Friday, November 10, 2023 – 8 p.m. CT
[RV/RV] SMU (7-2, 5-0 American) vs. North Texas (3-6, 1-4 American)
Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas
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SETTING THE SCENE
• SMU puts its five-game winning streak on the line in a nationally-televised meeting with North Texas on Friday night at 8 p.m. CT in Ford Stadium. 
• The Mustangs showed their grit this past weekend, coming up with clutch plays in a 36-31 victory at Rice, securing the Mayor's Cup for the first time since 2011.
• Preston Stone showed off his dual-threat ability in the victory, throwing for 224 yards and two scores, while rushing for a career-best 81 yards and a touchdown. 
• The Mustangs have outscored their opponents 225-67 in five conference games this year. 
• SMU received votes in the most recent AP Top 25 poll for the first time this year and AFCA Coaches Poll for a third straight week. 

QUICK HITS
• The Mustangs are 7-0 this year when they have scored at least 30 points in a game. 
• SMU has had at least seven receivers catch a pass in every game in 2023. 
• Preston Stone ranks 10th in the NCAA in touchdown passes with 21 on the season. 
• Elijah Roberts has been a force getting to the quarterback this year, ranking 11th in the NCAA in sacks with 7.5, including 4.5 in his last three games.  
• SMU's defense continues its supreme play this season, ranking in the top-20 in NCAA in third down pct defense (5th), defensive touchdowns (8th), first downs allowed (11th), passing yards allowed (9th), red zone defense (15th), scoring defense (9th), team passing efficiency defense (16th), team sacks (5th), tackles for loss (15th) and total defense (8th).
• The Mustangs have taken it to the conference opposition, posting an average margin of victory of 31.6 points (45.0-13.4) in conference games this year. 
• SMU has been nearly unstoppable at home this year, posting a 4-0 record while averaging 52.5 points per game and only allowing 10.0. 
• The Mustangs have won their last six games at Ford Stadium dating back to November of 2022. 
• SMU (7th offense, 9th defense) is only one of four teams in the country this year to have a top-10 scoring offense and defense, joining Georgia (10th offense, 6th defense), Michigan (5th offense, 1st defense) and Penn State (6th offense, 3rd defense). 

THE SERIES
• This is the 43rd meeting in the series. 
• SMU holds a commanding 35-6-1 advantage in the series. 
• The teams last met up on Sept. 3, 2022, a 48-10 win for the Mustangs at North Texas. 
• SMU has won the last four meetings and holds a 12-game home winning streak against the Mean Green. 

ABOUT THE MEAN GREEN
• North Texas has a record of 3-6 on the year. 
• The Mean Green are coming off a 37-29 loss at home to UTSA on Nov. 4. 
• UNT is 1-3 on the road this season. 
• North Texas averages 32.8 points per game on the road in 2023 while giving up 36.3.
 
THE COACHES
• Rhett Lashlee is in his second season as the head coach at SMU and has a 14-8 career record. Lashlee, who served as offensive coordinator for the Mustangs for two seasons (2018-19), also served as the offensive coordinator at Miami in 2020 and 2021. A one-time finalist (2013) and two-time semifinalist (2019, 2020) for the Broyles Award, Lashlee has the distinction of being the only coach ever nominated for the Broyles Award four different times at four different schools (Arkansas State, Auburn, SMU, Miami).

• Eric Morris is in his first season as head coach of North Texas. He has a career record of 27-24. Morris came to Denton following one season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Washington State. He previously served as head coach at Incarnate Word in San Antonio for four seasons from 2018-21.