LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kendrick Raphael delivered one of the best rushing performances by an SMU running back in years, but the Mustangs could not overcome Louisville’s offense in a 41-31 loss Saturday night at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.
SMU entered the game ranked No. 16 and left with a 2-1 record overall and 1-1 mark in ACC play. Louisville also moved to 2-1 and remained unbeaten in conference play at 1-0.
Raphael powered the Mustangs on the ground with 197 rushing yards on 22 carries, including three touchdowns. He also finished with 208 all-purpose yards, becoming the first SMU player since 2020 to rush for at least 150 yards in a game.
His performance included touchdown runs of 2, 25 and 12 yards. The three rushing scores matched his career high.
Raphael also broke loose for a 40-yard run on SMU’s opening offensive play, tying his career-long rush.
SMU finished with 479 total yards, including 257 rushing yards and 222 through the air. The Mustangs recorded 27 first downs and averaged strong production throughout the night, but Louisville managed to produce enough offense to stay in front.
Quarterback Kevin Jennings completed 24 of 35 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Yamir Knight on a 19-yard scoring strike. The touchdown was Knight’s first of the season and the 10th of his career.
Jennings also contributed 35 rushing yards, giving him 257 yards of total offense.
The performance pushed Jennings’ career total offense to 9,330 yards, extending his SMU program record.
SMU’s offense produced five plays of at least 25 yards, including Raphael’s 40-yard run, his 25-yard touchdown, a 34-yard run, a 32-yard reception by Theo Melin Ohrstrom and a 28-yard completion to Yannick Smith.
The Mustangs also spread the ball around, with nine players recording at least one reception.
Defensively, SMU recorded eight tackles for loss and forced one fumble. Tyren Polley Jr. led the way with two tackles for loss, a career high, while Jarvis Lee also recorded two and forced a fumble.
The Mustangs limited Louisville to 3-for-10 on third down, continuing what had been one of the nation’s strongest third-down defenses entering the game.
Still, Louisville’s 265 rushing yards and 442 total yards proved costly.
SMU converted three of four red-zone opportunities into scores and has now scored on 12 of 15 trips inside the opponent’s 20-yard line this season.
The loss snapped a strong run of success for SMU under coach Rhett Lashlee. The Mustangs entered the night 40-16 under Lashlee and had won 29 of their previous 34 regular-season games.
SMU will look to rebound next Saturday when it returns home to Gerald J. Ford Stadium to host Missouri State. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT, with the game set to air on ACC Network.
