DALLAS – BYU football celebrated a noteworthy upset by defeating SMU with a score of 18-15 in Dallas.
The Cougars improved to 2-0 for the 2024 season, showcasing several key highlights from the game.
BYU’s defense showed significant progress in its second year under defensive coordinator Jay Hill, who once again called the game from the booth. BYU’s aggressive defense proved effective, limiting SMU to two field goals in the first five red zone opportunities. The Cougars played with speed and made timely adjustments to counter SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings, leading to the benching of starter Preston Stone.
SMU entered the game with an impressive average of 52 points per game, riding a nine-game home winning streak, but BYU’s defense halted that momentum, not allowing SMU a single touchdown throughout the night.
Backup running backs stepped up in crucial moments. After injuries sidelined starter LJ Martin in the first quarter and left Hinckley Ropati banged up, Enoch Nawahine filled the gap. Despite a challenging fall camp, Nawahine scored a touchdown in the third quarter that propelled BYU forward. In a pivotal moment in the fourth quarter, Miles Davis made a significant play following a pitch from quarterback Jake Retzlaff, resulting in a 37-yard run that set up a crucial field goal by Will Ferrin to regain the lead late in the game.
Jake Retzlaff’s performance was a mix of positives and negatives as he led the team to victory but struggled with turnovers. He recorded two interceptions, one of which occurred after he fumbled in the first quarter, putting BYU in a difficult position. Nevertheless, he demonstrated resilience, making key plays and delivering strong throws.
Recent transfers from Weber State continued to make an impact for BYU, with Jack Kelly and Marque Collins standing out on defense. Kelly recorded a sack early in the game, while Collins made an important interception during a crucial SMU drive in the third quarter. Kelly also applied pressure late in the game, forcing an incomplete pass that stalled SMU’s final drive.
BYU’s impressive win against SMU sets a promising tone for the rest of the season as they strive to compete in the Big 12 Conference.