Syracuse Upsets No. 19 SMU on Halloween Night
A last-second touchdown dashed SMU's hopes for a championship appearance and potentially the College Football Playoff.
Syracuse delivered a shocking Halloween upset on Saturday, defeating the No. 19 SMU Mustangs 30-27. The loss significantly damaged SMU's prospects for an ACC Championship Game appearance and may have ended their chances for a College Football Playoff berth.
The Mustangs, who entered the game with considerable buzz surrounding their playoff potential, fell to the Syracuse Orange despite a strong performance from quarterback Kevin Jennings. Jennings threw for 351 yards and two touchdowns, but SMU's offensive line struggled, allowing Syracuse to sack him six times. The final sack came as SMU attempted to move into field goal range in the closing seconds.
Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli contributed 200 passing yards and a rushing touchdown. His most crucial play was a 17-second go-ahead touchdown pass to tight end Noah Meyers. SMU had a final opportunity to tie the game, but an incomplete pass, the aforementioned sack, and a fumbled final play sealed their fate.
This marks SMU's second loss of the season, the first being an earlier defeat against Louisville. While the Mustangs hold a 6-2 record, the loss to an unranked Syracuse team is expected to be a significant hurdle in their pursuit of a College Football Playoff invitation.
