SMU Tops Clemson 35-24 Behind Strong Second Half Performance
SMU defeated Clemson 35-24 on Saturday in Week 8, with the Mustangs' defense and offense combining for a decisive victory. The game featured six lead changes and remained competitive throughout, with SMU ultimately pulling away in the final quarter.
Clemson's Christopher Vizzina led all passers with 317 yards, including touchdown passes to T.J. Moore and Tristan Smith. Tyler Brown hauled in 9 receptions for the Tigers. However, SMU's defense generated critical stops, highlighted by a 62-yard defensive play in the third quarter that shifted momentum.
SMU's offensive balance proved decisive. Running back Chris Johnson Jr. led rushers with 59 yards, while quarterback Kevin Jennings orchestrated an effective passing attack. Jennings connected with Jordan Hudson for a 70-yard touchdown in the first quarter and Matthew Hibner for a 22-yard score in the fourth quarter. Running back Derrick McFall added a 35-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter.
The Mustangs scored consistently across all four quarters, outscoring Clemson in both the second half and fourth quarter specifically. SMU's 35 points exceeded the 50-point over-under line, and the victory covered the spread as the away team.
AI-generated recap · Aug 7, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 SMU | 7 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 35 |
 Clemson | 0 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 24 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | SMU | Clemson |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 23-43 | 29-42 |
| Pass Yards | 290 | 317 |
| Rush Yards | 139 | 35 |
| Total Yards | 429 | 352 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 7-17 | 8-19 |
| Penalties | 5-60 | 2-9 |
| Possession | 28:45 | 31:15 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Antonio Williams for 2 yds to the CLEM 23
Adam Randall run for 12 yds to the CLEM 35 for a 1ST down
Adam Randall run for 2 yds to the CLEM 37
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to T.J. Moore for 6 yds to the CLEM 43
Christopher Vizzina run for no gain to the CLEM 43
Jack Smith punt for 50 yds , Yamir Knight returns for 2 yds to the SMU 9
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Yamir Knight for 9 yds to the SMU 18
T.J. Harden run for 2 yds to the SMU 20 for a 1ST down
PENALTY SMU False Start (Byrd,Savion) 5 yards from SMU20 to SMU15. NO PLAY.
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Jordan Hudson for no gain to the SMU 15
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Chris Johnson Jr. for 12 yds to the SMU 27
Kevin Jennings sacked for a loss of 5 yards to the SMU 22
Wade McSparron punt for 44 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the CLEM 33
PENALTY CLE False Start (Jacobs,Brayden) 5 yards from CLE33 to CLE28. NO PLAY.
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Antonio Williams for 4 yds to the CLEM 32
Christopher Vizzina run for 7 yds to the CLEM 39
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Christian Bentancur for 9 yds to the CLEM 48 for a 1ST down
Christopher Vizzina run for 2 yds to the 50 yard line Christopher Vizzina fumbled, recovered by SMU Jahkai Lang , return to the 50 yard line
Christopher Vizzina run for 2 yds to the 50 yard line Christopher Vizzina fumbled, recovered by SMU Jahkai Lang , return to the 50 yard line
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Matthew Hibner
T.J. Harden run for 3 yds to the CLEM 47
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Romello Brinson
Wade McSparron punt for 47 yds for a touchback
Adam Randall run for 8 yds to the CLEM 28
Christopher Vizzina run for 1 yd to the CLEM 29
Adam Randall run for no gain to the CLEM 29
Jack Smith punt for 41 yds, fair catch by Yamir Knight at the SMU 30
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Jordan Hudson for 70 yds for a TD (Sam Keltner KICK)
Christopher Vizzina pass incomplete to Adam Randall
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Adam Randall for 7 yds to the CLEM 32
Christopher Vizzina run for 2 yds to the CLEM 34
Jack Smith punt for 47 yds, fair catch by Yamir Knight at the SMU 19
T.J. Harden run for 3 yds to the SMU 22
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Romello Brinson
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Chris Johnson Jr.
