Jennings supplies three touchdowns as SMU holds off Boston College 25–16

Kevin Jennings threw two touchdown passes and ran for another as No. 21 SMU beat Boston College 25–16 Saturday in the rain at Ford Stadium. The Mustangs improved to 4–1, overcoming a first-quarter deficit and a substantial difference in total yards to secure the home ACC victory.

Jennings completed 20 of 30 passes for 160 yards without an interception. His scores came at useful moments: a second-quarter rushing touchdown put SMU ahead, a third-quarter pass extended the lead, and a fourth-quarter touchdown helped provide enough room to survive Boston College’s late answer.

The final possession showed how narrow the closing stages remained. Boston College cut the score to 25–16 on Mason McKenzie’s six-yard touchdown pass to Danny Edgehille with 2:07 left. The Eagles’ two-point pass failed, and SMU recovered the ensuing onside kick. After two plays left the Mustangs facing third-and-11, Jennings completed a 16-yard pass to Jalen Cooper. That first down allowed SMU to finish with kneeldowns rather than give Boston College another possession.

Earlier, Kendrick Raphael’s two-yard touchdown run gave SMU a 6–0 lead, but a failed two-point try kept the opening margin at six. Boston College answered with Luca Lombardo’s 52-yard field goal and McKenzie’s 43-yard touchdown pass to Evan Dickens, taking a 10–6 advantage into the second quarter.

Jennings’ four-yard touchdown run at 10:05 of the second quarter moved the Mustangs ahead 13–10. Boston College did not score again until its late fourth-quarter touchdown, giving SMU time to build a cushion through two more scoring possessions.

Jennings found Randy Pittman Jr. for a 14-yard touchdown with 7:25 left in the third quarter. The extra point failed, leaving the lead at 19–10. His 20-yard touchdown pass to Derrick McFall with 4:37 remaining made it 25–10 after another unsuccessful two-point attempt. A roughing-the-passer penalty on Boston College had extended that drive before the touchdown.

SMU finished with only 218 total yards, compared with Boston College’s 322, and rushed for 58 yards. The Mustangs nevertheless converted seven of 14 third downs and committed no turnovers. Raphael led SMU’s rushing effort with 45 yards, while Cooper finished with five catches for 45 yards, including the completion that ended the Eagles’ hopes.

McKenzie completed 20 of 31 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also led Boston College with 74 rushing yards on 21 attempts. The Eagles held the ball for 33:05 but committed 11 penalties for 95 yards, including the costly late flag on SMU’s final touchdown drive.

The Mustangs now have an open weekend before hosting Virginia on October 17. Saturday’s result gives their Dallas home crowd a win earned through timely touchdowns and one final third-down conversion, even on an afternoon when the offense struggled to accumulate yards.