There may have been some doubts earlier this week, but it will be starter vs. starter in perhaps the biggest game in the ACC this season.
Pat Narduzzi confirmed earlier this week that Eli Holstein was cleared and will start against the Mustangs Saturday night, and Pete Thamel of ESPN reported Friday morning that SMU starter Kevin Jennings was cleared and will start against Pitt.
It’s Holstein vs. Jennings in a battle that has conference and College Football Playoff implications.
Jennings is coming off his worst performance of the season, turning the ball over five times in an overtime win against Duke, but he’s a dual-threat quarterback who won the starting job from last season’s SMU starter Preston Stone, who is no slouch himself.
Jennings has completed 110-of-171 pass attempts (64.5%) for 1,594 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions, adding 67 carries for 321 yards (4.8 yards per attempt) and three touchdowns.
Narduzzi was very complimentary of the SMU quarterback at his weekly press conference on Monday.
“Yeah, he’s really athletic, unlike what we saw last week,” Narduzzi said. “We know last week, he could sling it and throw it accurate, second and third down conversions, but this guy is going to — he’s got a strong arm. He can zip it in there. It’s like he’s playing darts out there. He throws darts.
“Obviously, he can beat you with his feet, so we’re going to have to contain him the best we can, but he’s a guy that likes to scramble and take off running. That’ll be the challenge this week.”
Jennings hasn’t lost as a starter this season, going 5-0, and he will be tested in a major way by a Panthers defense that is coming off perhaps the best performance of the college football season.
Kickoff between Pitt and SMU is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas. ACC Network will have the television broadcast.
need to contain him and keep him from turning the corner or cutting it back in. does throw darts but against duke several were not on target and/or couldn’t be handled by the receivers. should be a fun one. h2p!