T.J. Harden’s 1-yard dash into the end zone in overtime lifted the host SMU Mustangs to a 26-20 comeback win over the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon in Dallas, Tex.
The winning score was set up by the second of two clutch interceptions by Ahmaad Moses, who intercepted Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck near his own end zone on Miami’s overtime possession.
The Mustangs (6-3, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) ran six plays — all runs — on their overtime possession with Harden carrying the ball on the final five of those and amassing the final 20 yards.
SMU beat Miami (6-2, 2-2 ACC) for the second time ever and first time since 1965. It was also the Mustangs’ first home victory over a top 10 opponent since 1974.
The win kept the Mustangs’ hopes of advancing to the ACC Championship Game alive, while the loss seriously harmed any hopes the Hurricanes had of accomplishing that themselves or making it to the College Football Playoff.
In overtime, the Hurricanes appeared ready to go in for a go-ahead score. But facing third-and-6 from the SMU 7, Beck’s intended pass to Malachi Toney was thrown behind him, allowing Moses to pick it off.
Miami broke a 17-17 tie on a Carter Davis 45-yard field goal with 9:34 left in the fourth quarter. SMU squandered a chance to tie the game when Sam Keltner missed a 42-yard field goal attempt wide right with 6:24 remaining.
But the Mustangs regained possession at their own 10 with 2:09 to go after forcing a Miami punt.
SMU faced a fourth-and-9 on its own 48, but an unnecessary roughness penalty on Marquise Lightfoot for hitting Jennings after referees had whistled the play dead after the snap gave the Mustangs a first down at Miami’s 37.
Six plays later, Keltner redeemed himself by converting a 38-yarder to knot the score at 20 with 25 seconds left and send the game to overtime.
Jennings threw for 365 yards on 29 of 44 attempts with one touchdown. Jordan Hudson caught 11 of those passes for 136 yards.
Beck completed 26 of 38 passes for 274 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Toney caught nine passes for 70 yards, and Mark Fletcher Jr. led Miami with 84 yards rushing on 16 carries.
–Field Level Media
