Oct 302 min read

Exciting Clash Between New ACC Foes: Panthers, Ponies

SMU Mustangs vs. Pitt Panthers — © Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Two ranked dark horse contenders for the Atlantic Coast Conference are slated to meet at 8:00 p.m. EST on Nov. 2 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. The No. 20 SMU Mustangs (7-1, 4-0) host the No. 18 Pitt Panthers (7-0, 3-0) in a pivotal game that could pave the winner's way to the ACC championship game.

The Mustangs and Panthers have played on five prior occasions. The all-time record between the two programs is 2-2-1, with SMU prevailing in the last matchup in 2012. This game will be the first meeting between the teams in Dallas.

Pitt and the Mustangs are two of four ACC teams currently ranked in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25, and neither team has suffered a conference loss.

CFP, Conference Title Implications

After playing all of their October contests on the road, this matchup with Pitt is the Mustangs' homecoming game. SMU is favored by 7.5 points.

With both teams undefeated in conference play, the stakes are high in this clash. The winner will not only improve its chances of appearing in the ACC championship game but also its prospects of securing a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Premier Panthers

Outscoring their opponents by an average margin of 40.86 to 22, the Panthers' prolific offense is spearheaded by dynamic dual-threat redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein. In seven games, he has thrown for 1,808 yards and 17 touchdowns, with only 5 interceptions. He is also Pitt's second-leading rusher, racking up 389 yards and 3 more TDs on the ground. He is the first Panthers QB since Dan Marino to win his first seven starts.

In Pitt's last game, a 41-13 victory over the Syracuse Orange (5-2, 2-2), Holstein completed passes to 10 different receivers.

On the other side of the ball, defensive back Donovan McMillon and linebacker Kyle Lewis are strong team leaders with 62 and 60 tackles, respectively.

Magnificent Mustangs

Like the Panthers, the Mustangs have substantially outscored their opponents this season, with an average score of 39.13 to 21.38 per game.

In its last matchup, SMU narrowly escaped with a 28-27 triumph over the Duke Blue Devils (6-2, 2-2) despite the startling circumstance that the Mustangs committed 6 turnovers, while Duke committed 0.

Most of the turnovers against Duke were committed by QB Kevin Jennings, including 3 INTs to go along with lost fumbles.

For the Mustangs to prevail against the impressive Panthers, Jennings must return to form and maintain control of the ball. On the season, he has thrown for 1,594 yards and 10 TDs. He had only 2 INTs before the Duke game.

Running back Brashard Smith has performed at a consistently elite level for SMU, with a 6.4 yards per carry average and 9 TDs.

Safety Isaiah Nwokobia and linebacker Kobe Wilson continue to lead the way for the Mustangs on defense, tallying 57 and 52 tackles, respectively.