Kevin Jennings Biggest Test: Proving Last Week Wasn't a Sign of Things to Come for SMU

That’s what happens when you are the head coach of a nationally-ranked program like SMU. You have to walk that tightrope, no matter the circumstances. And on Saturday, the Mustangs, ranked 21st in the country, found themselves on the wrong end of one of the most disastrous opening quarters you will ever see. Three Kevin Jennings interceptions, a lost fumble, and a defensive score surrendered, all in the first 15 minutes. For a program with College Football Playoff aspirations, it was the kind of outing that can quickly bury a team, especially against a quality opponent like Tulane.

As catastrophic as the start was, the Mustangs somehow managed to flip the script and salvage a victory. That’s a testament to the team s resilience and ability to fight back, and they will need that same grit moving forward. Because with a schedule that’s about to get significantly tougher, consistent starts like that one simply won’t cut it.

While we still haven’t seen SMU s definitive best, we now know the team s worst. The four-loss Tulane certainly not the most ideal opponent may not be as intimidating, but SMU s upcoming slate includes the likes of Cincinnati and Memphis two programs that will push them to the limit.

“It was a lot to overcome early on, no question,” Lashlee said of the Mustangs first-quarter meltdown. “You can only imagine if we had that kind of first quarter in future games.”

The likelihood of another disastrous start increases, the further you delve into statistics. The nation’s leading offense in yards per game average, put up just 314 yards against Tulane including a paltry 115 in the first half. It was the first time the SMU offense has been under 380 yards all season that, combined with the quadruple turnover headache in the first quarter, is usually enough to sink the average team.

So where does that leave the Mustangs? While Lashlee may not consider it a “blessing in disguise,” you could argue that Saturday’s struggles didn’t ultimately lead to a loss. For the average fan, it was much-needed reassurance that this SMU team is in fact battle-tested. A loss in that one would raise panic throughout the program, and likely beyond.

“We can learn a lot from those types of games,” Lashlee acknowledged. “Why didn t our offense click early? Those things are important. We need to work through our fundamentals. If we re ever gonna achieve our goals, we gotta be able to find that rhythm early, stop digging ourselves those holes, and make sure our start s better.”

Learning experiences are crucial in football. But sometimes those situations can have a waterfall effect. Suddenly the “what ifs” begin pouring in What if the Mustangs have another bad start? What if the interception woes linger for Jennings? The questions pile on, and thus more doubts emerge.

In football, momentum can shift just as quickly. Success can breed further triumphs, while struggles can exacerbate existing issues. These kinds of performances challenge the group, and particularly Jennings, to show it was truly a one-off.

And who knows? Saturday could be that moment for the sophomore. His career stats scream a man capable of exploding for massive days. For the nation’s third-highest total yardage offense, maybe getting by despite those four turnovers, will prove a defining character moment for the 2023 season. For this SMU offense with title aspirations, maybe, just maybe, getting ambushed in the first quarter will be a one-time thing. That’s if they let it be.