Roderick Daniels

Roderick Daniels's Biography

As the 2024 season commenced, the Southern Methodist University Mustangs, under the leadership of their coach, Rhett Lashlee, became a household name in the football world. Now in his third year at the head of the program, Lashlee steered the team as they moved to compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for the first time since their switch from the American Athletic Conference. Playing their home games at the iconic Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas, the Mustangs were poised to carve out their distinctive identity in the new conference.

The initial perception of the Mustangs’ abilities was for them to finish seventh, according to the ACC preseason poll released on July 31st. However, they took the field with an unyielding resolve to exceed expectations. The roster, last updated on August 24, had seen some changes over the months, which were crucial to the Mustangs’ performance. The series of football games that followed were a showcase of the strengths, adaptability, and tenacity of the SMU Mustangs team.

Their foray in the new terrain of the ACC began with a remarkable victory over HCU, in which they triumphed 59-7. This game, held at their home ground, brought in an era of growth following the completion of the Garry Weber Endzone Complex. The tables turned when they battled against BYU, a game that saw the team’s first defeat of the season, although placekicker Collin Rogers managed to set a school record for most field goals in a single game.

In the wake of the defeat, Kevin Jennings replaced Preston Stone as starting quarterback just before SMU engaged TCU on the field. Fuelled by a robust defense strategy that yielded five turnovers in their favor, SMU emerged victorious, winning back the Iron Skillet. The ejection of TCU’s head coach, Sonny Dykes, who, coincidentally, was SMU’s head coach from 2018 to 2021, was a significant point in the game. Dykes was the first power conference head coach ejected from a game since the establishment of the rule in 2016.

The Mustangs’ winning streak continued against Louisville, where quarterback Kevin Jennings achieved a historical record by becoming the first SMU player to pass for over 200 yards and rush for over 100 yards. Despite an injury scare, Jennings powered through, leading SMU to their first win against a ranked opponent for the season.

At Stanford Stadium, SMU defeated Stanford convincingly 40-10, despite the unfortunate injury of star tight end R. J. Maryland. SMU narrowly defeated Duke in overtime, overcoming the hurdle of committing six turnovers to clinch victory.

Back on home turf, SMU secured a decisive victory against Pitt 48-25, handing them their first loss of the season. This accomplishment saw them rise to number 13 in the country, the highest rating the team had received since 1985. They went on to defeat Boston College 38-28 in a thrilling rematch of the 2023 Fenway Bowl. SMU maintained a lead for the majority of the match, overcoming a brief slip where they lost the lead at the start of the second half.

As the Mustangs carried their winning spirit and newfound reputation into the season’s remaining games, they set their eyes on their ultimate goal, the ACC Championship. Their impressive 5-0 start in conference play made them the team to watch, particularly notable considering their recent transition into the ACC from the Group of Five conference.