Numbers and notes: Penn State 38, SMU 10

[PonyPride]

College Football Playoff – First Round
SMU Postgame Notes – December 21, 2024
No. 6 Penn State 38, No. 11 SMU 10
SMU (11-3), PSU (12-2)
Beaver Stadium – University Park, Pennsylvania

SMU POSTSEASON HONORS

Head Coach Rhett Lashlee – Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Finalist, Munger Coach of the Year Semifinalist
Defensive Coordinator Scott Symons – Broyles Award Semifinalist

All-Americans:
Brashard Smith (RB) - AFCA Second Team, AP Third Team, Sporting News Second Team
Collin Rogers (K) – FWAA First Team, Sports Illustrated First Team

All-ACC Honorees
Coach of the Year: Rhett Lashlee
First Team: Brashard Smith (RB), Jared Harrison-Hunte (DT), Isaiah Nwokobia (S)
Second Team: Jakai Clark (C), Kobe Wilson (LB)
Third Team: Kevin Jennings (QB), PJ Williams (OT), Logan Parr (G)
Honorable Mention: Key'Shawn Smith (WR), RJ Maryland (TE), Roderick Daniels Jr. (AP), Justin Osborne (G), Elijah Roberts (DE), Kori Roberson Jr. (DT), Ahmad Walker (LB), Brandon Crossley (CB), Ahmaad Moses (S), Jonathan McGill (S), Collin Rogers (PK/SP)

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football All-Texas Team
Coach of the Year: Rhett Lashlee
First Team: Kevin Jennings (QB), Brashard Smith (RB), PJ Williams (OL), Elijah Roberts (DE), Jared Harrison-Hunte (DL), Isaiah Nwokobia (S)
Second Team: Collin Rogers (K), Kobe Wilson (LB)

SMU SEASON NOTES

9 wins vs P4 Teams
5-3 vs above .500 teams
5-1 in road games

8-0 in ACC games (SMU and Oregon are only P4 teams undefeated in conference play)
19.3 average margin in ACC games (3rd among P4 in league games)
SMU was just the 6th program to go at least 8-0 in the ACC (league went to 8 games in 1992)
Florida State (10x), Clemson (4x), Virginia Tech (2010), North Carolina (2015), Notre Dame (2020), SMU (2024)
This marked the first time SMU has been undefeated and untied in conference play in back-to-back seasons
SMU went unbeaten in conference play in back-to-back seasons in 1947 (5-0-1) and 1948 (5-0-1)

GAME TOTALS

Score: SMU 10, PSU 38
Total yards: SMU 253, PSU 325
First downs: SMU 21, PSU 18
Third downs: SMU 3-14, PSU 6-13
Rushing yards: SMU 58, PSU 189



TEAM NOTES

Captains: Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, So.), Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Gr.), Elijah Roberts (#5, DE, Sr.) , Kobe Wilson (#24, LB, Gr.)

The temperature was 25 degrees at kickoff, tied for the second-coldest game in school history
1. UCF (L, 13-17) December 7, 2013: 24 degrees
2. Alabama (L, 7-28) December 24, 1983: 25
Penn State (L,10-38), December 21, 2024: 25
4. at UNLV (W, 38-21) December 1, 1984: 34
Arkansas (L, 14-17) November 14, 1959 : 34

SMU is 11-3
SMU is 29-12 under Rhett Lashlee
SMU is 20-4 in the last 23 games overall
SMU is 13-6 on the road under Rhett Lashlee

This is the 4th 11-win season in program history and first time with back-to-back 11-win seasons
12-1 in 1935
11-0-1 in 1982
11-3 in 2023
11-3 in 2024

SMU had 3 sacks and 5 TFLs
Sacks: Elijah Roberts (2), Jared Harrison-Hunte (0.5), Jahfari Harvey (0.5)
SMU has 43 sacks this season (3rd most in a season at SMU)
SMU now has 100 TFLs this season
TFL leaders: Elijah Roberts (2), Anthony Booker Jr. (1), Brandon Miyazono (1)


Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, So.) – Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalist, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Finalist, All-ACC Third Team, DCTF All-Texas First Team
Was 20-36 passing for 195 yards with 1 TD
Passing TDs to: Roderick Daniels Jr. (28-TD)
8-(-25) rushing

