Charles McClelland rushed for 129 yards on 16 carries and No. 21 Cincinnati survived a late comeback to take down SMU 29-27 on Saturday in Dallas to win its sixth straight game.

Trailing 29-14, SMU (3-4, 1-2 American Athletic Conference) made it a one-possession game when Preston Stone found RJ Maryland for a 16-yard touchdown with 5:09 left to play.

The Mustangs then forced a three-and-out and drove 82 yards in nine plays, with Tyler Lavine scoring from 1 yard out to make it 29-27. The two-point conversion attempt failed, and Cincinnati (6-1, 3-0) ran out the clock to hold on.

McClelland gained the majority of his yardage on a 76-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, which was the longest run of his career. Ryan Montgomery also scored on the ground for the Bearcats, who have now won six of their seven all-time meetings with SMU.

Cincinnati quarterback Ben Bryant completed 18 of 35 passes for 200 yards, and Jadon Thompson hauled in four passes for 69 yards. The Bearcats outgained the Mustangs 379-259.

Tanner Mordecai threw for 105 yards with a touchdown and an interception on 15-for-25 passing for SMU. He exited with an undisclosed injury in the third quarter, and Stone took over and threw for 74 yards and a touchdown.

McClelland broke things open early in the second, slicing through the left side of the defense to the end zone for a 17-0 Bearcats lead.

After Cincinnati failed to convert a fourth-and-1, Mordecai connected with Jordan Kerley for a 43-yard gain and TJ McDaniel dashed for a 3-yard touchdown to pull the Mustangs within 17-7.

The Bearcats answered with a 25-yard field goal from Ryan Coe, but Mordecai found Kerley for a 1-yard TD to cap a 13-play, 77-yard drive to make it 20-14 heading into the break.

Coe made good on field goals of 52, 44 and 31 yards coming out of halftime to extend the lead to 15.

–Field Level Media