SMU staves off Arizona 24-19 in Holiday Bowl; first bowl win since…

SMU staves off Arizona 24-19 in Holiday Bowl; first bowl win since…

Last time the SMU Mustangs received a bowl game, the yr was 2012 and its league was Conference USA. That was 13 years and two convention in the past, and far has modified within the program, which is quickly evolving into certainly one of the powers of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Despite the disappointment of barely lacking out on a second-straight College Football Playoff berth, SMU flew to San Diego on a enterprise journey, eyeing a signature postseason victory the program lacked for therefore lengthy. The Mustangs completed their mission in the Holiday Bowl, dethroning a ranked Arizona team in 24-19 vogue. Rhett Lashlee and Co. lastly erased the decade-plus bowl victory drought, securing a third-straight 9+ win season for SMU.

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The Holiday Bowl was the final story of two halves. The first half was a commanding 24-0 shutout in favor of the Mustangs. The second half was a mere survival, as Arizona blanked SMU 19-0 across the final two frames.

SMU got here out swinging, operating a flea-flicker with many transferring components on the second play from scrimmage, releasing up tight end Matthew Hibner for an 80-yard pickup. Running again T.J. Harden punched it in for a 1-yard score a play later, giving the Mustangs the fast start it desperately craved.

The momentum only surged after a few early defensive stops. Harden discovered the end zone again in the first quarter on a productive drive the place quarterback Kevin Jennings surgically picked aside a typically-stout Arizona passing protection — which lacked a number of All-Big 12 caliber defensive backs. Jennings amassed 248 passing yards in the first half against a unit which held 5-straight opponents under 200.

To start the second quarter, SMU’s lead ballooned to 21-0 on a drive spearheaded by an unlikely source. Tight end Stone Eby — taking reps in place of the absent RJ Maryland — only had two touches all season, however on the opening drive of the second body, Eby had an 18-yard catch, a devastating block, and a landing run to place the Mustangs up three scores.

With 29 seconds remaining in the interval, kicker Sam Keltner break up the uprights from 24 yards out to supply SMU a 24-0 halftime benefit. Arizona turned the first team to score zero in the Holiday Bowl first half since 2009, when an Ndamukong Suh-led Nebraska pitched a 33-0 shutout on the Wildcats.

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Except this time, Arizona wasn’t able to lie down and submit a goose egg on the scoreboard. The Wildcats initiated their rally when Michael Dansby intercepted Jennings in the end zone, stopping SMU from capturing a possible 31-0 lead. Arizona capitalized on SMU’s first turnover of the evening by launching a 96-yard drive, concluding in a 28-yard connection from Noah Fifita to Javin Whatley with 2:38 left in the third quarter, slicing the deficit to 24-6.

The Mustangs’ turnover hiccups then worsened. Jennings threw a jackpot-style heave downfield the place a cluster of Mustangs and Wildcats waited for the skyball to land. After three or 4 deflections, outdoors linebacker Riley Wilson made a diving interception in SMU territory, offering Arizona a golden alternative at a comeback. However, the Wildcats failed on fourth down from the 10-yard line to severely inconvenience the rally.

Still, Fifita went down swinging in the fourth quarter of his 265-yard displaying, main another landing drive to encroach on SMU’s once-comfortable benefit. This time, he discovered Tre Spivey for a 10-yard score with 8:40 left, leaving loads of time for a comeback in a 24-12 ballgame. SMU’s offense lastly responded, bleeding 4 minutes of clock and reaching the Arizona 34-yard line, trying poised to seal the contest. However, Jennings fired his third interception of the second half and his second to Wilson, which instantly skyrocketed Arizona’s hopes.

Fifita then delivered his third landing strike of the Holiday Bowl with 33 seconds remaining, hitting tight end Cameron Barmore who led the Wildcats in receptions (5) and receiving yards (61). But devoid of timeouts, the Wildcats wanted their first onside kick recovery since 2017 to finish the miraculous rebound. However, SMU pounced on the ball without any particular groups drama, securing a long-awaited Mustang victory.

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Rhett Lashlee was showered with an egg nog bathtub in the postgame festivities while large receiver Yamir Knight (7 receptions, 104 yards) and free security Ahmaad Moses (13 tackles, 1 cross breakup) claimed Offensive MVP and Defensive MVP honors, respectively.

Arizona (9-4, 6-3 Big 12) fell 5 factors in need of its fifth 10-win season in program historical past. The No. 21 Wildcats might have misplaced their alternative for a second season-end ranking of the twenty first century, however still, 2025 was an unbelievable bounce-back yr under head coach Brent Brennan. This team stands as certainly one of 9 Arizona squads to attain 9 victories and the first to take action since becoming a member of the Big 12.

SMU (9-4, 6-2 ACC) lastly lifts a bowl trophy after a 13-year wait. The Mustangs, which led in the fourth quarter of all 4 defeats, fell excruciatingly in need of their CFP targets however still checked off a big purpose. The program’s newfound momentum continues with three-straight 9-win seasons for the first time since the affluent 1981-84 stretch.

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