SMU Heads Back to the East Coast to take on Wake Forest

By Marc Henry Via Mustang Wire

The SMU Mustangs (5-2, 3-0 ACC) continue their road stretch with a trip to Winston-Salem to face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-2, 1-2 ACC) at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium.

Recent Performance:

SMU is coming off a 35-24 win at Clemson, led by quarterback Kevin Jennings, who threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Hudson had a breakout game with seven catches for 131 yards and a 70-yard touchdown, while Chris Johnson Jr. sealed the win with a late rushing score.

Key Stats & Streaks:

• SMU has won 20 straight conference games, the longest active streak in the nation.

  
  

• The Mustangs rank top-20 nationally in several defensive categories, including turnovers gained (15), team sacks (3.29), and rushing defense (97.0 ypg).

  
  

• Jennings ranks top-10 in FBS for both passing yards (1,948) and touchdowns (17).

  
  

• Under Head Coach Rhett Lashlee, SMU is 30-3 when scoring 30+ points and has been one of the most consistent programs in Texas, with 59 wins since 2019—most among FBS teams in the state.

  
  

Wake Forest Outlook:

The Demon Deacons enter 4-2 overall, 1-2 in ACC play, and are coming off a dominant 39-14 win at Oregon State followed by a bye week. First-year head coach Jake Dickert has the team trending upward, with a balanced offense and opportunistic defense.

Series History:

SMU leads the all-time series 3-0, with the last meeting coming in 1975 (SMU 14, Wake Forest 7).

The Bottom Line:

SMU looks to extend its conference dominance and road success (11-1 in last 12 regular-season road games), while Wake Forest aims to build on its recent win and hand the Mustangs their first ACC loss.