Miami could be facing its biggest challenge on both lines of scrimmage on Saturday at SMU. The Hurricanes have been one of the best teams nationally in rushing the passer and the Mustangs have been one of the best at protecting the quarterback in 2025.
Miami is seventh in the ACC, averaging 6.0 tackles per loss per game and eighth, posting 2.14 sacks per game. SMU is 15th in the ACC, allowing 6.0 TFLs per game and eighth, permitting 1.63 sacks per game. Miami and SMU have performed better in the more advanced starts in 2025.
Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus examined the advanced statistics that included pass blocking grade for SMU and pass rush and pressure grades for Miami. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings has not performed well under pressure in 2025.
Winning the line of scrimmage will also be important in the run game. SMU is 10th in the ACC, averaging 122.0 rushing yards per game and 3.97 yards per carry. Miami is first in the ACC, allowing 87.29 rushing YPG and third in holding opponents to 2.87 YPC.
"The Mustangs have been one of the best...protecting the quarterback. Their 85.6 PFF pass-blocking grade is second to only Oregon...Four of SMU’s five starters on the offensive line have at least an 80.0 pass-blocking grade...and left guard Logan Parr is fourth among all guards with a 91.2 pass-blocking grade.Max Chadwick, Pro Football Focus
The Hurricanes’ 91.2 PFF pass-rush grade is second to only Louisville...their 42.6% pressure rate is sixth. Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor are two of the 15 highest-graded edge defenders...Bain’s 94.7 PFF grade leads all players...
The Mustangs are coming off a season-low 48.8 PFF pass-blocking grade in the loss to Wake Forest. Quarterback Kevin Jennings is only 98th in America with a 45.7 PFF grade under pressure."
SMU also has to account for Miami defensive back Keionte Scott, who leads the Hurricanes and is tied for eighth in the ACC with 7.0 TFLs. Mesidor leads Miami and is 14th in the ACC with 3.5 sacks. The sack and TFL numbers for Bain and Mesidor do not give a true representation of how dominant they have been in 2025.
Miami has been inconsistent in pass defense in 2025. Four Miami opponents had over 200 yards passing and three were under 100 yards. South Florida had a season high 292 yards passing against Miami in a 49-12 loss. The Bulls had 177 passing yards in the second half when the outcome was mostly decided.
SMU is ninth in the ACC, averaging 266.0 passing YPG against a Miami pass defense third in the conference, allowing 183.1 YPG. Miami has improved significantly defensively under new coordinator Corey Hetherman during the 2025 season.
SMU - poor field position, Offense is bad in scoring opportunities due to below average success rate. They run the same # of plays as Miami but on 2 extra drives - Miami has to take advantage in their 3nOuts. pic.twitter.com/vIqt4bgqOS
— Harry Coleman (@trippcoleman) October 31, 2025
Wake Forest had eight TFLs, five QB hurries and one sack in a 13-12 win over SMU last week. Jennings completed 21 passes in 39 attempts for 171 yards, no TDs and one interception against Wake Forest. Jennings had his lowest total in 2025 by 76 yards passing and his first game without a TD in 2025 at Wake Forest.
Miami held Stanford QBs Ben Gulbranson and Elijah Brown to 12 completions in 26 attempts for 89 yards with one TD and two interceptions. The Hurricanes had six TFLs, two sacks and five QB hurries against the Cardinal last week.
At a sold-out Gerald J. Ford Stadium facing a tough SMU OL, Miami is going to have to be ready to play from the first kickoff. The Hurricanes have allowed a TD on their opponents' first drive in each of the past two games. A strong start will help Miami take the SMU crowd out of the game.