Wade McSparron punt for 45 yds , Bryant Wesco Jr. returns for 7 yds to the CLEM 40
Christopher Vizzina run for 3 yds to the CLEM 37 Christopher Vizzina fumbled, recovered by CLEM Adam Randall
Adam Randall run for no gain to the CLEM 37
Christopher Vizzina pass incomplete to Adam Randall
Jack Smith punt for 33 yds , Yamir Knight returns for 3 yds to the SMU 33
T.J. Harden run for a loss of 2 yards to the SMU 31
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Chris Johnson Jr. for 5 yds to the SMU 36
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Romello Brinson for 14 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Derrick McFall run for 9 yds to the CLEM 41
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete
T.J. Harden run for 4 yds to the CLEM 37 for a 1ST down
Chris Johnson Jr. run for 3 yds to the CLEM 34
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to RJ Maryland
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Jalen Cooper
Sam Keltner 51 yd FG GOOD
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to T.J. Moore for 12 yds to the CLEM 37 for a 1ST down
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Antonio Williams for 10 yds to the CLEM 47 for a 1ST down
Christopher Vizzina pass incomplete to Bryant Wesco Jr.
Gideon Davidson run for 3 yds to the 50 yard line
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Antonio Williams for 18 yds to the SMU 32 for a 1ST down
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to T.J. Moore for 32 yds for a TD (Nolan Hauser KICK)
Kevin Jennings pass complete to RJ Maryland for 15 yds to the SMU 40 for a 1ST down
T.J. Harden run for no gain to the SMU 40
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Jordan Hudson for 14 yds to the CLEM 46 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Chris Johnson Jr. for 2 yds to the CLEM 48
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete
Kevin Jennings pass complete to T.J. Harden for 13 yds to the CLEM 35 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Jordan Hudson
Link Rhodes run for a loss of 3 yards to the CLEM 38
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Matthew Hibner for 7 yds to the CLEM 31
Sam Keltner 48 yd FG GOOD
Sam Keltner kickoff for 64 yds , Adam Randall return for 29 yds to the CLEM 30
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Christian Bentancur for 3 yds to the CLEM 33
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Christian Bentancur for 6 yds to the CLEM 39
Christopher Vizzina pass incomplete to Tyler Brown
Peter Woods run for no gain to the CLEM 39
Derrick McFall run for 3 yds to the CLEM 36
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Romello Brinson
Kevin Jennings run for 8 yds to the CLEM 28 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings run for 10 yds to the CLEM 18 for a 1ST down
(01:33) No Huddle-Shotgun Harden,T.J. rush left for 7 yards gain to the CLE11 (Alexander,Jeremiah), out of bounds PENALTY SMU Holding (Parr,Logan) 10 yards from CLE18 to CLE28. NO PLAY.
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Derrick McFall
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Romello Brinson
Kevin Jennings pass complete to T.J. Harden for 3 yds to the CLEM 31
Sam Keltner 48 yd FG GOOD
Adam Randall run for 1 yd to the CLEM 26
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Josh Sapp for 3 yds to the CLEM 29
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Adam Randall for 4 yds to the CLEM 33
Jack Smith punt for 44 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the SMU 23
End of 2nd Quarter
Chris Johnson Jr. run for 2 yds to the SMU 25
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Yamir Knight for 10 yds to the SMU 35 for a 1ST down
T.J. Harden run for 4 yds to the SMU 39
Kevin Jennings run for 2 yds to the SMU 41
SMU Penalty, Illegal Shift (William Nettles) declined
Wade McSparron punt for 53 yds for a 1ST down , Bryant Wesco Jr. returns for 9 yds to the CLEM 15 for a 1ST down
Wade McSparron punt for 53 yds for a 1ST down , Bryant Wesco Jr. returns for 9 yds to the CLEM 30 for a 1ST down
Adam Randall run for 3 yds to the CLEM 33
Antonio Williams run for a loss of 4 yards to the CLEM 29
Christopher Vizzina sacked for a loss of 3 yards to the CLEM 26
Jack Smith punt for 37 yds, fair catch by Yamir Knight at the SMU 37
Kevin Jennings pass complete to RJ Maryland for 1 yd to the SMU 38
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Derrick McFall
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Jordan Hudson
Wade McSparron punt for 42 yds , Bryant Wesco Jr. returns for 6 yds to the CLEM 26
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Antonio Williams for 11 yds to the CLEM 37 for a 1ST down
Christopher Vizzina pass incomplete to Peter Woods
Adam Randall run for 1 yd to the CLEM 38
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to T.J. Moore for 62 yds for a TD (Nolan Hauser KICK)
