The SMU Mustangs made the College Football Playoffs as the proverbial ‘last team in.’ In the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions, their offense looked like they didn’t get that memo.
With Kevin Jennings struggling against PSU, fans immediately started asking the important questions about whether there could be a QB change or not for the Mustangs.
Can Preston Stone Play for SMU Against Penn State?
Jennings has thrown three first-half interceptions — including two pick-sixes — against Penn State, and clearly the game plan has changed for SMU. With Preston Stone in the transfer portal, it should be noted that he is dressed at the game and could absolutely be thrown into the lineup for the Mustangs.
Whether or not head coach Rhett Lashlee does such a thing is still up for debate, but with the way Jennings has played through the first 20 minutes, it may be the right decision.
SMU fans took to social media to air their own frustrations.
Do we get Preston Stone now? How does that work with NIL, portal, etc. ?
— Uninformed Frog (@uninformedfrog) December 21, 2024
Some fans even joked that this could be Stone’s portal audition for any QB-needy teams.
cue the Preston Stone transfer portal audition.
— Will Tucker (@mustache_fatwa) December 21, 2024
It hasn’t been pretty for Jennings to start against Penn State. In 10 total pass attempts, Jennings threw three interceptions, including this drive-killing red-zone interception that gave Penn State the ball up 14-0.
Ah…that’s why
Jennings is seeing ghosts out there pic.twitter.com/1IHF26xkOp https://t.co/X477Zgf1k8
— Tim England (@tengland_150) December 21, 2024
Stone may be available, and it was long since believed that it would take a true heinous act for Jennings to lose his job to him. After a quarter and a half at Penn State, we may have reached that threshold.
SMU Fans Roast First-Half Performance from Kevin Jennings
It’s fair to say that the first half performance didn’t go so well for Jennings. Yes, we’re looking at replacing him with a player who is actively in the transfer portal. And yes, you can expect to see a shift in game plan with Jennings struggling as much as he is.
Moreover, you could have also expected fans to react the way that they have so far with his three first-half interceptions.
One fan compared him to Jameis Winston’s disastrous showing that got him benched just a handful of weeks ago.
SMU QB Kevin Jennings after the game: pic.twitter.com/LbwWO1uzlz
— College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) December 21, 2024
Another fan mocked the now-infamous Gunnar Gundy shaking video from behind center just last season.
Kevin Jennings vs. Penn State pic.twitter.com/flC9DeNK7o
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) December 21, 2024
And another clearly concerned fan wondered what it would take to get Stone there.
Might wanna give Preston Stone a call @SMUFB. See if he can make it to State College for the second half!
— 🐻 (@CutlerToForte) December 21, 2024
Only time will tell if Jennings gets pulled for Stone.
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