Jennings has 3 TDs as No. 13 SMU routs Virginia 33-7 to clinch a spot in the ACC title game
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Kevin Jennings threw for a career-high 323 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another, and No. 13 SMU clinched a spot in the ACC championship game by routing Virginia, 33-7, on Saturday.
Isaiah Smith and Jared Harrison-Hunte had two sacks each to help the Mustangs (10-1, 7-0, No. 13 CFP) extend their winning streak to eight. They would earn an automatic bid into the expanded College Football Playoff by winning the ACC title game Dec. 7 in Charlotte.
“One of our first goals of the summer is done to make it there, but the job’s not finished at all,” Smith said. “Not even close, so we still got a lot more work to do.”
Jennings led the way to get there, bouncing back from an interception and a fumble to complete 25 of 33 passes to six receivers, including TD tosses to Jordan Hudson and Matthew Hibner. Brashard Smith provided a little balance on offense, running for 63 yards and his 13th touchdown of the season.
“We got an unlimited amount of guys that can make plays,” Jennings said. “I feel like just week by week, the game is getting slower for me.”
SMU’s defense overwhelmed UVa’s offensive line, sacking Anthony Colandrea nine times and allowing the Cavaliers (5-6, 3-4) just 173 yards.
“Against a guy who’s hard to tackle,” said SMU coach Rhett Lashlee, whose contract extension was announced Friday. “Probably against like me back there, it’s 16 sacks, at least the older me.”
Special teams contributed, too, with Roderick Daniels Jr. returning a punt 48 yards and Collin Rogers making two field goals. SMU is reveling in the underdog role after being picked to finish seventh in the ACC in its first season since joining from the American Athletic Conference
“We came out, we play good and we just prove people wrong every week,” Daniels said. “As the season start going, they start seeing we were a threat, and now they see what’s going on.”
UVa’s defeat made Notre Dame’s opponents 2-7 in their next game after facing the Fighting Irish this season. SMU is responsible for three of those losses.
SMU hosts California next Saturday to wrap up its first regular season of ACC play.