IRVING, Texas (The American/SMU) – SMU was picked to finish fourth in the 2022 American Athletic Conference Preseason Media Poll, league officials announced Thursday.
Houston garnered the most points in the poll with 243 and picked up seven first-place votes, while Cincinnati was second with 242 points and ten first-place votes. UCF came in one spot ahead of the Mustangs at third with seven first-place votes.
The Mustangs finished 8-4 in 2021 and have won at least eight games in two of the last three seasons (7-3 in 2020). The 2021 Fenway Bowl bid was the third consecutive year with a bowl berth. SMU reached as high as No. 19 in the AP Poll and No. 16 in the Coaches Poll last season, and finished the regular season atop the AAC in 3rd down conversion % (.435), 4th down conversion % (.433), first down offense (301, 13th NCAA), kickoff returns (27.31, 8th NCAA), passing offense (304.5, 16th NCAA), sacks allowed (1.33, 15th NCAA) and total offense (465.9, 13th NCAA). SMU has recorded 37 wins over the last five seasons, second only to Cincinnati among AAC teams.
This is the third consecutive season the Mustangs have been picked to finish in the top four of the league (2021 3rd, 2020 4th).
Six big games come to Ford Stadium this fall, highlighted by the Battle for the Iron Skillet against TCU on Sept. 24 and a match-up with 2021 CFP participant and AAC Champion Cincinnati on Oct. 22 for Homecoming. The Mustangs will also host AAC Championship game participant and in-state rival Houston on Nov. 5, as well as Navy in a Friday night contest on Oct. 14, before Memphis visits to close the regular season for Senior Day on Nov. 26.
Conference road opponents include a Florida swing at UCF (Oct. 1) and USF (Nov. 12), a trip to Tulsa (Oct. 29) and a Thursday night game at Tulane (Nov. 17). SMU's non-conference slate features the season opener at UNT on Sept. 3, a home game against Lamar (Sept. 10) and a match-up at Maryland (Sept. 17).
Remaining kickoff times and TV information will be announced at a later date.
For ticket information or questions, call (214) SMU-GAME (768-4263) or visit SMUMustangs.com/tickets.
2022 American Athletic Conference Preseason Media Poll
|
|
Team (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
|
1. |
Houston (7) |
243 |
|
2. |
Cincinnati (10) |
242 |
|
3. |
UCF (7) |
225 |
|
4. |
SMU |
187 |
|
5. |
Memphis |
162 |
|
6. |
East Carolina |
157 |
|
7. |
Tulane |
115 |
|
8. |
Tulsa |
93 |
|
9. |
South Florida |
71 |
|
10. |
Navy |
61 |
|
11. |
Temple |
28 |
