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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Preston Stone fired a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Hudson with under three minutes left in the game to seal a 38-34 win over Memphis to keep the Mustangs unbeaten in the American Athletic Conference on Saturday.

SMU remains tied with Tulane and UTSA, all unbeaten in the AAC, heading into the final weekend of the regular season. The Mustangs close out their regular season at home against Navy while Tulane and UTSA square off in New Orleans.

Blake Watson ran 11 yards for a touchdown to pull Memphis into a 28-28 tie on the first play of the fourth quarter, but SMU answered with a six-play, 60-yard drive that culminated in a 32-yard Collin Rogers field goal to take the lead for good. Memphis' Seth Henigan threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Demeer Blankumsee in the final minute to set the final margin.

Stone finished 15-of-23 passing for 286 yards and two touchdowns for SMU (9-2, 7-0). LJ Johnson Jr. carried 21 times for 115 yards and a touchdown.

SMU is now 9-0 when it has scored 30 points or more this season.

Henigan was 35-of-51 passing for 402 yards and two touchdowns for Memphis (8-3, 5-2). Roc Taylor caught eight passes for 146 yards and Blankumsee caught nine for 114 yards and two scores.

 

• [rv/rv] SMU 38, [-/rv] Memphis 34
• SMU (9-2, 7-0 American), Memphis (8-3, 5-2 American)
• Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium – Memphis Stadium

• SMU Senior Day
• Navy - Saturday, November 25 – 11am CT – Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas
  • TV: ESPN2
  • Radio: KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM | SMU Mobile App/Varsity Network App

• Captains: Jake Bailey #12, WR, Sr.), Elijah Chatman (#40, DT, Sr.), Brandon Crossley (#1, S, Sr.), Tyler Lavine (#31, RB, Sr.), Jonathan McGill (#2, S, Sr.), Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Sr.), Preston Stone (#2, QB, So.)
• SMU went up 38-28 with 2:41 left in the 4^th quarter following a 9-play, 73-yard drive that took 4:53 (Preston Stone 7-yard TD pass to Jordan Hudson)
• SMU is 7-0 in conference play this season and 12-3 in AAC games under Rhett Lashlee
  • First 7-0 start in conference play since starting 7-0 in 1982 (went 7-0-1 in the SWC)
• SMU has won 8 straight AAC games, including 7 this season
  • Longest conference winning streak since 11 straight overlapping the 1981 and 1982 seasons
• SMU had 1 takeaways (fumble) – 12 takeaways in AAC play
• SMU had 42-158 yards rushing with 3 rushing TDs: LJ Johnson, Jaylan Knighton, Preston Stone
  • LJ Johnson was 21-115 rushing with a TD (2^nd straight 100-yard game, 3^rd of the season)
  • 158 or more rushing yards in 9 of 11 games
  • Multiple rushing TDs in 5 straight games and 8 of past 9
• SMU had 1 sack, 4 TFLs, 7 pass breakups, 3 QB hurries with 1 takeaway
  • Sacks: Cameron Robertson (2^nd straight game with a sack)
    • Now have 36 sacks on the season, T-3^rd in a season at SMU
  • Pass breakups: Charles Woods (4 - career high)
  • Forced Fumbles: Cale Sanders
  • Fumble Recoveries: Ahmad Walker
• Preston Stone was 15-23 passing for 286 yards with 2 TDs and 8-0 rushing with 1 TD
  • TDs: RJ Maryland (43 yards – 7^th TD pass of 40+ yards this season), Jordan Hudson (7 yards)
  • 6^th game this season with at least 3 total TDs 
• ESPN Highlights
  • Preston Stone 43-yard TD pass to RJ Maryland
  • Cameron Robertson sack
  • LJ Johnson Jr. 17-yard rush
  • LJ Johnson Jr. with another 17-yard rush
  • Preston Stone 1-yard TD rush
• SMU Radio Highlights and Head Coach Rhett Lashlee postgame radio | SMU Radio Network on KTCK "The Ticket" 96.7 FM, 1310 AM (Rich Phillips pxp, Scott Garner analyst, Steve Lansdale sideline) – Credit: Learfield / SMU Radio Network
  • Highlights & Rhett Lashlee postgame
• Series History vs Memphis: First win at Memphis since 2013

• SMU scored 38 points - Have scored at least 31 points in all 9 wins

• SMU had 1 sack - Cameron Robertson

• Tyler Lavine played in his 58^th game at SMU (2^nd). Elijah Chatman and Nelson Paul played their 57^th game as Mustangs (T-3^rd)

• RJ Maryland (#82, TE, So.)
  • 1-43 receiving with a TD (7^th TD of the season, 13^th of his career)
  • 6 TDs in past 7 games 

• Collin Rogers #41, K, So.)
  • 5-5 on PATs, now 112-113 for his career
  • 1-1 FGs (made 32)

• Preston Stone (#2, QB, So.) - Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, Davey O'Brien Class of 2023, Manning Award Watch List
  • 15-23 passing for 286 yards and 2 TDs plus a rushing TD
  • 6^th game this season with at least 3 total TDs 

• Ryan Bujcevski (#92, P, Sr.) – Ray Guy Award Watch List
  • 1-46 punting
• Elijah Chatman (#40, DT, Sr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List
  • Had 2 tackles
• Branson Hickman (#56, C, Jr.) – Rimington Trophy Watch List
  • Has started 30 straight games that he has played (missed one game in 2022)
• Jordan Hudson (#8, WR, So.)
  • 2-39 receiving with a TD
  • 6 TDs this season, 4 in past 5 games
• LJ Johnson (#11, RB, So.)
  • 21-115 rushing with a TD
  • 3^rd 100-yard game this season, 2^nd straight
• Jaylan Knighton (#4, RB, Sr.)
  • Had a rushing TD, 6^th on the season (all in past 6 games)
• Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Sr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List
  • 39^th start at SMU (42 games played)
• Cameron Robertson (#15, DE, So.)
  • Had 2 TFLs, including a sack (2^nd straight week with a sack)
• Cale Sanders (#22, S, Jr.)
  • Had a forced fumble (2^nd of the season, 5^th of career)
• Key'Shawn Smith (#9, WR, Sr.)
  • 3-63 receiving
• Ahmad Walker (#34, LB, Jr.)
  • Had a fumble recover (2^nd of career)
  • Team-high 7 tackles
• Camar Wheaton (#0, RB, So.)
  • 9-51 rushing
• Charles Woods (#3, CB, Sr.)
  • 6 tackles and a career-high 4 pass breakups