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DALLAS (AP) -- Preston Stone threw three touchdown passes and SMU defeated Louisiana Tech 38-14 on Saturday.

Stone, a redshirt sophomore with one previous start and two touchdown passes in his SMU career, was 23 of 37 for 248 yards and wasn't intercepted. LJ Johnson Jr. rushed for 128 yards on 14 carries with one touchdown.

The Mustangs, who will join the Atlantic Coast Conference next year with Stanford and California after the conference voted on Friday to add the schools, was an easy winner in its opener to kick off its final season as an American Athletic Conference member.

SMU rolled to a 31-0 halftime lead, capping the half with Stone's third touchdown pass of the day, a 25-yarder to RJ Maryland, coming with two seconds remaining. Stone also had 67-yard scoring pass to Jordan Hudson for the Mustangs' first points and a 9-yarder to Nolan Matthews-Harris. Kori Robertson had a 16-yard pick-6 after blocking a pass at the line.

The Mustangs had 311 yards offense by halftime while holding the Bulldogs (1-1) to 78. By game's end, SMU outgained the Bulldogs 457-269, held Louisiana Tech to 28 rushing yards and sacked Hank Bachmeier six times, two of them by Alex Kilgore.

Bachmeier, a Boise State transfer, finished 21 of 33 for 241 yards, including a 53-yard score to Koby Duru on the second half's opening possession. The Bulldogs added a 2-yard TD run by Keith Willis Jr. with 26 seconds remaining.

SMU plays at 20th-ranked Oklahoma next Saturday.

 

• At Oklahoma - Saturday, September 9 – 5pm CT – Gaylord Family / Oklahoma Memorial Stadium – Norman, Oklahoma
• TV: ESPN+
• Radio: KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM | TuneIn app | SMU Mobile App/Varsity Network

• 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 opens the season receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll, making it the fifth straight season of being ranked or receiving votes.
• SMU starts the season 1-0
  • SMU is 19-4 at home since the start of the 2019 season
  • Won 5 consecutive season openers
  • Won 5 consecutive home openers
• SMU had 6 sacks and 11 TFLs
  • Most sacks since 7 vs. UCF, Nov. 13, 2021
  • Sacks: Alexander Kilgore (2), JaQwondis Burns (1), Nelson Paul (1), Elijah Roberts (1), Jordan Miller (0.5), Kori Roberson (0.5)
• SMU held La. Tech to 5-14 on 3^rd down conversions, including 0-6 in the first half
• SMU had 457 yards of total offense and held La. Tech to 269 yards of total offense
• SMU led 17-0 at the end of the first quarter and 31-0 at halftime, the largest first-quarter and halftime margin for SMU under Head Coach Rhett Lashlee
  • First time SMU has shutout an opponent in the first half since SFA on 9/26/20 (W, 50-7)
  • Largest halftime lead since 35-3 vs Abilene Christian 9/4/21 (W, 56-9)
• L.J. Johnson 14-128 rushing with a TD, all career highs – includes a career-long 67-yard run
• Preston Stone was 23-37 passing for 248 yards and a career-high 3 TDs
  • Receiving TDs: Jordan Hudson, Nolan Matthews-Harris, RJ Maryland
• Kori Roberson had a 16-yard interception return for a TD, first pick six for SMU since Brandon Crossley (18 yards) at Tulsa, Nov. 14, 2020
• The Series vs Louisiana Tech 3-4 – SMU has won two straight
• SMU Highlights and Head Coach Rhett Lashlee postgame radio | SMU Radio Network on KTCK "The Ticket" 96.7 FM, 1310 AM (Rich Phillips & Scott Garner)
  • https://bit.ly/3r1cIVN (highlights)
  • https://bit.ly/3YYo5dH (Lashlee postgame)
• ESPNU Highlights
  • Preston Stone 67-yard TD pass to Jordan Hudson
  • Preston Stone 9-yard TD pass to Nolan Matthews-Harris
  • Kori Roberson 16-yard interception return TD
  • Preston Stone 25-yard TD pass to RJ Maryland

• Ryan Bujcevski (#92, P, Sr.) – Ray Guy Award Watch List
  • 3-153 punting with won inside the 20 
• JaQwondis Burns (#8, LB, Jr.)
  • Had 3 tackles, including a sack
• Elijah Chatman (#40, DT, Sr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List
  • Had a TFL
• Jordan Hudson (#8, WR, So.)
  • Was 2-72 receiving with a career-long 67-yard TD
• LJ Johnson (#11, RB, So.)
  • Finished 14-128 rushing with a TD
  • Career highs for attempts and yards, third career TD
  • Career-long 67-yard run
• Alexander Kilgore (#54, LB, Fr.)
  • 3 tackles, including 2 sacks
• Jaylan Knighton (#4, RB, Sr.)
  • 7-64 rushing & 2-6 receiving for 70 all-purpose yards
• RJ Maryland (#82, TE, So.)
  • 5-58 receiving with a TD
• Nolan Matthews-Harris (#14, TE, Jr.)
  • 1-9 with a TD
• Isaiah Nwokobia (#23, S, So.)
  • Team-high 6 tackles
• Kori Roberson (#92, DT, Sr.)
  • Had 2 tackles and a half-sack
  • Had a 16-yard interception return for a TD
• Elijah Roberts (#5, DE, Sr.)
  • Had 4 tackles, 2 TFLs and a sack – all career highs
• Preston Stone (#2, QB, So.) - Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
  • 23-37 passing for 248 yards and 3 TDs
  • Career highs for attempts, completions, yards and TDs