No. 19 SMU takes its 6-1 record on the road to face Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 31, with kickoff at noon ET at the JMA Wireless Dome. The Mustangs enter off a 59-20 rout of California, while Syracuse is 3-4 after winning back-to-back overtime games against UConn and North Carolina. This SMU vs Syracuse preview breaks down the matchup between one of the ACC‘s most efficient offenses and a Syracuse team that has found ways to survive close finishes.
SMU Vs Syracuse Game Information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 31
- Time: 12 p.m. ET
- Venue: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
- TV: ESPN2
- Weather: 51 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation
By The Numbers
- Points per game: SMU 36.4, Syracuse 31.6
- Total yards per game: SMU 470.3, Syracuse 450.6
- Passing yards per game: SMU 313.1, Syracuse 286.1
- Rushing yards per game: SMU 157.1, Syracuse 164.4
- Third-down conversion rate: SMU 45.35%, Syracuse 41.96%
- Turnover differential: SMU plus-2, Syracuse plus-3
- Sacks allowed: SMU 8, Syracuse 16
- Yards per pass attempt: SMU 9.4, Syracuse 7.5
SMU Mustangs Outlook
SMU has won four straight since an opening-month loss at Louisville, and quarterback Kevin Jennings has driven that stretch. Jennings has completed 73.3% of his passes for 2,062 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions, numbers that have pushed SMU to 313.1 passing yards per game, the top mark between these two teams. The Mustangs also allow just eight sacks in seven games, the lowest total on either side.
Running back Kendrick Raphael has carried the ground game with 641 yards and eight touchdowns on 121 attempts, and SMU’s offense is converting 68.75% of fourth-down tries, a figure that reflects a team willing to be aggressive in short-yardage situations. Jennings is expected to start under center, with Raphael projected as the lead back after last week’s 59-point output against California.
Syracuse Orange Outlook
Syracuse has alternated losses and wins over its last five games, with both victories, 42-41 over UConn and 31-30 over North Carolina, coming in overtime. Quarterback Steve Angeli has thrown for 987 yards with six touchdowns against five interceptions, and the Orange defense has forced 13 takeaways on the season, four more than SMU has generated.
Receiver Umari Hatcher leads Syracuse with 54 catches for 887 yards and eight touchdowns, by far the most productive pass catcher in the game. Running back Tylik Hill has gained 461 yards on 88 carries. Angeli is projected to start, and Syracuse’s defense, which has produced 17 sacks and a turnover differential of plus-3, will need another high-takeaway game to offset an offense averaging fewer yards per game than SMU.
Key Matchup
SMU’s passing attack against Syracuse’s takeaway-prone defense is the matchup that will shape the outcome. Jennings has thrown just five interceptions on 232 attempts, giving SMU the better protection of the two offenses with only eight sacks allowed compared with 16 for Syracuse. But Syracuse’s defense has forced 13 takeaways this season, a number that includes those two overtime comebacks.
If the Orange can pressure Jennings and generate turnovers the way they did late against North Carolina, they keep pace with an SMU offense averaging 36.4 points per game. If SMU protects the ball at its season rate, its yardage edge in both the air (313.1 to 286.1) and overall offense (470.3 to 450.6) becomes difficult for Syracuse to overcome.
Players To Watch
Kevin Jennings, QB, SMU
Jennings has thrown 19 touchdowns against five interceptions and leads an offense that has scored at least 23 points in every game since the Louisville loss.
Umari Hatcher, WR, Syracuse
Hatcher’s 887 receiving yards and eight touchdowns make him the most productive offensive player on either roster and Syracuse’s primary target in the passing game.
Kendrick Raphael, RB, SMU
Raphael has rushed for 641 yards and eight touchdowns and gives SMU a ground option to pair with its passing attack.
What To Watch
SMU enters ranked No. 19 and carries a 6-1 record into ACC play on the road, making this a chance to build on its current four-game winning streak. Syracuse has shown resilience with consecutive overtime wins but has also lost three of its last five outright. The game offers a direct statistical contrast: SMU’s efficiency and ball security against Syracuse’s ability to force takeaways in close games.
SMU’s last outing was a 23-13 win over Virginia, detailed in this recap of SMU’s win over Virginia, and the Mustangs followed that with a blowout of Boston College covered in SMU’s win over Boston College. Before that stretch, SMU faced its own ranked test, as outlined in the preview of Boston College’s matchup with SMU.
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