SMU football news: Yannick Smith breaks free for 79-yard TD vs. Florida State
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SMU football news: Yannick Smith breaks free for 79-yard TD vs. Florida State appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
SMU football wide receiver Yannick Smith scored his first touchdown as a Mustang in a major spot Monday night, breaking through contact and racing 79 yards to give No. 19 SMU a fourth-quarter lead over Florida State.
On third-and-6 from the Mustangs‘ 21-yard line, quarterback Kevin Jennings found Smith on a slant. Smith absorbed contact, broke a tackle, and turned the completion into a 79-yard touchdown. Nick Reed’s extra point pushed the Mustangs ahead 24-17 with 12:37 remaining.
ClutchPoints shared the explosive play on X, formerly Twitter, as Smith’s first SMU touchdown gave the Mustangs a seven-point advantage on the road in their 2026 ACC opener.
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“YANNICK SMITH GOES 79 YARDS TO THE HOUSE 🔥”
YANNICK SMITH GOES 79 YARDS TO THE HOUSE 🔥pic.twitter.com/TqVGZiEAeY
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 8, 2026
The touchdown capped a three-play, 83-yard drive that lasted just 1:05 and showcased the yards-after-catch ability Smith brought to the Mustangs from East Carolina.
Smith joined SMU after two seasons with the Pirates, totaling 69 receptions for 1,017 yards and eight touchdowns. The 6-foot-2 junior had a strong showing in his Mustangs debut.
The second half turned into a back-and-forth battle. Florida State erased SMU’s 17-10 halftime lead after the Mustangs muffed a punt deep in their own territory. Ashton Daniels eventually scored on the ground to tie the game at 17.
Smith’s 79-yard score gave SMU an immediate answer and restored its seven-point advantage. The Seminoles later tied the game again at 24-24.
After a late Jennings interception, the Mustangs recovered, moved back into scoring range, and set up Reed’s 22-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining. SMU then held on for a 27-24 road victory in its ACC opener.
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