DALLAS (AP) — Kevin Jennings threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns, Brashard Smith ran for 120 yards with a score and 14th-ranked SMU moved closer to making the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game in its league debut with a 38-28 victory over Boston College on Saturday. Jennings was 24-of-35 passing and his 38-yard TD to Jordan Hudson, who caught the ball in stride behind the secondary inside the 5, put the Mustangs (9-1, 6-0 ACC) ahead to stay with 8:52 left in the third quarter as they won their seventh game in a row. Smith's run for the 2-point conversion made it 28-21.
SMU is the only of the 17 ACC teams without a league loss, while No. 12 Miami and No. 17 Clemson both have one.
The ACC champion is guaranteed a spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Boston College (5-5, 2-4) had opened the second half with an eight-play, 83-yard drive capped by new starting quarterback Grayson James' 20-yard TD run for a 21-20 lead. The FIU transfer, who completed 18 of 32 passes for 237 yards, also had two 19-yard completions to Reed Harris on that drive.
Smith became the 12th SMU player with a 1,000-yard rushing season. His 4-yard TD run before halftime came a play after he drew a pass interference penalty near the goal line on third down and ended a 92-yard drive. Collin Rogers made three field goals for SMU after missing wide left on a 24-yard kick the opening drive of the game.
His 41-yarder on the last play of the first half gave SMU a 20-14 lead after a.
