Overview
- Kickoff is 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2 in Dallas, with SMU a 4.5-point favorite and the total set at 50.5.
- Louisville is short-handed on offense with Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown ruled out at running back and starting quarterback Miller Moss listed as questionable, and star linebacker Antonio Watts is out.
- SMU’s defense has produced 26 takeaways and ranks sixth nationally in sacks at 3.2 per game, led by edge rusher Isaiah Smith and ball-hawking safety Ahmaad Moses.
- Quarterback Kevin Jennings powers SMU’s pass-first attack with 2,810 yards and 21 touchdowns despite a lingering ankle injury, targeting Jordan Hudson, Romello Brinson and Yamir Knight.
- SMU enters 7-3 (5-1 ACC) needing wins and outside help to reach the ACC title game, while Louisville is 7-3 (4-3) and out of contention, and previews broadly project a narrow SMU win around 24–17.