They lost to BYU early in a Week-3 non-conference show down but ever since then the SMU Mustangs have been perfect. After holding Cal scoreless in the first half of this one and to just a field goal in each of the last two quarters, their 38-6 demolition of the Golden Bears leaves them with a 9-0 conference record and a spot in the ACC Championship Game against No. 12 Clemson this next Saturday at 5:00pm on ABC.
Playing without their talented starting QB, Sophomore Fernando Mendoza, who was out sick, Cal’s entire first half can be summarized with four punts, one missed field goal, and a turnover on downs. In the meantime, after being forced to punt after four plays in their first possession of the game, SMU scored on back-to-back-to-back touchdowns to lead it 21-0 at the half. Cal would finally get on the board with back-to-back field goals, one early in the 3rd Qtr and one to start the 4th to make it 21-6. But with an SMU field goal as well and an interception right at Cal’s red zone, the Mustangs would be back in the end zone two plays later to go up 31-6 and then 38-6 after holding the Golden Bears to a three-and-out.
Cal’s two backup QB’s, Senior Chandler Rogers and Sophomore CJ Harris, combined for 159 yards on 14-of-26 with one interception without ever finding the end zone. On the ground, the two QB’s along with Sophomore RB Byron Cardwell Jr. and Junior RB Jayden Ott collectively rushed 37 times for 95 yards. For SMU, starting Sophomore QB Kevin Jennings was 20-of-30 for 225 yards, 2 TD’s and no interceptions while backup Junior QB Preston Stone—who came in for the Mustangs’ last series—was 4-4 for 75 yards, 1 TD, and no picks. On the ground Senior RB Brassard Smith led the way with 68 yards and 1 TD on 18 carries while Jennings and Freshman Derrick McFall combined for an additional 40 yards and another TD by McFall. All toll SMU rushed 30 times for 115 yards and 2 TD’s. The two QB’s collectively connected multiple times with seven different receivers with Senior RB Brashard Smith, Senior WR Key’Shawn Smith and Senior TE Matthew Hibner hauling in half of the total yards as well as a touchdown each. On the other side of the ball the Mustangs’ defense recorded 5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and 2 pass disruptions.
Regarding SMU and Poll implications following this past weekend, the AP wrote; “The Mustangs entered the game with their first top-10 AP ranking since reaching No. 3 in 1985. They were also ninth in the College Football Playoff rankings, their highest since the CFP started in 2014. They should move up in both polls after Miami’s loss.” Cal, along with Washington State, USC, UCLA, Washington, and Colorado—all bowl eligible—will have to wait around until December 8th when the bowl selections are revealed to see if and where they’ll be playing in the post season.