SMU Wants Kevin Jennings to Win the Heisman Trophy. Here's How It Could Happen.
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The last two players to hoist the Heisman Trophy were long shots. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter both delivered on lengthy odds to win college football‘s most prestigious award.
SMU is making the case for another sleeper with the launch of its Heisman campaign for quarterback Kevin Jennings.
The Mustangs’ signal-caller is already one of the best in the ACC. Jennings has started 26 games over the last three seasons and led his hometown program to a conference championship appearance and a spot in the College Football Playoff in 2024. But the odds are not in his favor to become the second Heisman winner in SMU history — and the first since Doak Walker in 1948.
Behold, the K7NG OF DALLAS.
👑 https://t.co/fpzkMOzAp1pic.twitter.com/sa4d4BQqrS
— SMU Football (@SMUFB) July 13, 2026
Jennings is +8000 to win the award at FanDuel. That’s an implied probability of 1.2%. Compare that to the betting favorites, like Notre Dame‘s CJ Carr (+700), Texas’ Arch Manning (+800) and Miami’s Darian Mensah (+1100).
So, what would a Heisman-caliber campaign for Jennings look like?
Stronger Statistical Output
Jennings set career-highs in passing categories across the board in 2025. He completed 300-of-454 attempts (66.1%) for 3,641 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Jennings stacked up well against his contemporaries, tying for eighth in passing yards and 17th in touchdowns. But his 13 interceptions also tied for third-most in the FBS. That touchdown-to-interception ratio is not going to cut it. Jennings will have to cut down on the turnovers and find a way to facilitate more touchdowns with a largely new group of pass-catchers.
Jennings lost four of his top five targets to graduation. Yamir Knight returns after finishing second on the team in targets, catches and touchdowns. But the Mustangs will be counting on transfer Yannick Smith (East Carolina) and Jalen Cooper, who flashed big-play ability a season ago as a true freshman, to round out the receiver room.
While Jennings’ passing stats improved last year, his rushing numbers regressed. He played through an ankle injury that he suffered early in the schedule, which hampered his mobility and limited him to just 54 rushing yards and four scores. A return to his 2024 rushing production (354 yards, five touchdowns) would add to his Heisman case and open up more avenues to success for the Mustangs. Speaking of which…
Improved Success for SMU
The Mustangs have the second-most wins in the ACC behind Miami since they joined the conference two years ago. That includes an overtime win over the Hurricanes last November, one of many one-score games coach Rhett Lashlee’s team played in 2025. But quite a few of them didn’t go SMU’s way.
There was a double-overtime loss to Baylor by a field goal. A one-point loss at Wake Forest. And a last-second loss to Cal in the regular-season finale to keep the Mustangs out of the ACC championship game. (Ironically, running back Kendrick Raphael scored that decisive touchdown and transferred to SMU in the offseason.)
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If one or two of those games end differently, the Mustangs very well could be the reigning ACC champions. But an 8-4 regular season is not going to merit Heisman consideration.
SMU’s upcoming schedule breaks well for a return to the ACC title game and a finish in the neighborhood of 10 wins. The Mustangs avoid Miami and their hardest game is out of conference against Notre Dame. They also get some of their hardest league games at home, where they are 11-2 over the last two seasons. Virginia, Virginia Tech and Cal all come to Gerald J. Ford Stadium in the fall. SMU’s most important conference game is an early-season trip to Louisville, one of the other teams in the mix to make a run at the ACC championship.
“I think just having those guys around me, we’ll win a lot of ballgames,” Jennings said of his teammates in the campaign video. “A lot of things are going to happen at SMU. We’re going to the top for sure.”
Standout Performances in Big Games
The phrase “Heisman moment” might be a bit cliche at this point, but performing at your best in the spotlight can and will sway voters. (Think Mendoza’s game-winning drive against Penn State.)
There are a few obvious opportunities for Jennings to do so, starting in Week 1. SMU plays at Florida State to wrap up Labor Day Weekend. Everyone will be watching that game. The Seminoles’ recent struggles are well-documented, but that is still a nationally televised spot against an established brand, and a conference game to boot. Coming out firing will do Jennings and the Mustangs well.
SMU’s game against Louisville could get buried in the Week 3 Saturday afternoon slate. But again, that’s the most important conference game on the schedule.
Assuming the Mustangs are still riding high and Jennings is putting up numbers worthy of Heisman consideration, November is a make-or-break month. SMU hosts Virginia Tech on a Friday night to kick the month off and goes to Notre Dame the second-to-last week of the season. A late-season loss could hurt Jennings’ case, but the Fighting Irish are projected to be one of the best teams in the nation. And he’ll have another game against Stanford — and maybe even a rematch against Miami in Charlotte — to sway voters.
As unlikely as it might be, there is a path there for Jennings. Stranger things have happened — like Indiana producing the Heisman winner and winning the national championship.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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