DALLAS — Ranked SMU didn’t put up the big offensive numbers it is known for on Saturday, but it got enough from its quarterback, its running game and a kicker who used to play soccer for the school to beat Virginia at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Kevin Jennings threw two touchdown passes and Brendan Baird, a former SMU soccer player, made three field goals to help a struggling special teams unit as the No. 24 Mustangs won 23-13.
With the win, SMU (5-1, 3-1 ACC) has won 10 straight ACC games at home. Virginia fell to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 17: Southern Methodist University Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) during the game between SMU and Virginia on October 17, 2026 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/DFWsportsonline)
A matchup of strengths
The game pitted strength against strength. Virginia arrived with the ACC’s best pass defense, while Jennings led the nation’s third-ranked passing offense. For much of the afternoon, the Cavaliers held up. Virginia kept SMU in check for long stretches, but a handful of big plays undid that work.
SMU struck first. Baird opened the scoring with a 23-yard field goal in the first quarter, finishing a 12-play, 88-yard drive that took 5:07. Virginia then had a scoring chance of its own, but SMU’s M. White recovered a Cavaliers fumble at the SMU 6 to end a nine-play drive.
Virginia took the lead early in the second quarter. Quarterback Beau Pribula ran in from 1 yard out to cap an 11-play, 75-yard drive, giving the Cavaliers a 7-3 lead. His score came on fourth down.
SMU answered with a fourth-down play of its own. Jennings threw a 6-yard touchdown to Randy Pittman Jr. on fourth-and-1 in the second quarter, after a 59-yard catch by Yannick Smith set up the score.
A penalty at the half
The most debated play came at the end of the first half, with the score tied at 10. Baird’s 45-yard field goal gave SMU a 13-10 halftime lead. The kick came on an untimed down after Virginia’s Billy Koudelka was flagged for roughing the passer as Jennings threw the ball away after time expired. SMU had run a quick pass to get closer for a long heave, but the penalty gave the Mustangs a chance at three points and a lead they never gave up.
Virginia coach Tony Elliott was noncommittal about the play’s impact. “I don’t know if that was momentum-changing,” he said.
The teams traded field goals in the third quarter. Baird’s 26-yard kick put SMU up 16-10, and Virginia’s Will Bettridge answered with a 43-yarder to make it a three-point game.
SMU pulls away
SMU’s decisive score came early in the fourth quarter. With Virginia down only three going into the final period, Jennings threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Hale that put the game away. SMU’s defense kept Virginia off the scoreboard in the fourth quarter and held the Cavaliers to 258 total yards.
By the numbers
Jennings completed 23 of 36 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Lashlee called it one of his better games, noting that Jennings threw the ball away when pressured and did not turn it over. On the ground, running back Kendrick Raphael, a Cal transfer, ran for 124 yards on 22 carries.
For Virginia, Pribula completed 13 of 22 passes for 137 yards with no touchdowns. The Cavaliers had some success running the ball in the first half and finished with 121 rushing yards, a reminder that SMU did not consistently control the line of scrimmage. SMU had only one sack.
SMU outgained Virginia 404 yards to 258 and had 23 first downs to Virginia’s 13. Both teams converted 4 of 13 third downs. Virginia came in averaging 32.8 points and 379.3 yards per game.
What’s next
SMU stays at Ford Stadium next Saturday to host California as it tries to improve its position in the ACC race. Virginia’s road schedule continues; the Cavaliers’ remaining true road games include Wake Forest on Oct. 31 and Virginia Tech.
