SMU wins AAC Championship, beats Tulane 26-14

SMU Football won the American Athletic Conference Championship, beating Tulane 26-14 on Saturday in New Orleans at Yulman Stadium. Here’s the blow-by-blow recap of the 2023 AAC Championship game.

SMU took the ball to start the game. One play later, SMU wished it hadn’t as Kevin Jennings was stripped of the ball. Devean Deal returned it to the SMU 1-yard line. On the next play, Michael Pratt made it 7-0 with a quarterback sneak.

SMU took the ball at its 20 and Jaylan Knighton ran for a 1st down. Jennings then hit Jake Bailey down the field for a 1st down to the Tulane 46. After a short gain, Jennings hit RJ Maryland for a 1st down to the Tulane 31. The drive stalled and SMU rolled out Collin Rogers for a field goal attempt. That 40-yard field goal missed.

SMU’s defense forced a 3 and out on the next Tulane drive. The Mustangs took over at the 50. Jennings hit Moochie Dixon for a 1st down then fired one to Roderick Daniels, who made a heck of a catch for a 1st down to the Tulane 9. Jaylan Knighton ran it in from five yards out to tie the game at 7.

Tulane took the ball on the 20. Pratt scrambled for four yards then Makhi Hughes ran for four yards, bringing up 3rd and 2. SMU stuffed the jet sweep and took over at its 19 after the punt.

After a short gain, Jennings completed a pass to Maryland for 22 yards to the 41. After a completion to Maryland was short of a 1st down, SMU went for it on 4th and 2. Jennings completed a pass to Maryland for a 1st down. On the next play, Knighton ran for a 1st down to the Tulane 30. After a false start, Jennings was intercepted by Tulane, giving the Green Wave the ball at its own 15.

Pratt hit Yulkeith Brown for a 1st down to the 34-yard line. Arnold Barnes ran for a gain of four on the next play. After a personal foul on Tulane, the Mustangs forced another punt. SMU took over on its 48 after a strong return by Daniels. Jennings hit Daniels for a 10-yard gain then Knighton ran for a 1st down. Jennings found Jake Bailey for a 1st down. The next play though, Jennings was intercepted by Jarius Monroe. Tulane took over at the 1.

Pratt snuck it out then Hughes ran it to the 6. Pratt then escaped a sack to throw the ball away. SMU took over at its own 29. The Mustangs went three and out, punting away to Tulane, which took over at its own 21. SMU’s defense forced another three and out. Daniels returned the punt out to the 35.

Jennings hit Tyler Lavine for a 1st down then scrambled for a 1st down to the Tulane 36. Lavine caught another 3rd down pass from Jennings that moved the chains to the Tulane 17. On 3rd and 10, Jennings hit Key’Shawn Smith for a touchdown to go up 14-7 with 1:32 to play in the half. The catch capped a 10-play, 65-yard scoring drive that took 4:18 off the clock.

Tulane drove to SMU’s side of the field, but the drive fizzled as the Mustangs forced a turnover on downs. That brought the half to an end with the Mustangs up 14-7.

Tulane got the ball at the 22 and opened with multiple quick passes. After a sack of Pratt by Nelson Paul, on 3rd and 7 the Green Wave couldn’t convert the 1st down as Chris Megginson broke up a pass. SMU took over at its own 25.

After a Daniels run for two yards, Wheaton ran for three yards. That brought up 3rd and 5 from the 30. SMU couldn’t convert and the Mustangs punted. Tulane capitalized moving the chains then hitting a 42-yard touchdown from Pratt to Yulkeith Brown to tie it at 14.

SMU took over and Jennings scrambled for a 1st down to the SMU 45. Knighton then made a big play, running to the Tulane 32. On 3rd and 7, SMU was called for a crackback block. On 3rd and 23, Jennings hit Dixon to pick up enough for a 48-yard field goal try. Rogers nailed the kick to give the Mustangs a 17-14 lead.

Tulane took over and the defense forced a punt. The Mustangs took over at the 33. Wheaton ran for 11 on the opening play then the Mustangs were called for the false start. Jennings managed to find ways to keep the drive going to the Tulane 39. A pass interference call gave SMU a key 1st down. After a face mask, SMU was in the redzone. On 3rd and 7, Jennings’ pass was incomplete. Rogers hit a field goal to make it 20-14 with 12:38 to play.

Tulane went 3 and out, punting it away. The Mustangs got the ball at the Tulane 30 with 10:45 to play. Jennings ran for a 1st down to the Tulane 14 on the first play. On 3rd and 6, Jennings’ pass was incomplete. Rogers hit a 32-yard field goal with 8:58 to play to give SMU a 23-14 lead.

SMU’s defense once again stepped up, forcing a three and out. Tulane’s defense did the same and the Mustangs punted it away. On 3rd and 5 from the Tulane 39, Ahmad Walker made a key tackle for a loss. On 4th and 4, Isaiah Nwokobia intercepted Pratt’s pass to give SMU the ball at the Tulane 38 with 4:30 to go.

SMU kicked another field goal with 3:15 to go to make it 26-14. On the next Tulane drive, the Green Wave drove down the field with Pratt hitting a pass to the SMU 2. Alex Kilgore sacked Pratt with 26 seconds left. That forced Tulane to go for the endzone and those attempts fell short as SMU won, 26-14.