An overview of the SMU Mustangs, the new second favorite team of Alabama football fans, and the team who might hold the Crimson Tide’s playoff fate in its hands.
The last time SMU was in the top 10, Rocky 4 was the number one movie in America. Rocky is also a pretty good metaphor for SMU. The Pony Expresses journey from the program that received the death penalty to a scrappy American Conference team that won a lot of games to the top of the ACC and a potential playoff team feels like a movie.
Waiting on the Mustangs is their own ready-made Apollo Creed in Dabo Sweeny’s Clemson team. With a win over the mighty Tigers, The ACC’s “Undefeated Man” of the 2010s, SMU puts itself in the playoff and likely secures a spot for Alabama. This has left Alabama fans in a familiar spot, rooting against Clemson.
Alabama fans are used to it; the Crimson Tide and Tigers played each other in some of the most iconic games of the past decade. This time, they don’t have the confidence of the team they’re cheering for being a dominant Nick Saban-coached team, but rather Rhett Lashlee’s relatively unknown Mustangs. So, for the Crimson Tide fans wondering about whether or not SMU can pull it off, here is everything you need to know about SMU ahead of the ACC Championship game.
The Mustangs have had the best year in the ACC by a mile, going a perfect 8-0 in conference play. They have two ranked wins on the year in Louisville and Pitt, with the lone loss coming in a low-scoring game to BYU, who finished the year 10-2.
Defense:
While their offense and ability to hang points is what SMU is known for, the Defense has been the gem of this team. SMU is first in points allowed per game (19.8), they have the best-rushing defense in the ACC, allowing only 95.8 yards per game, and a league-best ten touchdowns on the ground, all while holding opposing quarterbacks to a 56.1% completion rating (3rd best in the ACC). The Mustangs have the ACC’s best 3rd down defense, two of the top 10 tacklers in the ACC, and in Jahfari Harvey and Isaiah Smith, a pass rush that has combined for 12 sacks on the year.
Where SMU has seen the most success this season is situational defense. They are the No. 1 third-down defense in the ACC and the No. 2 fourth-down defense, and they’ve allowed the third-fewest first downs. In the red zone, the Mustangs have forced seven turnovers and only allowed opponents to score on 74.4% of attempts.
The Ponies are going to score. SMU has been held to less than 30 points only three times this season, going 2-1 in those games. In three years under head coach Rhett Lashlee, 30 has been the Mustang’s magic number, going 26-1 in games with 30 points or more.
The running game will be the driving factor for the Pony Express offense, led by one of the best backs in the ACC, Brashard Smith. Smith has 14 of the Mustang’s 28 rushing touchdowns (Both third-best in the ACC) and averages 96.4 yards per game.
Behind Smith is the No.2 back LJ Johnson, a competent runner with five touchdowns on 68 carries, and the threat of QB run. Kevin Jennings, The sophomore dual-threat is No. 2 on the team in carries and yards and has contributed four rushing touchdowns of his own.
In an ACC that is loaded with quality quarterbacks, Jennings’s arm doesn’t pop off the page. Jennings has been middle of the pack in most major passing statistics, but where he thrives is his efficiency and ability to distribute the ball. In 26 of the past 29 games at least seven different receivers have caught a pass for SMU and Jennings is rated as the 2nd most efficient passer in the ACC.
If you’re worried about a Clemson upset of SMU, take a breath. Yes, a loss pushes Alabama out of the bracket but this is a quality Mustang’s team taking the field and with a little luck, this newcomer to the playoff picture may help a blue blood punch their ticket.
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