Kevin Jennings delivers historic win over TCU, turns attention to SMU's next opportunity vs. FSU

Kevin Jennings was Kevin Jennings and it was plenty to lead SMU to a historic win over rival TCU last week.

That’s what head coach Rhett Lashlee asked of him in his first regular season and home start. Jennings finished with 137 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-19 passing and added another 41 yards on 10 carries.

“They gave me an edge, just going out there knowing I (don’t) have to do too much,” Jennings said. “Just get a ball out to our playmakers, like I said, and let them do the work and all that stuff. So, get the ball, dish ball, 5-yard routes. Just give them the ball and let them make plays.”

Jennings also helped orchestrate five touchdown drives that, with the help of the defense and special teams, put up an Iron Skillet game record 66 points.

“I mean, honestly, it means a lot. My coach prepared me and my team all week,” Jennings said. “They just told me to go out there and make the simple plays. And that’s all I did, make the simple plays, get the ball to my playmakers, and I could make plays. So it really gives us a lot of confidence going into this next one.”

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Even without the two defensive scores and punt return for a touchdown, the offense delivered 44 points worth of touchdowns and field goals. That was the same amount of points scored against previous FBS foes this season, Nevada and BYU, combined.

“We worried about us a lot the first week,” Lashlee said. “… We were just more worried about us offensively, the identity we want to have. We’ve always made people defend the whole field. We hadn’t been doing that. So we tried to get more to that, whether it’s vertical and horizontal and running the football. And so I thought he played well.”

Jennings did have one miscue. He lost a fumble on the drive following TCU’s first touchdown. They would score again to make it a 17-14 game. 

But true to himself, on the ensuing drive Jennings went 3-for-4 for 18 yards, had a 2-yard run on fourth-and-1 as the Mustangs regained a two possession lead.

“I mean, the fumble’s inexcusable,” Lashlee said. “Can’t do that. I mean, didn’t get hit, he just lost control of all and that was critical game them seven points. And at that time, made it 17-14, I believe and gave all that momentum we had taken back. But then we went right back down and scored and responded. And that’s just, that has been the strength of his. If you go all the way back to the Tulane game last year, when the first play the game happened. He just stays the same.”

Eight of SMU’s 11 offensive drives ended with points. There was the fumble, a missed field goal and the end of the game. Not once did the Mustangs punt, giving Isaac Pearson mixed feelings.

“It feels great,” Jennings said of not punting. “I talked to Isaac after the game, he wasn’t very excited about it. But I mean, and at the same time he was excited. We had zero punts, so it was a big moment for our offense.”

It was a big win in a lot of ways. But the Mustangs hope it’s not the last big win they get this season.

“It’s always going to be pretty passionate playing a rival like TCU,” Jennings said. “It’s always going to be passionate when you get the win. So, it’s a big confidence booster for us going into ACC play.”

In order to do that, Jennings might have to do more moving forward. But with him in place the offense has an identity again. That combined with the way the defense and special teams are playing will give SMU a chance every week.

“Look, we’re going to have to throw more than 19 times and 137 yards in the future,” Lashlee said. “But if we can run the ball the way we did, play defense, special teams and be efficient, we’ll be alright.”

SMU’s next challenge is 7 p.m. CT against Florida State, the defending ACC Champions, in Ford Stadium.