Jonathan McGill was on a mission, sprinting down the sidelines with his first interception of the season, his teammates running after him to celebrate. But McGill wasn’t headed for “Club Takeaway,” SMU’s signature turnover celebration. He beelined to the front row of the stands and handed the ball to his parents, Tonya and Norris McGill.

The McGill contingent numbered in the double-digits on that front row, most wearing customized jerseys. But it was far from the most family and friends they’ve brought to an SMU game. Last season, they had 40 members from the church they pastor at, Antioch Christian Church.

These past two seasons at SMU have been a welcome homecoming between the parents and their son. Jonathan was a star safety at Coppell High School who attended Stanford for four seasons. Norris and Tonya still made it to nearly every game, but the trek has been easier back in the Metroplex.

“My wallet is loving him being here,” Norris said.

Jonathan had the opportunity to attend SMU coming out of the 2019 class. But the time out west has made the family appreciate Jonathan’s final two college seasons back in Dallas.

“SMU was his first big offer in high school,” Tonya said at halftime. “It’s just a beautiful thing that he can come full circle. And they show so much love and grace towards him.” 

But McGill’s full circle moment isn’t transferring back to SMU after they first offered him; it’s returning to play his final season of college football in Dallas, where he started in flag football playing with Parker Stone, SMU quarterback Preston’s older brother. 

McGill will have the opportunity to play in the NFL after this year, but leaving the lifelong friends he built from football is a bittersweet feeling. 

“We’re not looking at it like, ‘This is the end.’” Norris said. “This is the moment.”

SMU’s defense was lights out in the program’s first-ever ACC win, a 42-16 romp over defending conference champion Florida State. McGill’s interception was one of three. Linebacker Kobe Wilson had a pick-six, which head coach Rhett Lashlee referred to as the best defensive play he’s ever seen, and Ahmad Walker also had a 25-yard interception return. SMU held Florida State to 12-of-34 completions and allowed only 63 rushing yards.

But Florida State didn’t walk out of Gerald J. Ford Stadium empty handed. Shortly after Jonathan gifted his mother the football, Florida State’s staffers requested it back. It was their game ball, after all.

“I almost said, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’” Tonya said.

Tonya did give the ball back, but Lashlee assured post game that SMU will give the family a ball if they want.

“It’s probably good that they gave it back,” Lashlee said. “I guess that technically would be stealing. It’s called a turnover within the confines of football and stealing outside of it.