and Louisville on the road next week, the Mustangs were simply eager to show they could compete.

Against BYU, they showed they could compete at the power conference level. Against TCU they showed they could win. They showed they can win in the ACC against Florida State, and against No. 15 Louisville next week they get a chance to show if they can compete with the best in the country.

“We feel like we can compete with anyone,” Wilson said. “We’re trying to show not only that we belong, but that we’re here to compete with everyone.”