VIDEO: SMU football head coach Rhett Lashlee, quarterback Kevin Jennings, receiver Romello Brinson and safety Ahmaad Moses met the media after the Mustangs opened the 2025 season with a 42-13 win over East Texas A&M at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

DALLAS (AP) -- Ahmaad Moses returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown and middle linebacker Alexander Kilgore had a much shorter and stranger pick-6 as 16th-ranked SMU opened the season with a 42-13 win over East Texas A&M on Saturday night.

The Mustangs led for good after Kevin Jennings' 63-yard TD pass to Romello Brinson on the third play less than a minute into the game. Jennings completed 22 of 30 passes for 260 yards and two TDs, and ran 7 yards for a score. Brinson had seven catches for 121 yards.

Moses' big play made it 28-3 after Football Championship Subdivision East Texas A&M got to the SMU 8 on the first drive after halftime. He stepped in front of a pass by Eric Rodriguez and sprinted the length of the field untouched.

Kilgore, one of the team's captains, got hurt on his 10-yard TD return in the first quarter. He was limping when he got up and was on the sideline after halftime on crutches and with a protective boot on his left foot.

Will Madonna threw that interception, which first went off 6-foot-4 defensive end Cameron Robertson while he reached over an offensive lineman. The ball then ricocheted off of Kilgore's foot without hitting the ground. He grabbed it and was tripped up by Madonna as he crossed the goal line.

SMU lost top returning receiver Jordan Hudson to an apparent shoulder injury on a 7-yard catch on the first play of the game.

Along with two pick-6s in a game for the first time since 2016, SMU's defense forced a fumble after the Lions drove to the 4. ... The Mustangs made their ACC debut last year going undefeated in conference play, but finished the season with back-to-back losses, to Clemson in the conference championship game and Penn State in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game.

Up next, SMU stays home next Saturday to play former SWC rival Baylor (0-1) for the first time since 2016. East Texas A&M plays at Florida State (1-0), which is coming off a 31-17 upset of No. 9 Alabama.

GAME TOTALS

Score: SMU 42, ETAM 13

In 2024, SMU was 2nd ACC / 8th NCAA FBS scoring offense (36.5)

In 2024, SMU was 1st ACC / 32nd NCAA FBS scoring defense (22.1)

Total yards: SMU 400, ETAM 351

In 2024, SMU was 5th ACC / 27th NCAA FBS total offense (429.5)

In 2024, SMU was 1st ACC / 26th NCAA FBS total defense (326.0)

First downs: SMU 25, ETAM 17

Third downs: SMU 4-10, ETAM 6-20

In 2024, SMU was 3rd ACC / 27th NCAA FBS in 3rd-down conversion offense (44.6%)

In 2024, SMU was 1st ACC / 19th NCAA FBS in 3rd-down conversion defense (33.0%)

Rushing yards: SMU 140, ETAM 107

In 2024, SMU was 1st ACC / 7th NCAA FBS (100.2)

Sacks: SMU 3, ETAM 2

In 2024, SMU was 4th ACC / 10th NCAA FBS in sacks (3.07)

In 2024, SMU was 4th ACC / 24th NCAA FBS in sacks allowed (1.29)

Tackles for Loss: SMU 6, ETAM 8

In 2024, SMU was 3rd ACC / 17th NCAA FBS in TFLs (7.1)

TEAM NOTES

Captains: Savion Byrd (#54, OL, Sr.), Ahmaad Moses (#3, FS, Sr.), Logan Parr (#71, OL, Gr.), Collin Rogers (#41, K, Sr.)

Opening Drive Score: SMU scored in 3 plays, 75 yards, 0:53 – 63-yard TD pass from Kevin Jennings to Romello Brinson

First time scoring a TD on opening drive of the season since 2021

SMU had 2 interception returns for TDs (Alexander Kilgore 10 yards, Ahmaad Moses 95 yards)

First time with multiple interception return TDs since 11/12/16 at East Carolina

First time with multiple defensive TDs since 9/21/24 vs TCU

Alexander Kilgore had a 10-yard interception return for a TD

Third straight season SMU has had a defensive score in the home opener

SMU is 1-0

SMU is 30-12 under Rhett Lashlee (4-0 in season openers)

SMU is 20-1 in last 21 regular-season games

SMU is 21-4 in the last 25 games overall

SMU is 15-1 in the last 16 home games

7 straight season-opening wins

6 straight home wins

SMU is 27-2 under Rhett Lashlee when scoring 30+ points

SMU had 8 Mustangs catch a pass

At least 7 players have a catch in 28 of the past 31 games

Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, RS Jr.) -- Maxwell Award Watch List, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, Manning Award Watch List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Third Team

