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Miami Hurricanes' CFP hopes vanish after loss on the road to SMU

SMU stunned No. 10 Miami, 26-20, in overtime Saturday at Ford Stadium.
ByPatrick Previty
Miami v SMU
Miami v SMU | Stacy Revere/GettyImages

SMU stunned No. 10 Miami, 26-20, in overtime Saturday at Ford Stadium, capitalizing on an OT interception and punching in the winner on T.J. Harde'’s 1-yard run. It is the program's first home win over an AP top-10 opponent since 1974. On the first OT series, Miami drove to the SMU 7, but Carson Beck's third-and-6 throw was intercepted by safety Ahmaad Moses (his second INT of the day). The Mustangs then took over and ended it with Harden's plunge in the endzone. 

Miami (now 6-2 and 2-2 in the ACC) led 20-17 inside the final minute of regulation before SMU (now 6-3 and 4-1 in the ACC) forced overtime on Sam Keltner's 38-yard field goal with 0:25 left. Earlier in the fourth quarter, Keltner missed a 42-yarder that would've tied it, and SMU's tying drive was extended by an unnecessary-roughness call after Miami had taken a timeout prior to a fourth-and-9 snap near midfield.

Beck finished 26 of 38 for 274 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, hitting freshman Joshisa "JoJo" Trader for a 36-yard score in the first quarter and tight end Alex Bauman from 4 yards in the third. Miami outgained SMU 415-363 and held the ball for 37:42, but 12 penalties for 96 yards and the overtime turnover proved decisive. Mark Fletcher Jr. led the Hurricanes with 84 rushing yards; Carter Davis made field goals from 22 and 45 yards.

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SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings threw for 365 yards (29 of 44) with a 28-yard touchdown to Yamir Knight and ran for a 3-yard score early in the third quarter. Wideout Jordan Hudson posted 11 catches for 136 yards as the Mustangs repeatedly attacked Miami's secondary. Keltner had a 43-yard field goal before his game-tying kick in the final seconds.

The Hurricanes went 2-for-5 scoring touchdowns in the red zone (two TDs, two field goals, one turnover on downs) and stalled on a fourth-and-1 at the SMU 29 in the third quarter after taking a 17-14 lead. The Mustangs' defense — which was thin after a physical loss at Wake Forest last week — answered with situational plays at the goal line and in overtime.

The loss practically puts Miami's ACC title hopes to rest and snaps a two-game win streak entering November. SMU now strengthens its position in the league race under Rhett Lashlee with a signature victory. Miami returns home next week needing help in the standings; SMU, which had its 20-game conference win streak snapped a week ago, reasserted themselves in the race with its victory.

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