Jennings has best game of career as SMU holds on to beat No. 22 Louisville 34-27

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kevin Jennings made bold declarations about himself and for SMU, neither of which could be debated after his arm and feet helped the Mustangs make a statement about their conference prospects.

Jennings passed and rushed for career highs, Isaiah Nwokobia intercepted an end-zone pass with 2:23 left to seal it, and SMU overcame blowing a double-digit lead to beat No. 22 Louisville 34-27 on Saturday.

The Mustangs (5-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) never trailed and rang up another significant win as an ACC newcomer, but only after its 24-13 halftime lead dissolved into a 27-all tie entering the fourth quarter.

“We showed today this is what we can do in the ACC,” said Jennings, who passed for 281 yards and rushed for 113. “Hopefully, we can continue and get a championship.”

As for himself, the sophomore quarterback added, “I go into every game thinking I’m the best runner out there, and they can’t stop me.”

The Cardinals (3-2, 1-1) clawed back behind Ja'Corey Brooks' 86-yard catch-and-run touchdown and a 1-yard TD run by Donald Chaney in the third.

After missing a third-quarter field goal and punting on its first fourth-quarter drive, SMU took over at its 11 and drove for the winning score with the help of several Louisville penalties and a video review that overturned Brashard Smith's fumble that Louisville had recovered at the 5. That gave the Mustangs possession at the 13, and Louisville penalties for pass interference and offsides put the ball at the 1.

LJ Johnson took it in for the TD with 6:39 remaining.

The Cardinals got into SMU territory, but Tyler Shough was sacked for a 9-yard loss before throwing a fourth-down pass into traffic that Nwokobia caught to seal the Mustangs' third consecutive victory. The win vaulted SMU into contention for the ACC lead with Virginia and No. 15 Clemson.

“It's really hard to win on the road in conference against a ranked, really good football team," SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. "We wanted a fast start and I'm proud of these guys for what they did.”

Jennings completed his first 13 attempts to finish 21-of-27. He carried the ball 10 times, one for a 59-yard touchdown.

Roderick Daniels Jr. scored on a 5-yard run and Preston Stone hit Key'Shawn Smith for a 10-yard TD.

Shough completed 22 of 35 passes for 329 yards and 2 TDs, but was sacked three times and threw a crippling interception. The Cardinals dropped their second consecutive game.

“This one falls on me, falls on our coaches," Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said. "The plan was not good. It was not executed. Way too many mistakes.”

There was no pretense of defense in this matchup of high-scoring teams that each averaged more than 40 points coming in. The numbers backed that up as SMU outgained Louisville by just 481-461 and converted several big plays.

The takeaway

SMU took off from the start thanks to Jennings and appeared in control for more than two quarters, punting just once on its first six drives while the defense pressured Louisville throughout. The Mustangs’ momentum stalled after Rogers’ second field goal, but they recovered to deny the Cardinals’ fourth-down gamble, get a late score and then shut them down again.

Louisville played catch-up throughout but finally found its rhythm thanks to Isaac Brown’s big run that keyed a comeback. Shough’s ability to stretch a play and find Brooks was huge, but not kicking on a fourth down inside SMU territory came back to bite the Cardinals. It only gets tougher from here with Virginia also standing at 2-0 in league play after beating Boston College.

Turning points

Louisville appeared to have made the turnover and momentum it needed when Smith's fourth-quarter carry was declared a fumble. Video review determined Smith was down by contact, reversing the call and giving the Mustangs a lifeline that resulted in the winning TD four plays later.

“I was surprised," Brohm said. "I thought it was a fumble. Some days you get some calls, some days you don’t.”

Brohm also took responsibility for the botched fourth-down call instead of kicking a field goal and adding, "Running up the middle is not going to be an option anymore. Throwing the ball, getting on the edge is going to be what has to happen because we can’t get yards pounded up the middle.”

Poll implications

Louisville figures to tumble out of the rankings with a second consecutive loss, while SMU could jump in after receiving four votes last week.

Up next

SMU visits Stanford on Oct. 19 after a bye.

Louisville visits Virginia.

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Gary B. Graves, The Associated Press