SMU 28-27 Duke (Oct. 26, 2024) Game Recap

DURHAM, N.C. — In the biggest moment of the game, Duke went for the win and SMU's defense stepped up.

“If you have a chance to win the game in the first inning, do it,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said. “And we had missed three straight kicks.”

The risk didn't pay off. The No. 22 Mustangs forced an incompletion on a potentially game-winning two-point conversion attempt in overtime to secure a 28-27 road win over the Blue Devils late Saturday night.

It's the fifth straight win for SMU (7-1, 4-0 ACC), which gave Brashard Smith 117 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime. Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings had 299 yards of total offense, rushing for a score and throwing for another.

The Blue Devils (6-2, 2-2) lost despite winning the turnover battle 6-0.

“We should have lost this game five times late,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. “We should have done that.” And if we played it 100 times, we'll probably lose 99 times over the course of the game. This happened to be the only time. Our guys just kept playing and kept fighting.”

For Duke, Maalik Murphy completed 27 of 48 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns, while star Thomas rushed for 65 yards and a score.

The game began again with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter when Duke completed a 10-play, 64-yard drive and Thomas powered his way into the end zone for a touchdown.

Late in the fourth quarter, Jennings failed on a second-and-6 scramble that Duke linebacker Ozzie Nicholas caught and returned 21 yards, putting the Blue Devils into the red zone. But Duke failed to capitalize on an SMU gifted possession, and a 30-yard field goal by Todd Pelino was blocked by SMU's Jahfari Harvey as regulation expired.

“We knew we had to step up, try hard and give 110% of our effort,” said SMU’s Isaiah Nwokobia, who recovered the blocked kick. “(Harvey) came through there and had a great performance in a great game.”

In overtime, the Mustangs quickly scored on a 24-yard run by Smith, and Duke countered with a passing touchdown to Eli Pancol. On Duke's two-point conversion attempt for the win, Murphy scrambled out of the pocket to his right after feeling pressure, and his pass attempt to Pancol missed the target.

“There are a lot of emotions for these guys in this locker room,” Diaz said. “Sadness, anger, confusion. Whatever you can feel, they feel.”

The takeaway food

SMU: The Mustangs entered this matchup with the 11th-best offense in FBS and outscored Duke's defense for 469 total yards of offense, more than the Blue Devils have allowed this season. However, because of the turnovers, it took some late-game magic to stay undefeated in conference play.

Duke: The Blue Devils failed to capitalize on turnovers. SMU fumbled three times and threw three interceptions, but Duke never turned those giveaways into points.

Historical status

According to sports marketing and analytics firm StatsPerform, FBS teams were 1-for-124 this century when they lost the turnover battle by that margin. The other lone win came when Marshall beat Memphis under similar circumstances in 2011.

“We're just very honored to have gotten a win and we've probably had an exercise in how to snatch victory from the clutches of defeat,” Lashlee said. “Probably four or five times in the last 10 minutes of that game I said, 'You know, this isn't our night.' …It's pretty remarkable. That’s why you keep playing every play.”

It was just the second time in the last 18 games for SMU that it didn't force a turnover.

Impact on the survey

SMU could find itself in the top 20 in the latest AP Top 25 poll and even higher if it wins again at home next week, another opener at 8 p.m. ET on ACC Network. The Mustangs' highest finish in the last 35 years is No. 15.

Next

SMU hosts No. 19 Pittsburgh next Saturday, while Duke travels to No. 6 Miami next week.

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