LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kevin Jennings passed and rushed for career highs, Isaiah Nwokobia intercepted an end-zone pass with 2 minutes, 23 seconds left to seal it, and SMU overcame blowing a double-digit lead to beat No. 22 Louisville, 34-27, on Saturday.
The Mustangs (5-1, 2-0 ACC) rang up another significant win as an ACC newcomer, but only after its 24-13 halftime lead dissolved into a 27-all tie entering the fourth quarter. The Cardinals (3-2, 1-1) had clawed back behind Ja’Corey Brooks’ 86-yard catch-and-run touchdown and a 1-yard TD run by Donald Chaney Jr. in the third.
After missing a third-quarter field goal and punt on its first fourth-quarter drive, SMU took over at its 11 and drove for the winning score with the help of several Louisville penalties and a video review that overturned Brashard Smith’s fumble that Louisville had recovered at the 5. That gave the Mustangs possession at the 13, and Louisville penalties for pass interference and offside put the ball at the 1.
LJ Johnson took it in for the TD with 6:39 remaining.
The Cardinals got into SMU territory, but Tyler Shough was sacked for a 9-yard loss before throwing a fourth-down pass into traffic that Nwokobia came down to seal the Mustangs’ third consecutive victory.
Jennings completed 21 of 27 passes for 281 yards and rushed for 113 yards. He ran for a 59-yard touchdown, Roderick Daniels Jr. scored on a 5-yard run and Preston Stone hit Key’Shawn Smith for a 10-yard TD.
Shough completed 22 of 35 passes for 329 yards and 2 TDs, but was sacked three times and threw a crippling interception.
