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SMU picked to finish 3rd in AAC preseason poll

On3 imageby:Billy Embody•07/25/23•

BillyEmbody

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SMU QB Preston Stone. (Matt Visinsky - On3)

Only two of the preseason favorites have won the American Athletic Conference outright in the league’s history. SMU Football was picked to finish third in the preseason poll by the media released Tuesday.

The Mustangs landed behind defending AAC Champion Tulane and new conference foe UTSA, which won the Conference USA Championship last year. SMU notched three first first place votes from the media.

Tulane received 20 of a possible 34 first-place votes to finish with 457 points in the poll, while UTSA was second at 440 points. The Roadrunners, who are among the six new members of The American as of the 2023 season, had nine first-place votes.

Expectations are high for SMU, which brought in 25 transfers this offseason and begins the Preston Stone era at quarterback in 2023. The Mustangs open the 2023 season at Ford Stadium on Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. CT against Louisiana Tech.

The first year of the Rhett Lashlee era finished 7-6, making a bowl appearance against BYU in the New Mexico Bowl. Gone is quarterback Tanner Mordecai and star wide receiver Rashee Rice as well as its entire starting linebacker group.

The Mustangs addressed every position on the roster with transfers in some respect. Highly-touted transfers like running back Jaylan Knighton, defensive tackle Jordan Miller, linebacker Ahmad Walker cornerback Charles Woods, safety Jonathan McGill and many others highlight likely new starters.

Now, SMU will be looking to finish the final poll atop the AAC.

Memphis, Florida Atlantic, East Carolina, North Texas, UAB, Navy, Temple, Tulsa, Rice, South Florida and Charlotte rounded out the poll.

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