Oct 242 min read

No. 22 SMU Mustangs Look to Best Blue Devils

SMU Mustangs vs. Duke Blue Devils | Oct. 26, 2024 — © Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

In a matchup between two teams at the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference standings in Week 9, the Duke Blue Devils (6-1, 2-1) host the No. 22 SMU Mustangs (6-1, 3-0) at 8 p.m. EST on Oct. 26. Both teams are dark-horse contenders for the ACC championship and a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

The Mustangs have won four consecutive games, after suffering their lone loss to the No. 11 BYU Cougars (7-0, 4-0 Big 12 Conference), while the Blue Devils opened their impressive 2024 campaign with five straight wins, before falling to Georgia Tech (5-3, 3-2) in Atlanta on Oct. 5.

High Stakes

Much is on the line in this game. While the Mustangs look to remain undefeated in conference play, the Blue Devils are seeking to avoid a loss before taking on ACC juggernaut No. 6 Miami (7-0, 3-0) in Week 10. The winner of this clash in Durham, N.C., will have a viable path to the ACC conference championship game. The loser likely will not.

Dominant Devils

The Duke defense has been stout in 2024, holding opponents to an average of 17.29 points per game. Leading the way, linebacker Alex Howard has racked up 52 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss and 5 sacks. He has also recovered a fumble.

On the other side of the ball, redshirt sophomore quarterback Maalik Murphy, a transferee from Texas, has put up impressive numbers, with 1,501 passing yards and 14 touchdowns. His favorite targets this season have been wide receivers Jordan Moore and Eli Pancol, who have 458 and 308 receiving yards, respectively. Moore has 3 TDs, and Pancol has 5.

Marvelous Mustangs

Coach Rhett Lashlee has produced a complete team in 2024, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 40.71 to 20.57. With a dominant running game and rush defense, SMU has earned 77 first downs on the ground, while holding adversaries to 31.

Standout running back Brashard Smith has rushed for 648 yards and 7 TDs.

Dual-threat QB Kevin Jennings has thrown for 1,336 yards and 9 TDs, with only 2 interceptions, while rushing for 325 yards and 2 more TDs.

Defensive leaders for the Ponies include LB Kobe Wilson and safety Isaiah Nwokobia, who have tallied 45 and 44 tackles, respectively. In addition, both have 2 interceptions.

Devastating SMU Injury Report

On Oct. 22, Lashlee announced awful news for the Mustangs: The team's leading receiver, tight end RJ Maryland, is out for the season with a torn anterior crucial ligament (ACL) that he suffered in the 40-10 win over Stanford on Oct. 19. Maryland will have to undergo surgery.