Around CFB: Ponies riding in the express lane to the ACC's title game

The NIL era of college athletics has led cynics to often rue what college football has become.

Conference realignments make no geographical sense. Rivalries have ended. The transfer portal allows players to bounce from team to team from year to year.

Money, it appears, is all that matters. Competing for the love of the game seems like an antiquated idea.

Yet, there is at least one big-time program that has put the love of competition above the love of money. One program shines like a light of hope in the darkness enveloping college football.

That program, of course, is… SMU?

Yes, SMU, the program once so amoral that it received the “death penalty” for a multitude of NCAA violations, is one of the “feel good” stories of the year in college football.

Recall that SMU attained admission into the Atlantic Coast Conference only by agreeing to forfeit a share of conference television revenue for nine years.

“It’s a couple hundred million dollars,” billionaire SMU booster David Miller famously said. “I’m not losing sleep over it.”

It would be wise not to sleep on the Mustangs.

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

At 8-1 on the season, SMU is now 26-10 under third-year head coach Rhett Lashlee. The Mustangs went 11-3 in 2023.

Check the ACC standings. The school on “The Hilltop” is at the top.

SMU is 8-1, 5-0 after dismantling then-No. 18 Pitt, 48-25, last week.

The Mustangs have a clear path to Charlotte for the ACC Championship Game. Their remaining regular-season opponents are Boston College (5-4, 2-3), at Virginia (5-4, 3-3) and Cal (5-4, 1-4).

They could go unbeaten and untied in conference play for the first time since 1935. SMU could probably lose a game and still play for the ACC title.

The team that just wanted to play ball could win a conference championship and find its way into the College Football Playoff.

The Mustangs’ only loss was 18-15 to unbeaten BYU, which obviously leads the Big 12 race.

After that loss, coach Rhett Lashlee installed sophomore Kevin Jennings as the starting quarterback. He has accumulated at least 299 yards of total offense in each of the last four games. He has passed for 1,900 yards and rushed for 317.

Also, running back Brashard Smith — a transfer from Miami, where he was a receiver — has rushed for 906 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Further, the Mustangs rank fifth in the nation in run defense.

They’ve had some luck, too. SMU committed six turnovers vs. Duke but still managed to prevail 28-27 in overtime.

They’ve also benefited from a favorable schedule. The Mustangs don’t have to play Clemson or Miami.

Well, not until the ACC Championship Game.

SMU just wanted to be in a Power 4 conference. A few more wins, and they may be in the playoffs.

That would be worth all the money the Mustangs forfeited.

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On 224 carries, Ashton Jeanty is averaging 7.7 yards per tote. He is also averaging 192.67 yards per game.

Heisman Watch (If my ballot was due today)

1. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, RB: He increased his nation-leading rushing total to 1,734 yards in a 28-21 victory over Nevada. Jeanty rushed for 209 yards and three touchdowns in that win. That was his fourth 200-yard performance of the season.

2. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon, QB: The leader of the top-ranked Ducks is ranked ninth nationally in passing. He has thrown for 2,848 yards and 22 touchdowns. Last week, he passed for 183 yards and three touchdowns in a 39-18 victory over Maryland.

3. Cam Ward, Miami, QB: Although the Hurricanes sustained their first loss, Ward wasn’t the problem. Ward passed for 348 yards and threw touchdown passes of 74, 38 and eight yards. He leads the nation with 3,494 passing yards and 32 touchdown passes.

4. Travis Hunter, Colorado, WR: Often a two-way player, Hunter had nine receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown in the Buffaloes’ 41-27 victory over Texas Tech. He ranks 10th in the nation in receiving with 69 catches for 856 yards and nine touchdowns. As a cornerback, he has also posted 21 tackles, broken up seven passes and has two interceptions.

5. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, QB: The nation’s leader in total offense led Ole Miss to a 28-10 victory over Georgia last week. He passed for 199 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 50 yards. Overall, Dart has passed for 3,409 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 304 yards and three scores.

Games to Watch

No. 6 Tennessee at No. 11 Georgia: Suddenly, Georgia’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. But the Bulldogs will be at home and have a seven-game winning streak against the Volunteers.

No. 3 Texas at Arkansas: The Longhorns defense is rated No. 2 in the nation. But Arkansas has by far the best offense Texas will have seen.

No. 24 Missouri at South Carolina: Believe it or not, two-loss Missouri still harbors SEC Championship and playoff hopes. Although South Carolina doesn’t, the Gamecocks are playing as well as anybody in the SEC.

No. 17 Clemson at Pitt: Clemson got back in the ACC title race when Miami lost last week. The Tigers must take advantage on the road at Pitt.

No. 20 Kansas State at Arizona State: Both are 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12. The winner stays in the Big 12 race for another week.

Editor’s note: This story was written and published before Tuesday night’s release of the second College Football Playoff rankings. Rankings in this story are from the latest AP Poll.