Roderick Daniels Jr. (#13, WR, Sr.) – All-ACC Honorable Mention
4-64 receiving with 1 TD
75 all-purpose yards ( 64 receiving, 14 punt return)
1176 all-purpose this season

Brashard Smith (#1, RB, Sr.) – AP All-America Third Team, AFCA All-American Second Team, Sporting New All-American Second Team, All-ACC First Team, DCTF All-Texas First Team, Jet Award Watch List, Doak Walker Award Semifinalist, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist
18-64 rushing, 4-24 receiving
1,332 rushing yards ranks 4th in a season at SMU
1,977 all-purpose yards this season is the most in a single season in SMU history.
100+ all-purpose in 12 games this season



TV AND RADIO HIGHLIGHTS

TNT / MAX Highlights
Brandon Cosley 4th quarter interception - https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/43095243
Kevin Jennings 28-yard touchdown pass to Roderick Daniels Jr.- https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/43095330


SMU Highlights and Head Coach Rhett Lashlee postgame radio | SMU Radio Network on KTCK “The Ticket” 96.7 FM, 1310 AM (Rich Phillips pxp, Scott Garner analyst, Steve [deleted] sideline)


SMU CAREER GAMES PLAYED

Will Benton (#48, LS, Gr.)
Has played 55 games at SMU, 7th at SMU

Brandon Crossley (#1, CB, Gr.) – All-ACC Honorable Mention
Has played 54 games at SMU, 9th at SMU

Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Gr.) – Outland Trophy Watch List, Rimington Trophy Watch List, All-ACC Honorable Mention
Has played 59 games at SMU with 56 starts
3rd in career games at SMU


SMU INDIVIDUAL RECORDS

Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, So.) – Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalist, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Finalist, All-ACC Third Team, DCTF All-Texas First Team
Was 20-36 passing for 195 yards with 1 TDs
Passing TDs to: Roderick Daniels Jr. (28-TD)
8-(-25) rushing


Collin Rogers (#41, K, Jr.) – FWAA All-American First Team, Sports Illustrated First Team, All-ACC Honorable Mention, DCTF All-Texas Second Team
4 points (1 PATs, 1-2 FGs)
Extends SMU CAREER SCORING RECORD – now at 356
124 points this season ranks 3rd at SMU
1-1 on PATs
Extends SMU CAREER PAT RECORD to 176 (176-177)
51 PATs this season ranks 4th at SMU
1-2 on FGs (made 46, missed 53)
Extends SMU CAREER FG RECORD to 56
Extends SMU SEASON RECORD for FGs to 25 (previously 20 by Collin Rogers in 2023)
Has 15 FGs of 40+ yards this season (NCAA FBS Record 16 by Josh Lambert, West Virginia, 2014)


SMU SEASON PATs MADE
1. Collin Rogers, 2023: 66/67
2. Collin Rogers, 2022: 58/58
3. Blake Mazza, 2021: 54/57
4. Collin Rogers, 2024: 52/52


Brashard Smith (#1, RB, Sr.) – AP All-America Third Team, AFCA All-American Second Team, Sporting New All-American Second Team, All-ACC First Team, DCTF All-Texas First Team, Jet Award Watch List, Doak Walker Award Semifinalist, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist
18-62 rushing, 4-24 receiving,
18 total TDs this season (4 receiving)
1,332 rushing yards ranks 4th in a season at SMU
1,977 all-purpose yards this season is the most in a single season in SMU history.
100+ all-purpose in 12 games this season

SEASON RUSHING YARDS

1. Eric Dickerson, 1982: 1,617
2. Zach Line, 2010: 1,494
3. Eric Dickerson, 1981: 1,428
4. Brashard Smith, 2024: 1,332
5. Keylon Kincade, 2003: 1,280


Season All-Purpose Yards (1200+): Total / Rush / Rec / PR / KOR / Int R
1. Brashard Smith, 2024: 1,977 / 1,332 / 327 / -2 / 320 / 0
2. Arthur Whittington, 1976: 1,843 / 789 / 145 / 209 / 700 / 0
3. Jerry LeVias, 1968: 1,772 / 87 / 1,131 / 261 / 293 / 0
4. Eric Dickerson, 1982: 1,677 / 1,617 / 60 / 0 / 0 / 0
5. Zach Line, 2010: 1,657 / 1,494 / 163 / 0 / 0 / 0


ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Jakai Clark (#53, C, Gr.) – All-ACC Second Team
Started at center

Brandon Crossley - All-ACC Honorable Mention
First Int of the season, 6th of his career
3 tackles

Moochie Dixon (#5, WR, Sr.)
1-8yds receiving

Matthew Hibner (#88, TE, Gr.)
2-38yds receiving

Jordan Hudson (#8, WR, Jr.)
4-40yds receiving

Jared Harrison Hunte (#81, DL, Sr.) – All-ACC First Team, DCTF All-Texas First Team
4 tackles
1 QB hurry
0.5 sack

Jonathan McGill (#2, S, Gr.) – Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, All-ACC Honorable Mention
3 solo tackles, 4 tackles

Ahmaad Moses (#3, S, Jr.) – All-ACC Honorable Mention
3 tackles

Isaiah Nwokobia (#23, S, Jr.) – All-ACC First Team, DCTF All-Texas First Team
2 solo tackles, 4 tackles

Logan Parr (#71, OL, Sr.) – All-ACC Third Team
Has started ___26___ of the past ___27___ games played

Kori Roberson Jr. (#92, DT, Gr.) – All-ACC Honorable Mention
1 tackle

Elijah Roberts (#5, DE, Sr.) - Bednarik Award Watch List, All-ACC Honorable Mention, DCTF All-Texas First Team
4 tackles
2 sacks
2 TFLs
1 QB hurry

Key’Shawn Smith (#9, WR, Sr.) – All-ACC Honorable Mention
2-15 receiving

PJ Williams (#59, OL, So.) – All-ACC Third Team, DCTF All-Texas First Team
Started all 14 games this season

Kobe Wilson (#24, LB, Gr.) – All-ACC Second Team, DCTF All-Texas Second Team
4 solo tackles, 7 tackles

Ahmad Walker (#34, LB, Sr.) – All-ACC Honorable Mention
7 solo tackles, 10 tackles for a season high
Ties career high in total tackles


TEAM SEASON RECORDS WATCH

SMU had 10 points

SCORING
1. 2019: 544
2. 2023: 542
3. 2024: 511
4. 2017: 492
5. 2022: 484

SCORING AVG
1. 2019: 41.8
2. 2023: 38.7
3. 2020: 38.6
4. 2021: 38.4
5. 2017: 37.8
6. 2022: 37.2
7. 2024: 36.5
8. 1981: 33.2
9. 2012: 30.5
10. 2018: 30.4



SMU had 1 passing TD

PASSING TDS
1. 2021: 39
2. 2022: 36
3. 2017: 35
2019: 35
5. 2023: 33
6. 2010: 31
7. 2008: 29
2006: 29
9. 2018: 28
2024: 28


SMU had 195 passing yards

PASSING YARDS
1. 2022: 4,117
2. 2013: 4,097
3. 2019: 4,017
4. 2023: 3,897
5. 2010: 3,861
6. 2017: 3,823
7. 2009: 3,666
2024: 3,666

SMU was 20-36 passing

COMPLETION PCT

1. 2021: 66.9
2. 2020: 65.4
3. 2013: 64.6
4. 2006: 64.2
5. 2022: 64.9
6. 2019: 62.2


SMU had 253 yards of total offense

TOT OFFENSE - YDS
1. 2019: 6,368
2. 2023: 6,360
3. 2017: 6,220
4. 2022: 6,147
5. 2024: 6,013


SMU had 21 first downs
MOST FIRST DOWNS
1. 2023: 334
2. 2022: 331
3. 2019: 322
4. 2024: 318
5. 2017: 312


SMU had 3 sacks

SACKS
1. 2019: 51
2. 2023: 47
3. 2024: 43
4. 1981: 42
5. 1983: 36

[Horseshoe]

SMU is 11-3
SMU is 29-12 under Rhett Lashlee
SMU is 20-4 in the last 23 games overall
SMU is 13-6 on the road under Rhett Lashlee




I remember being upset when Dykes left, and I'll still never have any respect for him ... but looking at what Lashlee has accomplished, maybe we should send a thank-you note to Froggy High for taking Dykes so we can have the undeniably better coach leading our team.

[Charleston Pony]

One heck of a year for Brashard here at SMU. Wish we could have him for a few more seasons but he was a great "one and done" addition. This staff did a nice job recruiting "one and done" players that really helped us compete at the P4 level right away