SMU in must-win mode vs. sinking Louisville

SMU will look to keep its hopes alive for an Atlantic Coast Conference championship on Saturday afternoon when the Mustangs welcome Louisville to Dallas.

The Mustangs (7-3, 5-1 ACC) are one of four teams with one loss in conference play. In addition to beating the Cardinals (7-3, 4-3) this weekend and defeating Cal on the road next weekend, coach Rhett Lashlee's team needs Pitt to beat Georgia Tech this weekend and Virginia Tech to handle Virginia on Nov. 29 to make it back to Charlotte on Dec. 6.

Lashlee said Tuesday his team can only control what's in front of them, and that means taking care of business against a team that has lost its three games by a combined seven points.

"We got a chance," he said. "So that's all you can ask for as a competitor."

SMU had its second off week of the season last weekend. In their last game, a 45-13 thumping of Boston College on Nov. 8, the Mustangs amassed a season-high 574 yards of offense. Quarterback Kevin Jennings completed just half (16 of 32) of his passes, but the junior threw for 325 yards. All three of his touchdown passes went for more than 25 yards.

Louisville is one of the top defenses in the conference, allowing the second-fewest yards per game at 297.9. The Cardinals gave up just 308 to Clemson in last Friday's 20-19 loss at home.

Coach Jeff Brohm's team had two chances to win the game in the final minutes but missed field goals that would have kept them in the race for the conference title game. They also had a missed extra point, 10 penalties and a costly sack before one of the field-goal tries.

Turnovers have also been an issue. Louisville has given the ball away 15 times, which is tied for 94th among FBS teams. While the Cardinals are tied for 39th nationally in scoring defense (21.5 ppg), 70 of the points they've allowed have come off turnovers. That included a Clemson touchdown off a fumble lost last week deep in their own territory.

"You've got to try to keep it as clean as you can," Brohm said Monday. "For whatever reason, different things pop up every now and then, and you got to address it and hope to play better the next time."

--Field Level Media