SMU 23, Virginia 13: Jennings to Hale breaks open a field-goal game

For three quarters, No. 24 SMU and Virginia traded field goals at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Then Kevin Jennings found Jalen Hale for a 37-yard touchdown with 12:22 left. That put SMU up 23-13, and Virginia never scored again.

The margin came from the volume of SMU's offense. The Mustangs outgained the Cavaliers 404-258, had 23 first downs to 13, and did not turn the ball over. Virginia's offense produced one touchdown all afternoon.

SMU moves to 5-1. Virginia falls to 4-3.

How it was won

Brendan Baird opened the scoring with a 23-yard field goal at 2:56 of the first quarter. Virginia answered early in the second when Beau Pribula ran in from 1 yard out, and Will Bettridge's kick made it 7-3.

SMU took the lead back at 6:20 of the second quarter on a 6-yard pass from Jennings to Randy Pittman Jr. Bettridge tied it with a 47-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in the half. Baird then hit a 45-yarder as time expired, and SMU led 13-10 at the break.

The third quarter was all kickers. Baird made it 16-10 from 26 yards at 2:59, and Bettridge cut it to 16-13 with a 43-yarder at 0:24. That was as close as Virginia got. On the first SMU drive of any length in the fourth, Jennings hit Hale from 37 yards out, and Baird's kick settled the scoring.

Jennings finished 23 of 36 for 246 yards and two touchdowns, and added 26 yards on four carries. Kendrick Raphael carried the run game with 124 yards on 22 attempts. Yannick Smith caught five passes for 87 yards; Hale had four for 60 and the score. Baird accounted for 11 points with three field goals and two extra points.

Virginia's passing game was limited. Pribula completed 13 of 22 for 137 yards and no touchdowns. Jekail Middlebrook ran 14 times for 59 yards, and Xay Davis added 34 on seven carries. Da'Shawn Martin (two catches, 35 yards) and Jacquon Gibson (two for 30) led the receivers.

Both teams converted 4 of 13 on third down, and possession was close to even, with SMU holding the ball for 30:59. The difference was what each offense did on early downs: SMU kept moving the chains, while Virginia had to rely on Bettridge to stay within a score. Virginia's one turnover against SMU's none didn't help.

Against the number

SMU closed as a 10-point favorite and won by exactly 10, so the spread was a push. The late touchdown that put the game away also landed it on the number.

The total closed at 51.5, and 36 points went in, a clear under. Five field goals and only three touchdowns kept it well short.

On the moneyline, SMU closed at -360 and Virginia at +285. Full closing prices are on the game page.

What's next

Virginia returns home on a short week to host Duke on Friday, October 23, on ESPN. The Cavaliers have split their last four, with wins over Syracuse (28-25) and Delaware and losses to SMU and Florida State.

SMU stays at Gerald J. Ford Stadium to host California on Saturday, October 24, on the CW. The Mustangs have won three straight since their only loss, 41-31 at Louisville, and have now held Boston College and Virginia to 16 and 13 points in consecutive weeks.