BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — SMU hadn’t lost this season when it scored first or put up at least 21 points.
The Mustangs were quick to check off both benchmarks to give coach June Jones his 100th collegiate victory.
Powered by quarterback J.J. McDermott and the Mustangs’ defense, SMU scored three first-quarter touchdowns Saturday and routed Pittsburgh 28-6 in the BBVA Compass Bowl at Legion Field.
“I’m really proud of the defense,” Jones said. “Really the defense has been that way all year. They’ve been the reason we’ve won eight games. We haven’t been as sharp on offense as in years past.”
Rishaad Wimbley ran for two touchdowns for SMU (8-5), which tied a school record by playing in its third straight bowl under Jones. Before Jones’ arrival in in 2008, SMU hadn’t played in a bowl game since beating Notre Dame in the 1984 Aloha Bowl.
Jones said he didn’t talk to the Mustangs about his approaching milestone, but he said his 100th win as a college coach “means a lot to me.”
“I’ll never forget these guys for that win,” he said.
McDermott completed 16-of-26 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown (to Darius Johnson early in the first quarter).
Pittsburgh (6-7) was held without a first down and fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter.
Pitt’s Kevin Harper kicked field goals of 32 and 34 yards.
The Panthers were coached by defensive coordinator Keith Patterson, who took over after Todd Graham bolted to be Arizona State’s new coach. It was Patterson’s last game with Pitt. He’s the new defensive coordinator at Arkansas State.
“The one thing I kept challenging everybody on the team to do is to finish,” Patterson said. “They represented as well as they possibly could.”
