Postgame Notes: SMU 26, Tulane 14
SMU Postgame Notes – December 2, 2023
AAC Championship Game
[25/24] SMU 26, [17/18] Tulane 14
SMU (11-2), Tulane (11-2)
Yulman Stadium – New Orleans, Louisiana
Media Guide | Roster | Schedule
Bowl Game – TBD
AAC CHAMPIONS
SMU’s first AAC Championship
SMU’s 12th conference title – 1923, 1926, 1931, 1935, 1940 (shared), 1947, 1948, 1966, 1981, 1982, 1984 (shared), 2023
GAME TOTALS
First half
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 4th downs)
Rushing yards: SMU 193, Tulane 31 (6th 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
TEAM NOTES
Isaiah Nwokobia named AAC Championship Game MVP
Mustangs won 26-14 – Entered game 4th in FBS in scoring offense (41.8) and 13th in scoring defense (17.7)
Top 10
- 1Hot
Strength of Schedule
CFP Top 25 SOS ranking
- 2
Alabama needs a prayer
Tide can make the CFP but needs help
- 3
3 ACC teams in CFP?
Path for ACC outlined
- 4
Taco Bell offers Oklahoma
Brent Venables story pays dividends
- 5
New CFP Top 25
College Football Playoff rankings revealed
- 8th time this season holding opponents under 20
Mustangs are 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)
- Mustangs are 18-8 under Rhett Lashlee, including 14-3 against AAC opponents (13-3 in league play)
Mustangs 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, 2nd in a season at SMU
- 7th game this season with 4+ sacks, including 6 of the past 7 games
- Interception: Isaiah Nwokobia (4th of the season – most by a Mustang since 2020)
Mustangs held Tulane to 2-15 on 3rd down, including 7 three-and-outs (entered game 4th in FBS in 3rd down defense at 28.2%)
- Allowed just 12 first downs total for Tulane
- Tulane was also 1-4 on 4th 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)
- First blocked punt by the Mustangs since Trevor Denbow vs. ACU, Sept. 4, 2021
- Second blocked kick of the season for the Mustangs (blocked FG vs Prairie View A&M, Sept. 16, 2023)
ESPN Highlights
- Roderick Daniels Jr. takes a hit and hangs on for 29-yard https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/39027999
- Jaylan Knighton 6-yard rushing TD https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/39028016
- Kevin Jennings finds RJ Maryland for the first down https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/39028136
- Key’Shawn Smith 17-yard TD reception from Kevin Jennings https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/39028470
- Isaiah Nwokobia interception https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/39029371
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
School press release.
