Mustangs Hold Off Orange, 31-18

Saturday, October 4

Dallas, TX

3:30 PM

Syracuse University

3-3 , 1-2

SMU

3-2 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Syracuse

SMU

10/4/2025 6:23:00 PM | Football

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Syracuse rallied with a 15-point fourth quarter but the comeback fell short, and SMU emerged with a 31-18 victory at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas.

The Mustangs improved to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the ACC while the Orange slipped to 3-3 and 1-2. SMU has won 16 of its last 18 home games.

The Orange trailed 31-3 with 12:37 left in the contest after SMU's Kevin Jennings threw his fourth touchdown pass of the afternoon. Syracuse quarterback Rickie Collins started the late surge by moving his squad 75 in eight plays and capping things off with a six-yard touchdown run. The series included a 26-yard Collins-to-Dan Villari pass play and a 22-yard run by Collins. The extra point by Tripp Woody cut the SMU advantage to 31-10.

On the second play of the next SMU possession, Davien Kerr intercepted Jennings and, following his return, presented Syracuse with the ball at the Mustang 25. Collins then had his throw picked off by Marcellus Barnes Jr. at the five-yard line. Syracuse penetrated the SMU line on first down and David Omopariola tackled Dramekco Green in the end zone for a safety. The two-point play, the first for the Orange since a 2021 game at Ohio, sliced the SMU margin to 31-12 with 8:55 remaining.

Following a free kick, Collins went to work again. He found Villari for a 19-yard gain, then Johntay Cook II for 15 yards on back-to-back plays that put the ball in SMU territory at the 28. Collins and Cook II teamed up again for an eight-yard play and then Jaylan Hornsby hauled in a 12-yard pass from Collins, providing the Orange a first down at the SMU 8. After a penalty, Collins tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Cook II. The two-point conversion play failed, and Syracuse trailed, 31-18.

SMU attempted to run out the clock but was forced to turn the ball over on downs, with 1:02 left. The final Orange scoring possibility ended when Collins was intercepted by Ahmaad Moses.

Syracuse had a chance to grab a lead early in the matchup. The Mustangs took the opening kickoff but were stopped and handed the ball to the Orange on the SMU 42-yard line following a 14-yard punt by Wade McSparron. In 11 plays, Syracuse advanced to the one, thanks in part to 27 yards of ground gains by Yasin Willis. Faced with third and then fourth-and one near the Mustang goal line, the Orange advance was halted.

The Orange were stopped on two other fourth-down conversion tries in the first half, including one at the SMU 10-yard line. Meanwhile, the Mustangs used a 26-yard field goal from Sam Keltner and three Jennings touchdown passes, to build a 24-0 lead. Jennings' scoring throws covered 15 yards to Yamir Knight, 16 yards to RJ Maryland and 14 yards to Derrick McFall.

With one more opportunity to get on the board prior to the intermission, Syracuse took advantage. A 38-yard pass play from Collins to Cook II advanced the ball to the SMU 45 with 1:44 on the clock. Consecutive completions from Collins to Dan Villari for six yards and to Cook II for seven moved the sticks again. The Orange managed one more first down, thanks to an eight-yard pass from Collins to Emanuel Ross, that gave Syracuse the 20-yard line. Freshman Tripp Woody kicked a 38-yard field goal on the last play of the half.

Collins, who was making his second career start, completed 22 of 45 attempts for 279 yards and one touchdown, but was intercepted three times. Collins led both teams with 72 rushing yards on 10 carries. Willis finished with 41 yards on 15 attempts. Cook II led Syracuse's receivers with seven catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, and Villari ended up with five receptions for 61 yards.

Braheem Long Jr. and Gary Bryant III led the Syracuse defense with seven tackles each. Omopariola, who had seven stops, had three tackles behind the line for eight yards worth of losses. Jason Tremble had two tackles, including a 17-yard quarterback sack.

For the Mustangs, Jennings was 29-of-35 for 285 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. His scoring tosses went to four different receivers. TJ Harden ran 16 times for 67 yards and Romello Brinson had seven receptions for 71 yards.

The meeting was the first between the two programs since a 1932 encounter that was won by SMU, 16-6.