ACC FOOTBALL PREVIEW: SMU vs Wake Forest

SMU v Wake Forest Preview

Two non-conference losses to in-state opponents have SMU Mustangs on the outside looking in at the Top 25. The Mustangs are very much looking like a force once again in their second season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. With last week’s win at Clemson, SMU (5-2, 3-0 ACC) has won all 11 regular-season conference games since becoming a member. The Mustangs are one of just three teams with an unblemished ACC record, along with No. 7 Georgia Tech and No. 16 Virginia, after Miami and Duke lost last week.

SMU looks to keep that momentum rolling with another road trip to face Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-2, 1-2) in Winston Salem on Saturday.

“If we can keep stacking those wins, much like last year, you’ll look up at the end and see, ‘Oh, we’re going into November and we’re in contention,'” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. “That’s the goal.”

SMU’s Kevin Jennings has shifted from being a dual-threat quarterback to a pocket passer this season. He has just 25 rushing yards but is tied for the ACC lead with 17 touchdown passes and is second in passing yards (1,948). Those numbers put him at 24th in the nation in completion percentage, 8th in passing yards, and 9th in touchdown passes. A large part of that is due to his rocket arm that gives him the ability to bullet the ball into tight spaces or take the top off the defense with the long ball. Jennings is still a mobile QB and uses his legs to avoid pressure and give himself time to find receivers down the field. He played through an ankle injury last week, throwing for 290 yards and two touchdowns in the 35-24 victory at Clemson, and Lashlee said he’s expected to be fine for this week.

On the defensive side, the thing that obviously jumps right off the page is that SMU is currently giving up the most passing yards per game in the nation at 316 yards per game. The Mustangs have given up over 300 yards passing in 3 of their 7 games this season and over 250 passing yards in every game but 1 this season–that 1 was FCS East Texas A&M, and even they had 244 yards through the air. I haven’t watched a ton of SMU games this season, but from what I have seen, the Mustangs secondary looks pretty similar to what Wake was dealing with last year. Clemson backup QB Chris Vizzina carved up the Mustangs last weekend, completing 69% of his passes for 317 yards and 3 touchdowns in his first career start.

The Mustangs have been able to mostly overcome that weakness due to their dominant defensive line. Through 7 games, the starters on the SMU D-Line have combined for 17.5 sacks, 26.5 tackles for loss, 5 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.  DE Isaiah Smith is tied for 6th in the ACC with 4 sacks, and DT Terry Webb is tied for 10th in the ACC with 3.5 sacks. It’s pretty obvious that a team has a dominant pass rush when every player on the line is top 10 in the conference in sacks. 

Coming off a bye week, Wake Forest has bounced back with consecutive road victories at Virginia Tech and Oregon State since a heartbreaking 30-29 overtime loss to Georgia Tech on Sept. 27. Starting QB Robby Ashford missed the last game due to a thumb injury. Deshawn Purdie rose to the occasion, throwing four touchdown passes — the program’s most in a game since 2022  in a 39-14 rout of the Beavers.

This is a huge game for Wake Forest. The Deacs have a chance to grab a statement win against a potential playoff team and hand the Mustangs their first ever ACC regular season loss. The game will probably come down to who wins between Wake Forest’s run game and SMU’s dominant defensive line.

Prediction:

SMU 35 – Wake Forest 24