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
NEXT GAME
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
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 4th in FBS in scoring offense (41.
and 13th in scoring defense (17.7)8th 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, 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)
SMU 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)
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 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
Highlights & Rhett Lashlee postgame https://bit.ly/3uNV2hM
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)
ALL-AAC HONORS
SMU Ties AAC Record With 18 All-Conference Selections
1st Team – Marcus Bryant, Justin Osborne, Logan Parr, RJ Maryland, Elijah Chatman, Collin Rogers
2nd Team – Branson Hickman, Jaylan Knighton, Elijah Roberts, Kobe Wilson, Roderick Daniels Jr.
3rd Team – Ryan Bujcevski, Jonathan McGill, Preston Stone, Charles Woods
Honorable Mention – Hyrin White, Chris Megginson, Ahmad Walker
SMU TEAM RECORDS
SMU scored 26 points
SCORING
1 — 2019 — 544
2 — 2023 — 528
3 — 2017 — 492
4 — 2022 — 484
SMU had 7 sacks
SACKS
1 — 2019 — 51
2 — 2023 — 47
3 — 1981 — 42
4 — 1983 — 36
SMU had a rushing TDs
RUSHING TDs
1 — 2019 — 35
2 — 1981 — 33
3 — 1984 — 28
— 2023 — 28
5 — 1985 — 27
SMU had a passing TDs
PASSING TDS
1 — 2021 — 39
2 — 2022 — 36
3 — 2017 — 35
— 2019 — 35
5 — 2023 — 32
6 — 2010 — 31
SMU had 203 passing yards
PASSING YARDS
1 — 2022 — 4117
2 — 2013 — 4097
3 — 2019 — 4017
4 — 2010 — 3861
5 — 2017 — 3823
6 — 2023 — 3706
SMU had 396 total yards
TOT OFFENSE - YDS
1 — 2019 — 6368
2 — 2017 — 6220
3 — 2022 — 6147
4 — 2023 — 6059
5 — 2010 — 5804
SMU had 21 first downs
MOST FIRST DOWNS
1 — 2022 — 331
2 — 2019 — 322
3 — 2017 — 312
— 2023 — 312
5 — 2021 — 298
SMU INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
Tyler Lavine played in his SMU-RECORD 60th game. Elijah Chatman and Nelson Paul played their 59th game as Mustangs (T-2nd).
SMU CAREER GAMES PLAYED
1 — Tyler Lavine, 2019-23 — 60
2 — Hayden Howerton, 2017-21 — 59
3 — Elijah Chatman, 2019-23 — 59
— Nelson Paul, 2019-23 — 59
5 — Delano Robinson, 2017-21 — 56
RJ Maryland (#82, TE, So.) – All-AAC First Team
5-56 receiving
SMU CAREER RECEPTIONS - TIGHT ENDS
1 — John Hampton, 2000-02 — 114
2 — Kylen Granson, 2019-20 — 78
3 — RJ Maryland, 2022- — 62
4 — Ryan Kennedy, 2004-06 — 55
SEASON RECEPTIONS - TIGHT ENDS
1 — John Hampton, 2000 — 46
2 — Kylen Granson, 2019 — 43
3 — Grant Calcaterra, 2021 — 38
4 — John Hampton, 2001 — 35
— Kylen Granson, 2020 — 35
6 — RJ Maryland, 2023 — 34
7 — John Hampton, 2002 — 33
Elijah Roberts (#5, DL, Sr.) – All-AAC Second Team
Had 1 sack and a pass breakup
SMU SEASON SACKS
1 — Patrick Nelson, 2019 — 12.0
2 — Luke Johnson, 1999 — 11.5
3 — Victor Simin, 1981 — 11.0
4 — Delontae Scott, 2019 — 10.0
— Luke Johnson, 1997 — 10.0
— Gary Nelson, 1978 — 10.0
7 — Justin Rogers, 2006 — 9.5
— Justin Lawler, 2017 — 9.5
— Elijah Roberts, 2023 — 9.5
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
SMU CAREER POINTS
1 — Doak Walker, 1945, 47-49 — 288
— Eric Dickerson, 1979-82 — 288
— Xavier Jones, 2015-19 — 288
4 — Zach Line, 2009-12 — 282
5 — Eddie Garcia, 1978-81 — 262
6 — Reggie Dupard, 1982-85 — 258
7 — Chase Hover, 2011-13 — 250
8 — James Proche, 2016-19 — 238
9 — Collin Rogers, 2022- — 230
10 — Thomas Morstead, 2005-08 — 217
SMU CAREER FGs
1 — Eddie Garcia, 1978-81 — 44
2 — Chase Hover, 2011-13 — 44
3 — Thomas Morstead, 2005-08 — 37
4 — Chris McMurtray, 2002-05 — 36
— Collin Rogers, 2022- — 36
SMU SEASON FG MADE
FG/ATT
1 — Collin Rogers, 2023 — 20/26
2 — Chase Hover, 2013 — 18/21
— Chase Hover, 2012 — 18/29
— Chris McMurtray, 2005 — 18/22
5 — Eddie Garcia, 1981 — 18/22
— Josh Williams, 2016 — 17/22
— Chris Naggar, 2020 — 17/21
8 — Collin Rogers, 2022 — 16/20
SEASON PATs MADE
PAT/ATT
1 — Collin Rogers, 2023 — 64/65
2 — Collin Rogers, 2022 — 58/58
SMU SEASON POINTS
1 — Xavier Jones, 2019 — 150
2 — Collin Rogers, 2023 — 124
3 — Eric Dickerson, 1981 — 114
4 — Redman Hume, 1927 — 109
5 — Collin Rogers, 2022 — 106
CAREER PATs MADE
1 — Eddie Garcia, 1978-81 — 130
2 — Collin Rogers — 122
ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Marcus Bryant (#52, OL, Sr.) – All-AAC First Team
12th game, 10th 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 3rd time this season, 5th 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)
6th game this season with 60+ rushing yards
Tyler Lavine (#31, RB, Sr.)
5-25 rushing and 2-34 receiving
10th 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 (4th interception of the season)
Justin Osborne (#51, OL, Sr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List, All-AAC First Team
41st start at SMU (44 games played)
Logan Parr (#71, OL, Jr.) – All-AAC First Team
12th 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
