Scouting the Next Opponent: Virginia Hosts Syracuse Saturday Night Before Its Trip to Ford Stadium

Pony Up: no SMU game this Saturday, so let's scout the team coming to the Hilltop next.

SMU (4-1, 2-1 ACC) slipped three spots to No. 24 in Sunday's AP poll after what the AP called an "uninspired home win over Boston College." The Mustangs are idle this week, then host Virginia on Oct. 17 at 11 a.m. Central on The CW, per On3. Rhett Lashlee is 42-17 at SMU and unbeaten in ACC home games, and five of the next six are in Dallas. "We're about to play seven straight Power Four games on the back end," Lashlee said. "So, we got to rest up, we got to use this week for what it is."

Virginia plays Saturday night. The Cavaliers (3-2, 1-1 ACC) host Syracuse at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, 6:30 Central, on ACC Network for Homecoming, coming off a 38-7 loss at Florida State. Tony Elliott, in his fifth season, didn't sugarcoat it: "It was a rough day at the office for all of us. We're going to take accountability for it." Virginia's release says the Hoos haven't lost back-to-back games since 2024.

Here's what should get SMU's attention. Virginia's defense is allowing 18.0 points a game and ranks first in the ACC and sixth nationally against the pass at 140.8 yards a game. Its seven interceptions are tied for sixth nationally, and UVA has forced at least one turnover in 14 of its last 16 games. On offense, the Cavaliers have only two turnovers all season, and receiver Da'Shawn Martin has four touchdown catches. They're also 3-0 at home and have outscored those opponents 135-14, though this one is in Dallas.

That's a tough matchup for a Mustangs offense that managed 218 yards against Boston College. Kevin Jennings has to be sharp against a secondary that takes the ball away, and Syracuse's Amari Odom gets the first crack at that defense Saturday. He threw for 335 yards and tied the Orange record with five touchdown passes in last week's 42-41 overtime win at UConn.

Watch Saturday night, then come back to SMU Football for the full preview. Radio question: does SMU's offense get back to being explosive against this Virginia secondary?

Sources: VirginiaSports.com — Virginia welcomes Syracuse Saturday; AP via Chattanooga Times Free Press — AP Top 25, Oct. 4; On3 — Game time, TV set for SMU vs. Virginia.