UNIVERSITY PARK, Texas — Despite a short week and over 100-degree feels-like temperatures at kickoff, SMU cruised to its second win of the season and first at Ford Stadium. No. 17 SMU (2-0, 1-0) defeated UC Davis 56-10 Saturday in their home opener, jumping out to a 42-0 halftime lead and never looking back. The win sets up a critical road game against No. 24 Louisville next week that could ...

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass against UC Davis during the first half at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Dallas.

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Texas — Despite a short week and over 100-degree feels-like temperatures at kickoff, SMU cruised to its second win of the season and first at Ford Stadium.

No. 17 SMU (2-0, 1-0) defeated UC Davis 56-10 Saturday in their home opener, jumping out to a 42-0 halftime lead and never looking back.

The win sets up a critical road game against No. 24 Louisville next week that could have major implications in the ACC standings later in the season.

Here are five thoughts from SMU’s win:

Record-setting day for Kevin Jennings

Kevin Jennings only needed a half of football to make Saturday a record-setting day.

Jennings became the program’s all-time leader in total yards in the second quarter Saturday, now with 9,072 yards. Ben Hicks previously held the record with 8,977 yards.

Jennings finished with more touchdowns than incompletions Saturday, going 14 for 16 for 337 yards and five touchdowns in the first half. He completed passes to nine different receivers.

Ty Hawkins came in for Jennings after halftime and finished with 112 yards and two touchdowns on 12-of-15 passing. Between the two quarterbacks, they hit 16 different receivers for catches.

Quarterbacks Charlie Fiser and Cole Leinart also saw the field in the fourth quarter.

Jennings’ standout day came as a packed student section was given crowns in honor of his Heisman campaign titled “K7NG OF DALLAS.”

The Mustang quarterback has shown he may be worthy of entering the Heisman conversation two games in.

Mustangs’ offense shows explosiveness

Through two games, the Mustangs have shown their ability to make big plays.

After three passing plays of 50 yards or more last week at Florida State — two of which went for touchdowns — SMU added another two this week.

Four of SMU’s plays Saturday went for over 40 yards.

Jennings threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Derrick McFall in the first quarter before Yannick Smith caught another Jennings pass, hurdled a defender and carried it 44 yards to the end zone.

The Mustangs’ two new wide receivers have both shown explosive ability — Smith, an East Carolina transfer, with the long touchdown run and Alabama Jalen Hale with a highlight-reel, one-handed grab for a 52-yard gain in the first quarter.

Coaches agree to shorten game

Playing a game in peak heat in September in Dallas wasn’t ideal for either team.

The feels-like temperature in Dallas at kickoff was 102 degrees, and an on-field thermometer showed temperatures even higher throughout the first half.

After SMU jumped out to a 42-0 lead by halftime, the two head coaches agreed they didn’t need to play a full 30-minute second half, shortening the third and fourth quarters to 12 minutes.

Under NCAA rules, “Any time during the game, the playing time of any remaining period or periods may be shortened by mutual agreement of the opposing head coaches and the referee.”

Two-score day for tight end Theo Melin Öhrström

SMU had to completely rebuild its tight end room this offseason both in terms of coaches and players.

Tight ends coach and offensive coordinator Casey Woods left SMU to take the head coach job at Missouri State. Tight end Matthew Hibner was drafted in the fourth round by the Baltimore Ravens. RJ Maryland, who holds SMU records for receiving yards and touchdowns by a tight end, signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent.

The Mustangs brought in Southlake Carroll head coach Riley Dodge to lead the group and hit the portal for a handful of transfers from power-conference programs. Through two games, those tight ends have impressed.

Texas A&M transfer Theo Melin Öhrström finished with three catches for 25 yards Saturday, two of which went for touchdowns. The tight end from Sweden scored his first two touchdowns as a Mustang.

Florida State transfer Randy Pittman was SMU’s leading tight end last week with five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown against his former team.

Zack Turner, a true freshman, even found the end zone Saturday.

Through two games, the Mustangs have had no problem reloading at the tight end position.

SMU defense posts another standout performance

After a promising first performance against Florida State last week, SMU’s defense gave up practically nothing against UC Davis.

The Mustangs held UC Davis to 233 yards of total offense and didn’t give up a point until early in the fourth quarter.

SMU also had its first two takeaways of the season. Jarvis Lee had an interception in the first half, and Jaylen Moses stripped a receiver for a forced fumble and recovery in the fourth quarter.

Safety Jimmy Wyrick also posted his second sack of the season.

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