SMU Heads East For Showdown At Clemson
- Marc Henry
- Oct 15, 2025
- 3 min read
By Marc Henry (@marchen44) Via Mustang Wire
Saturday, October 18, 2025 – 2:30 p.m. CT
SMU (4-2, 2-0 ACC) vs. Clemson (3-3, 2-2 ACC)
Memorial Stadium – Clemson, S.C.
TV: ACC Network
Radio: KLIF 570 AM | Sirius XM 371
Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
SETTING THE SCENE
The Mustangs head east for a rematch of last year’s ACC Championship as they take on Clemson on Saturday.
SMU is coming off a 34-10 victory over Stanford.
Kevin Jennings continued his efficient play, going 22-for-30 for 242 yards and two touchdowns.
Chris Johnson Jr. recorded a career-high 138 all-purpose yards (96 rushing, 42 receiving) and two touchdowns.
Justin Medlock delivered the play of the game with a 96-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
QUICK HITS
SMU has won 19 straight regular-season conference games, the longest active streak in the nation.
The Mustangs have recorded nine offensive scoring drives under two minutes in 2025.
The SMU defense ranks:
2nd in FBS – turnovers gained (14)
3rd – defensive touchdowns (3)
3rd – red zone defense (.640)
10th – sacks (19)
24th – fumbles recovered (4)
Kevin Jennings ranks nationally:
7th – passing touchdowns (15)
11th – completion percentage (71.7)
14th – passing yards per game (276.3)
15th – completions per game (22.8)
16th – total passing yards (1,658)
Romello Brinson ranks top 10 in the ACC in receiving yards (3rd, 484), yards per game (3rd, 80.7), receptions (7th, 5.3), and touchdowns (9th, 3).
SMU’s 58 wins in the past six years lead all Texas FBS programs; 25 of those have come on the road, also the most in the state.
The Mustangs are 24-6 in their last 30 games and 23-3 in their last 26 regular-season contests.
Under Rhett Lashlee, SMU is 29-3 when scoring 30+ points.
At least seven receivers have caught a pass in 34 of the last 37 games.
Lashlee holds a 23-3 conference record, the best start by a head coach in SMU history.
SMU entered 2025 ranked 16th nationally in both preseason polls, the highest since 1985.
Isaiah Nwokobia earned multiple preseason All-America honors and appears on numerous national award watch lists.
Kevin Jennings was named to the Maxwell, Unitas Golden Arm, O’Brien, Manning, and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch lists.
THE SERIES
This is the second meeting between SMU and Clemson.
The teams last met in the 2024 ACC Championship, with Clemson winning 34-31 in Charlotte.
ABOUT THE TIGERS
Clemson enters at 3-3 (2-2 ACC) after a 41-10 win at Boston College.
THE COACHES
Rhett Lashlee (SMU) – 4th season; 33-14 overall record.
29 wins are the second most for any coach through his first three seasons at SMU.
Former OC at SMU (2018–19) and Miami (2020–21).
Four-time Broyles Award nominee (Arkansas State, Auburn, SMU, Miami).
2024 finalists: Paul “Bear” Bryant Award, Eddie Robinson Award, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Coach of the Year.
Dabo Swinney (Clemson) – 18th season; 183-50 career record.
MUSTANG CAPTAINS
Kevin Jennings, Alexander Kilgore, Ahmaad Moses, Isaiah Nwokobia, Logan Parr, PJ Williams
SOMETHING SPECIAL GOING ON HERE
SMU’s 19-game regular-season conference winning streak is the longest active streak in the nation and a program record.
The Mustangs are 23-3 in ACC play since 2022.
Current 19-Game Regular Season Conference Winning Streak:
Nov. 26, 2022 – W, 34-31 vs. Memphis
Sept. 30, 2023 – W, 34-16 vs. Charlotte
Oct. 12, 2023 – W, 31-10 at ECU
Oct. 20, 2023 – W, 55-0 at Temple
Oct. 28, 2023 – W, 69-10 vs. Tulsa
Nov. 4, 2023 – W, 36-31 at Rice
Nov. 10, 2023 – W, 45-21 vs. North Texas
Nov. 18, 2023 – W, 38-34 at Memphis
Nov. 25, 2023 – W, 59-14 vs. Navy
Sept. 28, 2024 – W, 42-16 vs. Florida State
Oct. 5, 2024 – W, 34-27 at No. 22 Louisville
Oct. 19, 2024 – W, 40-10 at Stanford
Oct. 26, 2024 – W, 28-27 (OT) at Duke
Nov. 2, 2024 – W, 48-25 vs. Pitt
Nov. 16, 2024 – W, 38-28 vs. Boston College
Nov. 23, 2024 – W, 33-7 at Virginia
Nov. 30, 2024 – W, 38-6 vs. Cal
Oct. 4, 2025 – W, 31-18 vs. Syracuse
Oct. 11, 2025 – W, 34-10 vs. Stanford
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