Postgame Notes: SMU 36, Rice 31

SMU Postgame Notes – November 4, 2023

[-/rv] SMU 36, Rice 31

SMU (7-2, 5-0 American), Rice (4-5, 2-3 American)

Rice Stadium – Houston, Texas

Media Guide | Roster | Schedule

NEXT GAME

North Texas – Friday, November 10 – 8pm CT – Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, Texas

TV: ESPN2

Radio: KTCK 96.7 FM/1310 AM | SMU Mobile App/Varsity Network App

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.)

SMU is 5-0 in conference play this season and 10-3 in AAC games under Rhett Lashlee

• First 5-0 start in conference play since starting 7-0 in 1982 (went 7-0-1 in the SWC)

SMU has won 6 straight AAC games, including 5 this season

• First time SMU has won 5 straight conference games in the same season since 1997
• Longest conference winning streak since 7 straight overlapping the 1983 and 1984 seasons

Collin Rogers made a career-long 51-yard FG with 2:49 left to put SMU up 36-31 then Isaiah Nwokobia had an interception with 1:07 left to seal the victory

SMU had a season-high 3 takeaways (2 interceptions, 1 fumble)

• Fifth straight game SMU defense has at least one interception
• Multiple takeaways in 3 of the past 4 games

SMU held Rice to 2-12 on third downs (entered the game leading the AAC and 10^th in FBS at 29.3% allowed)

SMU had 4 sacks, 9 TFLs, 4 pass breakups, 5 QB hurries with a season-high 3 takeaways (2 interceptions, 1 fumble)

• Sacks: Elijah Roberts (2.5 – career high), Elijah Chatman (1.5)
  • Now have 31 sacks on the season, T-5^th in a season at SMU
• TFLs: Elijah Roberts (2.5), Jonathan McGill (2), Ahmad Walker (2), Elijah Chatman (1.5), Jordan Miller (1)
• Fumble Recoveries: Nelson Paul
• Forced Fumbles: Elijah Roberts (sack), Cale Sanders Jr.
• Interception: Kobe Wilson, Isaiah Nwokobia (2^nd straight game with an interception for Nwokobia)

SEASON SACKS
1		2019				51.0
2		1981				42.0
3		1983				36.0
4		2011				34.0
5		1979				31.0
		2006				31.0
		2017				31.0
		2023				31.0

SMU had 484 yards of total offense (261 passing, 223 rushing) and held Rice to 290

• SMU has held 6 opponents under 300 total yards

SMU had 223 yards rushing and 2 rushing TDs (Preston Stone, Tyler Lavine)

• 4^th game this season with over 200 rushing yards (season high is 228 vs Charlotte)
• Had 3 different rushers over 50 yards for the first time this season (Preston Stone 81, LJ Johnson 73, Jaylan Knighton 55)
• Multiple rushing TDs in 6 of past 7 games

Preston Stone was 15-28 passing for 224 yards with 2 TDs and 8-81rushing (career high yards) with a TD

• Had a career-high 81 rushing yards, including 2 of the 3 longest runs of his career (34 yards 1^st, 20-yard TD 3^rd)
• TDs: Roderick Daniels Jr. (34 yards), Jordan Hudson (30 yards)

SMU led 14-7 after the first quarter and outgained Rice 204 to -1 (Rice did not have a first down in the opening quarter)

• Lowest first quarter yards allowed since -5 vs Pittsburgh in the Compass Bowl on 1/7/12
• Has scored at least 14 points in the 1^st Qtr in 7 of 9 games
• Has outscored AAC opponents 84-10 in the first quarter and has not allowed an offensive TD (Rice blocked punt return TD)

ESPN Highlights

• Elijah Chatman sack https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819122
• LJ Johnson Jr. 19-yard rush https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819238
• Preston Stone 34-yard TD pass to Roderick Daniels Jr. https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819243
• Preston Stone 20-yard rush TD https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819292
• Jaylan Knighton 13-yard rush https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819308
• Preston Stone 30-yard TD pass to Jordan Hudson https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819707
• Preston Stone 34-yard rush https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819924
• Tyler Lavine 3-yard rushing TD https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38819974
• Full Highlights https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/ida/38820713

SMU 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

• Highlights: https://bit.ly/3MtYhkI
• Rhett Lashlee postgame: https://bit.ly/3QxN5F0

Series History vs Rice: SMU is now 49-41-1

• SMU wins the Mayor’s Cup

SMU RECORDS

Collin Rogers #41, K, So.)

• 3-3 on PATs, now 101-102 for his career
• 3-4 FGs (made 41, 37, career-long 51; missed 48)
  • Career-high 3 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

Editor’s Note: SMU press release.