Box Score | Postgame Notes | Photo Gallery | Video Highlights
Postgame Press Conference
Conference Champions Apparel
2024 Ticket Deposits
No. 17 SMU To Face Boston College In Wasabi Fenway Bowl
 

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Kevin Jennings threw a touchdown pass and accounted for 266 yards from scrimmage in his first career start, Collin Rogers kicked four second-half field goals and No. 25 SMU beat No. 17 Tulane 26-14 on Saturday in the American Athletic Conference championship game.

The Mustangs (11-2) also turned in a stifling defensive performance, limiting Tulane (11-2, No. 22 CFP) to a touchdown during the final 59 minutes to snap the Green Wave's 10-game winning streak and dethrone the defending league champs.

SMU sacked Michael Pratt seven times. Defensive back Isaiah Nwokobia's interception in the fourth quarter all but sealed it, sending numerous fans to the exits of Yulman Stadium, where the Wave had celebrated their first AAC title a year ago.

Had Tulane won, it could have returned to a major New Year's Day bowl game for a second straight year, having defeated USC in last season's Cotton Bowl. Now either Conference USA champion Liberty or SMU — which ever team winds up higher in the final College Football Playoff rankings — will play in a New Year's Six bowl.

Liberty entered the weekend at No. 24 in the CFP and SMU was not in the CFP's top 25, but could potentially move past Liberty after topping Tulane on the road.

SMU's league title was its first since winning the Southwest Conference in 1984. It'll also be the Mustangs' last in the AAC. They move to the ACC next season.

Tulane led 7-0 just two plays after SMU received the opening kickoff.

Playing in place of injured Mustangs starter Preston Stone, Jennings was stripped on SMU's first offensive play by edge rusher Devean Deal, who also recovered and returned the ball to the 1. Pratt scored on a keeper on the next play.

SMU tied it on Jaylan Knighton's 6-yard run in the first quarter.

The Mustangs punted only once in the first half, but a missed a field goal and turned the ball over twice more before finally taking at 14-7 lead on Jennings' 17-yard pass to Key'Shawn Smith with 1:32 left in the first half.

Tulane tied it at 14 when SMU bit on Pratt's play-action fake on third-and-1, leaving Yulkeith Brown wide open for a 42-yard touchdown pass.

Rogers' 48-yard field goal gave SMU the lead for good at 17-14.

Jennings' inexperience showed on his turnovers, but his potential to be the Mustangs' QB of the future was evident in the way he escaped pressure to extend plays and made clutch throws on third and fourth downs, highlighted by his third-down scoring pass to Smith, who was covered by top Tulane cornerback Jarius Monroe, on a well executed back-sholder throw.

Tulane was fortunate to be down by only one TD at halftime, having been outgained 249 yards to 82. Interceptions by Cam Pedescleaux and Monroe — both in Tulane territory and one near the goal line — kept Tulane in the game. SMU also missed an early field goal. That allowed the Wave to stay within one score into the fourth quarter. But the offense — hampered by injuires that sidelined starting receiver Lawrence Keys and reduced the role of fellow starter Jha'Quan Jackson — struggled most of the game.

After cracking the AP Top 25 last week, SMU could move up a few spots. Tulane will fall, but peraps not entirely out of the rankings. Both teams await bowl invitations Sunday.

 

• AAC Championship Game
• [25/24] SMU 26, [17/18] Tulane 14
• SMU (11-2), Tulane (11-2)
• Yulman Stadium – New Orleans, Louisiana

• Bowl Game – TBD

• SMU's first AAC Championship
• SMU's 12^th conference title - 1923, 1926, 1931, 1935, 1940 (shared), 1947, 1948, 1966, 1981, 1982, 1984 (shared), 2023

• Score: SMU 26, Tulane 14
  • Total yards: SMU 396, Tulane 269
  • First downs: SMU 21, Tulane 12
  • Third downs: SMU 6-16, Tulane 2-15 (and 1-4 4^th downs)
  • Rushing yards: SMU 193, Tulane 31 (6^th time this season holding teams below 100 yards rushing)
• First half
  • Score: SMU 14, Tulane 7
  • Total yards: SMU 249, Tulane 82
  • First downs: SMU 13, Tulane 3
  • Third downs: SMU 6-9, Tulane 0-6

