Jennings, who threw for 430 yards at Florida State just 2 weeks earlier, was far more ordinary this time — 24-of-35 for 222 yards, a touchdown and 2 interceptions, both picked off by Louisville's Kaleb Beasley. It was Kendrick Raphael who carried SMU's offense instead, ripping off a career-best 197 rushing yards and tying his personal high with 3 touchdowns.
The line score tells the story of a game that tightened before it broke open. Louisville jumped ahead 14-0 out of the gate, SMU clawed within a field goal behind Raphael in the third quarter, and then Brown's second long touchdown and a 13-point Louisville fourth quarter put it away for good.
The 46,385 that packed L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium for the Villanova opener showed up again for a ranked visitor, and the building got loud early when Louisville jumped in front — the kind of environment the preview flagged as a factor for a team still finding itself at 1-1 entering the day.
Louisville moves to 2-1 with a signature ACC win, while SMU drops its first game of the season. The Mustangs' defense never found an answer for Louisville's ground game, and that — more than either quarterback — decided this one.