SMU QB Kevin Jennings cleared against Pitt; WR Jake Bailey is out

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings has been medically cleared for this weekend's top-20 game against Pittsburgh and will start for the Mustangs on Saturday night, coach Rhett Lashlee told ESPN.

Described by Lashlee as one of “a bunch of beat-up guys,” Jennings was listed as questionable early in the game. His injury was not disclosed. He needed medical clearance to play Saturday night, sources told ESPN earlier this week. That release came at the end of this week, Lashlee said.

The Mustangs will not have wide receiver Jake Bailey, a source told Thamel. Bailey, who is second on the team with 19 receptions and third with 275 receiving yards, was sent off in SMU's win over Duke last week.

Jennings is 5-0 this season as a starter at No. 20 SMU, which has an important matchup against No. 18 Pitt. Jennings is 6-1 in his career as a starter and has emerged as the engineer of one of the ACC's most dangerous offenses.

He has thrown for 1,594 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He completed 21 of 27 passes in a road win at Louisville and threw for 322 yards in a win at Stanford. Jennings also ran for 321 yards and three touchdowns.

There was uncertainty about the status of both quarterbacks in Saturday's game. Pitt's Eli Holstein was also eliminated at the end of the week, coach Pat Narduzzi announced on his radio show Wednesday.

Both teams are undefeated in ACC play as Pitt enters 7-0 overall (3-0 ACC) for the first time since 1982. SMU is 7-1 (4-0 ACC) overall, with its only loss coming to undefeated BYU earlier in the year.

Jennings suffered a hit during SMU's game against Duke that Lashlee described as “a real shot.” He threw three interceptions in SMU's 28-27 win.

In ACC play, SMU's offense ranks third in scoring with 36.0 points per game. The Mustangs also rank third in the league with 477.3 yards per game.