SMU knocks off No. 10 Miami 26-20 in overtime, damaging playoff hopes for Hurricanes

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DALLAS (AP) — SMU is still finding a way to affect the Atlantic Coast Conference race even after losing an ACC regular-season game for the first time and falling out of the College Football Playoff picture.

T.J. Harden scored on a 1-yard run in overtime, and the Mustangs upset No. 10 Miami 26-20 on Saturday, handing the Hurricanes (6-2, 2-2 ACC) their second loss in three weeks and damaging their playoff hopes.

Ahmaad Moses put the Mustangs (6-3, 4-1) in position to win even with a field goal by intercepting Carson Beck just short of the goal line on the first possession of the extra period. It was Moses' second pick.

Harden’s score came on the last of his four consecutive runs as the Mustangs won their 13th consecutive home conference game a week after a last-play loss at Wake Forest that was SMU's first in 12 ACC regular-season games since rejoining a power league last year.

“We beat who I think is a playoff-caliber team with a national championship-caliber defense,” said coach Rhett Lashlee, who had another reason to celebrate with a two-year contract extension announced before the game. “We’re just thankful we found a way to grind it out and win.”

Harden took a handoff and ran left untouched, launching a wild celebration as SMU students stormed the field from the stands behind the Miami bench. Fans toppled the goal post in the end zone where Harden scored.

The base of the goal post couldn't be dislodged, but the uprights were eventually removed — including one that was part of a controversial ruling on what SMU thought was a tying field goal in the fourth quarter — and taken out of the stadium.

“Hope there's one in Deep Ellum and one in downtown Dallas,” said Lashee, referring to an eclectic area east of downtown.

Marquise Lightfoot’s critical unnecessary roughness penalty on a hit on quarterback Kevin Jennings after Miami called a timeout gave the Mustangs a first down when they were facing fourth-and-9 down with 1:08 remaining in regulation.

Lightfoot's mistake opened the door for Sam Keltner's tying 38-yard field goal with 25 seconds remaining in regulation.

“To lose a game like that, in that fashion, it’s hard,” Beck said. “This team comes and works every single day. We’re so connected. It’s really tough to lose like that on the road.”

Keltner had a potential tying 42-yarder with about six minutes to go that was ruled no good as the ball sailed over the right upright. SMU argued the call, but it wasn’t reviewable.

Jennings threw for a touchdown and ran for a score before ignoring an apparent lower left leg injury and returning to finish a drive to Keltner’s 43-yard field for a 17-all tie in the final seconds of the third quarter.

Beck had 274 yards passing with touchdowns to Joshisa Trader and Alex Bauman, but threw two interceptions in Miami's first game outside Florida this season.

The Mustangs had negative yards rushing when they started the extra session. The 25 yards on the winning possession put them at 23 for the game.

“Obviously, a lot of self-inflicted issues for us,” said Miami coach Mario Cristobal, whose team had 12 penalties for 96 yards. “At the end, just didn’t have enough to overcome it. We always play hard till the end, every game. But a lot of penalties. It’s on all of us.”

Miami: Christobal chose not to go for the win at the end of regulation. He had 25 seconds and a timeout, but Beck took a knee following a touchback on the kickoff.

SMU: Jennings was already playing hurt, according to Lashlee, before getting injured again. He hopped off the field on his right leg after getting dragged down as he was throwing. Jennings missed just two plays and was still limping badly when he first returned to the field but looked more mobile as the fourth quarter went on.

“Honestly, after that play, I didn't know I was going back in,” he said. “Hopping off the field, I couldn't put pressure on the leg at all. And then all of a sudden, my ankle just got back working.”

The Hurricanes probably won't be the third top 10 team this season to drop completely out of the poll in one week, which happened to Penn State and Texas in the same week in early October. But Miami is probably headed to the 20s.

SMU's 13-12 loss last week at Wake Forest on a final-play field goal, which ended a nation-leading conference winning streak at 20 games, probably silences any talk of the Mustangs returning to the poll. This time last year, they were on their way to a spot in the ACC title game, which they lost to Clemson but made the CFP anyway.

Miami: Syracuse at home next Saturday.

SMU: At Boston College next Saturday.

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