SMU Trounces Florida State in Monumental ACC Debut

© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

For their inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference matchup, the SMU Mustangs (4-1, 1-0) hosted the Florida State Seminoles (1-4, 1-3) on Sept. 28 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the SMU campus in Dallas. Southern Methodist routed FSU by a score of 42-16.

With legendary SMU running back Eric Dickerson on the field, the Seminoles arrived with plans of spoiling the Mustangs' ACC debut.

However, little went the way of the Seminoles. SMU outgained Florida State in total yards 458-297. Additionally, with 24 first downs, the Mustangs nearly doubled FSU's 13. It was an impressive complete team win for SMU.

Game Summary

Both squads started the game hot, scoring a touchdown on their opening drives. Star SMU running back Brashard Smith capped off a five-minute drive with a well-blocked 13-yard touchdown run. Florida State responded, impressively driving the ball down in the red zone, where quarterback DJ Uiagalelei hit wide receiver Kenton Poitier for a 9-yard TD strike.

The Mustangs gained momentum in the second quarter when safety Jonathan McGill made an acrobatic interception of a Uiagalelei throw. SMU quickly cashed in on the turnover when QB Kevin Jennings linked with WR Jordan Hudson on a well-executed flea-flicker that broke Hudson wide open for a 42-yard TD reception. The score gave the Ponies a 14-7 lead.

After a defensive stop, SMU drove into the red zone and looked poised to make it a two-score game. However, FSU blocked a fairly short field goal attempt. The Seminoles then went on a 12-play drive down inside the Mustangs' 5-yard line and, shortly before halftime, tried to score on a fourth down play. However, the SMU defense stiffened, keeping Florida State out of the end zone, resulting in a turnover on downs. With less than 30 seconds remaining in the half, SMU attempted to punt the ball away in the shadow of its own end zone. However, the Mustang long snapper sailed the ball over the head of punter Wade McSparron and well beyond the back of the end zone, resulting in a safety.

Thus, the teams went into halftime with SMU holding a 14-9 lead.

The second half started with another Uiagalelei interception. It was a bad break for the FSU signal caller, as he threw an accurate pass that the intended receiver mishandled, batting it into the air. Linebacker Ahmad Walker alertly reeled in the deflection and ran it back deep into Seminole territory. A couple plays later, Jennings hit standout tight end RJ Maryland for a TD, giving the Mustangs a 21-9 lead only two minutes into the second half. Shortly thereafter, SMU extended the lead to 28-9 on another Jennings-to-Maryland TD pass. That touchdown came after a Florida State drive stalled when FSU receivers dropped two well-thrown Uiagalelei passes.

Despite the 19-point deficit, the Seminoles did not throw in the towel. They rallied with a long drive, capped by a 20-yard TD pass from Uiagalelei to Landen Thomas, narrowing the margin to 28-16. Then, after Florida State forced a three-and-out, the Seminoles committed a pre-kick facemask penalty that gave the Mustangs a first down. The penalty was a critical error, as SMU went on a strong, run-heavy drive in which the offensive line opened sizable running alleys. Less than one minute into the fourth quarter, RB Roderick Daniels Jr. scored on a 2-yard run, extending the lead to 35-16.

Just over a minute later, Uiagalelei threw his third interception of the evening—a pick-six that featured numerous broken tackles by linebacker Kobe Wilson, as he raced 82 yards, giving the Mustangs a commanding 42-16 lead. Uiagalelei was knocked out of the game on that play, and SMU never looked back.

Up Next for SMU, Florida State

On Oct. 5, the Mustangs travel to Lousiville, Ky. to take on the No. 15 Cardinals (3-1, 1-0). The Seminoles return home to host the No. 17 Clemson Tigers (3-1, 2-0).