11-3 as a starter

22-30 passing for 260 yards with 2 TDs

TDs to Romello Brinson (63 yards), Jalen Cooper (38 yards)

Multiple passing TDs in 9 of his past 12 games

6-12 rushing with a TD (7 yards)

7th career rushing TD

272 yards of total offense

Responsible for at least 3 TDs in 4 of his last 6 games

Romello Brinson had career highs of 7 receptions and 121 receiving yards, including a 63-yard TD

SMU had 3 sacks, 6 TFLs and 8 pass breakups

In 2024, SMU was 4th ACC / 10th NCAA FBS in sacks (3.07)

Sacks: Kevin Allen, Cameron Robertson, Terry Webb

TFLs: Kevin Allen (2), Cameron Robertson (2), Woo Spencer, Terry Webb

PBUs: Isaiah Nwokobia (2), Javion Holiday, Justin Medlock, William Nettles, Tyren Polley Jr., Cameron Robertson, DJ Warner

SMU had 3 takeaways (1 fumble, 1 interceptions)

Multiple takeaways in 7 of the past 14 games

First time with at least 3 takeaways since 3 vs Florida State 9/28/24

Interceptions: Alexander Kilgore (10-yard TD), Ahmaad Moses (95-yard TD)

Fumble Recovery: Isaiah Smith

Fumble Forced: Cameron Robertson

SMU INDIVIDUAL RECORDS

Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, RS Jr.) -- Maxwell Award Watch List, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, Manning Award Watch List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Third Team

22-30 passing for 260 yards with 2 TDs

6-12 rushing with a TD for 272 yards of total offense

CAREER PASSING YARDS

1 Ben Hicks, 2016-18 9081

2 Chuck Hixson, 1968-70 7179

3 Tanner Mordecai, 2021-22 7152

4 Shane Buechele, 2019-20 7024

5 Garrett Gilbert, 2012-13 6460

6 Mike Ford, 1977-80 6239

7 Mike Romo, 1989-92 6041

8 Kyle Padron, 2009-11 5902

9 Ramon Flanigan, 1992-97 5640

10 Justin Willis, 2006-09 4991

11 Bo Levi Mitchell, 2008-09 4590

12 Kevin Jennings 2022- 4328

13 Preston Stone, 2021-24 4030

14 Josh McCown, 1998-00 4019

CAREER COMPLETIONS

1 Ben Hicks, 2016-18 718

2 Chuck Hixson, 1968-70 642

3 Garrett Gilbert, 2012-13 603

4 Mike Romo, 1989-92 601

5 Tanner Mordecai, 2021-22 596

6 Shane Buechele, 2019-20 549

7 Mike Ford, 1977-80 475

8 Kyle Padron, 2009-11 446

9 Ramon Flanigan, 1992-97 438

10 Justin Willis, 2006-08 424

11 Bo Levi Mitchell, 2008-09 385

12 Dan Freiburger, 1989-92 349

13 Kevin Jennings, 2022- 347

14 Josh McCown, 1998-00 340

RJ Maryland (#82, TE, Sr.) -- John Mackey Award Watch List, College Football Comeback Player of the Year Watch List, Senior Bowl Top 300 List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Second Team, Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas First Team

3-34 receiving

SMU CAREER RECEPTIONS - TIGHT ENDS

1 John Hampton, 2000-02 114

2 RJ Maryland, 2022- 89

3 Kylen Granson, 2019-20 78

4 Ryan Kennedy, 2004-06 55

5 Oscar Roan, 1972-74 48

SMU CAREER RECEIVING YARDS - TIGHT ENDS

1 John Hampton, 2000-02 1485

2 Kylen Granson, 2019-20 1257

3 RJ Maryland, 2022- 1207

4 Oscar Roan, 1972-74 888

Ahmaad Moses (#3, S. Sr.) -- Senior Bowl Top 300 List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Athlon Sports All-ACC First Team, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team

Had a 95-yard interception return TD (2nd INT TD of his career)

SMU LONGEST INTERCEPTION RETURNS

1 Reggie Phillips at Louisville, 1984 100t

Putt Choate vs. Tulane, 1977 100t

Charles Jackson vs. Rice, 1957 100t

4 Tirey Wilemon vs. Navy, 1959 95t

Hubert Walling vs. Okla. A&M, 1922 95t

Ahmaad Moses vs East Texas A&M, 2025 95t