Kevin Jennings, SMU roll past short-handed Louisville 38-6

Kevin Jennings had his third consecutive game of at least 300 yards passing and accounted for four touchdowns to keep SMU in the race for the ACC championship with an impressive 38-6 victory over short-handed Louisville on Saturday at Dallas.

The junior quarterback threw for 303 yards and three scores while completing 29 of 37 passed before leaving the game midway through the fourth quarter as the game was well in hand.

Jennings was nearly perfect in the first half, going 16 of 18 for 168 yards and two touchdowns. He added a rushing TD as the Mustangs (8-3, 6-1 ACC) built a 21-6 halftime lead over the Cardinals (7-4, 4-4).

Eight players caught passes from Jennings, with Jordan Hudson finishing with eight receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown.

T.J. Harden ran 18 times for 90 yards for the Mustangs, who racked up 485 total yards against a Louisville defense that entered Saturday allowing 297.9 yards per game, 15th-best in the nation.

Saturday's loss was Louisville's third straight and worst since falling 45-13 to Kentucky on Nov. 30, 2019.

It was the Cardinals' first setback by more than seven points since falling 42-28 in the 2023 Holiday Bowl to Southern California. Miller Moss quarterbacked the Trojans in that game and was the Cardinals starter at that position for the first 10 games this season.

Moss missed Saturday's game with reports that he came away with a foot injury earlier in the week.

Louisville also played with top running backs Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown. The duo had amassed 1,374 rushing yards this season. The Cardinals also lost wide receiver Caullin Lacy to an apparent right ankle injury on the first play of the second half.

Deuce Adams made his first start at quartervack for the Cardinals. The redshirt freshman completed 12 of 17 passes for 94 yards.

In order to play in the conference title game at Charlotte in two weeks, SMU must win next week at Cal and get outside help.

--Field Level Media