• 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.) 
• Isaiah Nwokobia named AAC Championship Game MVP
• SMU won 26-14 - Entered game 4^th in FBS in scoring offense (41.8) and 13^th in scoring defense (17.7)
  • 8^th time this season holding opponents under 20
• SMU is 11-2 this season and has won 9 consecutive games
  • Most wins in a season since 1982 (11-0-1)
  • Longest winning streak since in the same season since 10 straight in 1982
  • Longest winning streaks since 14 overlapping 1981 (last 4) and 1982 (first 10)
  • SMU is 18-8 under Rhett Lashlee, including 14-3 against AAC opponents (13-3 in league play)
• SMU had 7 sacks (tied season high), 8 TFLs, 7 pass breakups with 1 takeaway 
• Sacks: Alexander Kilgore (1), Nelson Paul (1.5 – 4.5 this season ), Kori Roberson (0.5), Elijah Roberts (1 – 9.5 this season), Isaiah Smith (2.5 - career high), Kobe Wilson (0.5)
  • Now have 47 sacks on the season, 2^nd in a season at SMU
  • 7^th game this season with 4+ sacks, including 6 of the past 7 games
• Interception: Isaiah Nwokobia (4^th of the season – most by a Mustang since 2020)
• SMU held Tulane to 2-15 on 3^rd down, including 7 three-and-outs (entered game 4^th in FBS in 3^rd down defense at 28.2%)
  • Allowed just 12 first downs total for Tulane
  • Tulane was also 1-4 on 4^th down
• Colling Rogers mad a career-high FGs, going 4-5 on FGs (made 48, 32, 32, 45)
  • Has an SMU RECORD 20 made this season
• Kevin Jennings was 19-33 passing for 203 yards with a TD plus 15-63 rushing in first career start
  • TDs: Key'Shawn Smith (17 yards)
• SMU blocked a punt (Charles Woods) in the first quarter (SMU scored a TD on the ensuing possession)
  • First blocked punt by the Mustangs since Trevor Denbow vs. ACU, Sept. 4, 2021
  • Second blocked kick of the season for SMU (blocked FG vs Prairie View A&M, Sept. 16, 2023)
• ESPN Highlights
  • Roderick Daniels Jr. takes a hit and hangs on for 29-yard
  • Jaylan Knighton 6-yard rushing TD
  • Kevin Jennings finds RJ Maryland for the first down
  • Key'Shawn Smith 17-yard TD reception from Kevin Jennings
  • Isaiah Nwokobia interception
• 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
• Preston Stone (#2, QB, So.) - Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist, Davey O'Brien Class of 2023, Manning Award Watch List, All-AAC Third Team
  • DNP (injury)

• SMU Ties AAC Record With 18 All-Conference Selections
  • 1^st Team – Marcus Bryant, Justin Osborne, Logan Parr, RJ Maryland, Elijah Chatman, Collin Rogers
  • 2^nd Team – Branson Hickman, Jaylan Knighton, Elijah Roberts, Kobe Wilson, Roderick Daniels Jr.
  • 3^rd Team – Ryan Bujcevski, Jonathan McGill, Preston Stone, Charles Woods
  • Honorable Mention – Hyrin White, Chris Megginson, Ahmad Walker

• SMU scored 26 points 

• SMU had 7 sacks 

• SMU had a rushing TDs 

• SMU had a passing TDs 

• SMU had 203 passing yards 

• SMU had 396 total yards 

• SMU had 21 first downs 

• Tyler Lavine played in his SMU-RECORD 60^th game. Elijah Chatman and Nelson Paul played their 59^th game as Mustangs (T-2^nd). 

• RJ Maryland (#82, TE, So.) – All-AAC First Team
  • 5-56 receiving 

• Elijah Roberts (#5, DL, Sr.) – All-AAC Second Team
  • Had 1 sack and a pass breakup 

• Collin Rogers #41, K, So.) – All-AAC First Team
  • 2-2 on PATs, now 122-123 for his career
  • 4-5 FGs (made 48, 32, 32, 45, missed 40), 20 made this season
    • Career-high 4 FGs made 

• Marcus Bryant (#52, OL, Sr.) – All-AAC First Team
  • 12^th game, 10^th start this season
• Ryan Bujcevski (#92, P, Sr.) – Ray Guy Award Watch List, All-AAC Third Team
  • 3-140 punting
• Elijah Chatman (#40, DT, Sr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List, All-AAC First Team
• Roderick Daniels Jr. (#13, WR, Jr.) – All-AAC Second Team
  • Had a 108 all-purpose yards
  • 100+ all-purpose yards for the 3^rd time this season, 5^th of his career
• Moochie Dixon (#5, WR, Jr.)
  • 3-19 receiving
• Branson Hickman (#56, C, Jr.) – Rimington Trophy Watch List, All-AAC Second Team
  • Has started 32 straight games that he has played (missed one game in 2022)
• Jaylan Knighton (#4, RB, Sr.) – All-AAC Second Team
  • 15-75 rushing with a TD (7 TDs this season)
  • 6^th game this season with 60+ rushing yards
• Tyler Lavine (#31, RB, Sr.)
  • 5-25 rushing and 2-34 receiving
    • 10^th career multi-reception game
• Jonathan McGill (#2, S, Sr.) – All-AAC Third Team
  • 5 tackles
• Chris Megginson (#12, CB, Sr.) – All-AAC Honorable Mention
  • 2 tackles and a pass breakup
• Isaiah Nwokobia (#23, S, Sr.) – AAC Championship Game MVP
  • 8 tackles and an interception (4^th interception of the season)
• Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Sr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List, All-AAC First Team
  • 41^st start at SMU (44 games played)
• Logan Parr (#71, OL, Jr.) – All-AAC First Team
  • 12^th start this season
• Cameron Robertson (#15, DE, So.)
  • Had 1 tackle
• Isaiah Smith (#58, DE, So.)
  • 4 tackles
  • Career-high 2.5 sacks (has 5 for the season, all in past 6 games)
• Key'Shawn Smith (#9, WR, Sr.)
  • 1-17 receiving with a TD (3 TDs this season)
• Ahmad Walker (#34, LB, Jr.) – All-AAC Honorable Mention
  • Had 6 tackles and a pass breakup
• Kobe Wilson (#24, LB, Jr.) – All-AAC Second Team
  • Career-high and team-high 11 tackles with a half-sack (has led the team in tackles 5 times this season)
• Charles Woods (#3, CB, Sr.) – All-AAC Third Team
  • Had a blocked punt and 2 pass breakups