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Yamir Knight for 10 yds to the SMU 35 for a 1ST down
Chris Johnson Jr. run for 30 yds to the CLEM 35 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to RJ Maryland
Derrick McFall run for 35 yds for a TD (Sam Keltner KICK)
Christopher Vizzina run for 7 yds to the CLEM 32
Chris Denson run for 2 yds to the CLEM 34
Adam Randall run for 1 yd to the CLEM 35 for a 1ST down
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Tristan Smith for 14 yds to the CLEM 49 for a 1ST down
Christopher Vizzina pass incomplete to Josh Sapp
Christopher Vizzina run for no gain to the CLEM 49
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Antonio Williams for 13 yds to the SMU 38 for a 1ST down
Antonio Williams run for 1 yd to the SMU 37
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Cole Turner for 4 yds to the SMU 33
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Tyler Brown for 9 yds to the SMU 24 for a 1ST down
Adam Randall run for 1 yd to the SMU 23
Christopher Vizzina run for 1 yd to the SMU 22
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to T.J. Moore for 12 yds to the SMU 10 for a 1ST down
Christopher Vizzina pass incomplete to Adam Randall
Christopher Vizzina pass incomplete to T.J. Moore
Christopher Vizzina pass incomplete to T.J. Moore
Nolan Hauser 28 yd FG GOOD
Kevin Jennings pass complete to RJ Maryland for 17 yds to the SMU 42 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Jordan Hudson for 13 yds to the CLEM 45 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Chris Johnson Jr. for 25 yds to the CLEM 20 for a 1ST down
T.J. Harden run for a loss of 2 yards to the CLEM 22
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Matthew Hibner for 22 yds for a TD (Sam Keltner PAT MISSED)
PENALTY SMU UNS: Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Hudson,Jordan) 15 yards from CLE03 to CLE18. NO PLAY.
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Cole Turner for 4 yds to the CLEM 29
Christopher Vizzina run for 2 yds to the CLEM 31
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Adam Randall for 3 yds to the CLEM 28
Jack Smith punt for 41 yds, fair catch by Yamir Knight at the SMU 31
Derrick McFall run for no gain to the SMU 31
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete
Kevin Jennings pass intercepted Ricardo Jones return for no gain to the SMU 49
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Adam Randall for 6 yds to the SMU 43
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Adam Randall for 5 yds to the SMU 38 for a 1ST down SMU Penalty, UNR: Unnecessary Roughness (Alexander Kilgore) to the SMU 23 for a 1ST down
Christopher Vizzina sacked for a loss of 1 yard to the SMU 24
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Josh Sapp for 12 yds to the SMU 12 for a 1ST down
Christopher Vizzina run for 2 yds to the SMU 10
Christopher Vizzina sacked by Isaiah Smith for a loss of 6 yards to the SMU 16
Christopher Vizzina pass incomplete to Olsen Patt-Henry
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Tristan Smith for 23 yds for a TD SMU Penalty, Defensive Offside (William Nettles) declined (Nolan Hauser KICK)
T.J. Harden run for 2 yds to the SMU 27
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Jordan Hudson for 7 yds to the SMU 34
T.J. Harden run for 2 yds to the SMU 36 for a 1ST down
Chris Johnson Jr. run for 18 yds to the CLEM 46 for a 1ST down
Chris Johnson Jr. run for no gain to the CLEM 46
Kevin Jennings run for 3 yds to the CLEM 43
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Romello Brinson for 4 yds to the CLEM 39
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete to Yamir Knight
(02:41) No Huddle-Shotgun Jennings,Kevin pass incomplete short middle to Knight,Yamir thrown to CLE35, 1ST DOWN, PENALTY CLE Pass Interference (Hanafin,Ronan) 4 yards from CLE39 to CLE35, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
T.J. Harden run for no gain to the CLEM 35
Kevin Jennings pass incomplete
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Jordan Hudson for 26 yds to the CLEM 9 for a 1ST down
Kevin Jennings pass complete to Jordan Hudson for 1 yd to the CLEM 8
Kevin Jennings run for 2 yds to the CLEM 6
Chris Johnson Jr. run for 6 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)
Sam Keltner kickoff for 65 yds , Adam Randall return for 14 yds to the CLEM 14
Christopher Vizzina pass incomplete to Josh Sapp
Christopher Vizzina pass incomplete to Adam Randall
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Tristan Smith for 14 yds to the CLEM 28 for a 1ST down
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Olsen Patt-Henry for 11 yds to the CLEM 39 for a 1ST down
Christopher Vizzina pass incomplete to Olsen Patt-Henry
Christopher Vizzina pass complete to Christian Bentancur for 8 yds to the CLEM 47
Christopher Vizzina pass incomplete to Tristan Smith