Before last week, there had never been three 7-0 teams in conference play entering the final week of the American Athletic Conference regular season.
Now the total is two after Tulane earned a 29-16 win over UTSA to secure its second straight AAC title game appearance.
SMU, the third of the 7-0 teams entering last week, will visit Tulane in Saturday’s highly anticipated title game.
Tulane is the defending champion. SMU is making its first-ever AAC title game appearance. The two teams have combined to win 18 games in a row, 10 by Tulane.
Injuries from both teams could be a factor. Here is a look at what should be a classic game.
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SMU-Tulane How To Watch
SMU at Tulane, Saturday, 4 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Records
SMU (10-2, 8-0 AAC)
Tulane (11-1, 8-0)
Coaches
SMU: Rhett Lashlee (17-8)
Tulane: Willie Fritz (208-115 overall, 54-46 at Tulane)
SMU-Tulane Betting Odds
Tulane -5.5 (-110)
Over/Under 49.5
AAC Championship History
Tulane: The Green Wave won the championship last year, beating UCF 45-28 in the title game. It was Tulane’s first championship game appearance.
SMU: The Mustangs are making their first AAC title game appearance. SMU is looking for its first conference championship since winning a share of the Southwest Conference in 1984.
AAC Championship Games
2015: Houston 24, Temple 13
2016: Temple 34, Navy 10
2017: UCF 62, Memphis 55 (2 OT)
2018: UCF 56, Memphis 41
2019: Memphis 29, Cincinnati 24
2020: Cincinnati 27, Tulsa 24
2021: Cincinnati 35, Houston 20
2022: Tulane 45. UCF 28
Last meeting
Nov. 17, 2022 — Tulane beat SMU 59-24 at home.
Tulane scored the most points against a conference opponent since putting up 62 in a 2017 win over Tulsa. Michael Pratt completed 9-of-14 passes for 141 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He rushed 10 times for 70 yards and three scores. RB Tyjae Spears, now with the Tennessee Titans, rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Nick Anderson recorded a game-high 12 tackles.
SMU QB Tanner Mordecai completed 32-of-49 passes for 298 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He was sacked three times.
Tulane jumped to a 21-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back.
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SMU-Tulane Preview
For SMU
The Mustangs are coming off a 59-14 win over Navy that clinched the berth in the title game. The victory was costly because QB Preston Stone was carted off the field in the second quarter. Coach Rhett Lashlee confirmed in Monday’s AAC conference call that Stone is out for the year with a broken upper ankle/lower leg.
Stone completed 59.8% of his passes for 3,197 yards, 28 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
The starter will be redshirt freshman Kevin Jennings, who has appeared in six games and has completed 18-of-24 passes for 224 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Against Navy, he was 2-for-4 for 26 yards.
“We’re going to miss him, but fortunately for us, there’s probably not a lot of teams that if they lost their starting quarterback could feel as good as we do,” Lashlee said on the conference call. “We have a guy who won a state championship just two years ago here in Dallas in Kevin Jennings, he’s played in big-time moments this year already…”
The leading rusher is Miami transfer Jaylan Knighton. He has rushed for 645 yards (5.7 avg.) and six touchdowns. LJ Johnson is the second-leading rusher with 542 yards (5.5 avg.) and three touchdowns.
Both missed the Navy game due to injury, but Lashlee is optimistic about their return.
“I think we will have all those guys,” Lashlee said.
Lashlee said both players had minor ankle injuries. They were available against Navy, but after SMU got out to such a big early lead, the staff felt the extra rest would suit them best.
The receiving corps is balanced, with six players having caught 20 or more passes. A major threat is sophomore tight end RJ Maryland, who has 29 receptions for 462 yards and seven touchdowns. Sophomore receiver Jordan Hudson has 27 receptions for 403 yards and seven scores.
Senior safety Jonathan McGill, a Stanford transfer, has been one of the main defensive leaders. McGill has 46 tackles, seven pass breakups, and one interception.
The Mustangs have 43 sacks, led by defensive end Elijah Roberts with 8.5.
SMU leads the AAC in both scoring offense (41.8 ppg) and scoring defense, allowing 17.7 per game.
For Tulane
Senior quarterback Michael Pratt is a difference-maker. He missed two games earlier in the season due to injury, including Tulane’s lone loss, 37-20 to visiting Ole Miss.
In 10 games, Pratt has completed 66.4% of his passes for 2,168 yards, 21 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He has rushed for 321 yards (3.6 avg.) and four scores.
Redshirt freshman RB Makhi Hughes has been a major contributor.
During last week’s 29-16 win over UTSA, Hughes rushed for 166 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. For the season, he has rushed for 1,246 yards (5.4 avg.) and seven touchdowns.
Tulane was without two of its top receivers against UTSA, Lawrence Keys III and Jha’Quan Jackson due to injury.
“We’re hoping that ‘Quan will be able to play, I don’t think Lawrence is,” coach Willie Fritz said in Monday’s conference call.
Jackson has 24 receptions for 421 yards and four touchdowns in nine games.
Not having Keys would be a big loss. Keys, who began his career at Notre Dame, has 33 receptions for 599 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games.
Redshirt freshman Chris Brazzell II had five receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns against UTSA. For the season, he has 41 receptions for 670 yards and five touchdowns.
The defense forced five turnovers against UTSA, and that was the difference. Tulane scored 17 points off the five turnovers, while UTSA didn’t score any points on the one Tulane turnover.
Senior safety Kam Pedescleaux was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week after recording six tackles, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble in the win over UTSA.
Junior LB Jesus Machado leads Tulane with 92 tackles.
Tulane is eighth in the AAC in scoring (27.9 ppg) and second in scoring defense, allowing 18.3 ppg.
SMU-Tulane Prediction
I like Tulane.
The Green Wave has had a lot of close calls this year, but they continue to find a way to win. The quarterback situation at SMU should also be a factor, regardless of the confidence the Mustangs have in Jennings.
Tulane’s experience of going through this a year ago, plus Pratt’s physical and mental toughness are major keys for the Green Wave.
SMU is certainly capable of winning, but it seems more likely that the Mustangs will be leaving for the Atlantic Coast Conference without an AAC title.
