Log in

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

Posted 10/5/24

Kevin 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 …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

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

Posted

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

After missing a third-quarter field goal and punt 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 came down to seal the Mustangs' third consecutive victory.

Jennings completed 21 of 27 passes for 281 yards and rushed for 113 yards. He ran 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.

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.

The takeaway

SMU took off from the start 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 get a late score.

Louisville played catch-up throughout but finally found its rhythm thanks to Isaac Brown's big run. 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.

Up next

SMU visits Stanford on Oct. 19 after a bye.

Louisville visits Virginia.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football