SMU MUSTANGS NOTES:
Series: Fourth Meeting (BYU Leads 3-0)
TV: ABC
Tom Hart (PxP), Brock Osweiler (Analyst), Taylor McGregor (Sideline)
RADIO: SMU Radio Network (KLIF 570 AM) | SiriusXM 84
Available on the SMU Mobile App/The Varsity Network App (Search SMU)
Rich Phillips (PxP), Scott Garner (Analyst), Steve Lansdale (Sideline)
ESPN Radio: Jay Alter (PxP), Dave Steckel (Analyst)
SETTING THE SCENE
• SMU will face BYU in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT/5:30 p.m. MT. The game will air on ABC.
• This is the 20th bowl bid for the Mustangs, who hold a 7-9-1 bowl record. They are looking for their first victory since a 43-10 win over Fresno State in the 2012 Hawaii Bowl. This is the fourth consecutive season the Mustangs are bowl eligible.
• The Mustangs are coming off a 34-31 win over Memphis to close the regular season. SMU used a three-game winning streak (at Tulsa, Houston, at USF) to secure bowl eligibility and won four of its last five games.
QUICK HITS
• SMU finished the 2022 regular season, the first under Head Coach Rhett Lashlee, 7-5 to become bowl eligible for the fourth straight season. The streak is the longest since SMU went to four bowls from 2009-12 and made the Mustangs bowl eligible in five of the past six seasons and nine of the past 14. The Mustangs used a three-game win streak with victories over Tulsa, Houston and USF to secure bowl eligibility.
• The Mustangs finished the regular season in the top 15 among FBS rankings for passing offense (5th, 324.9), scoring offense (11th, 38.4), total offense (12th, 279.8), first down offense (12th, 302), red zone offense (13th, .914), blocked kicks (8th, 4) and fewest penalties per game (10th, 4.42).
• In SMU single-season rankings, the 2022 season ranks in the top three for scoring average (T3rd, 38.4), scoring (T3rd, 461), passing yards (3rd, 3,899) and passing yards per game (3rd, 324.9).
• SMU has won at least seven games each season dating back to 2019, making it the longest stretch with at least seven wins since the 2009-12 seasons. It is also the first season the Mustangs have won five conference games since going 6-2 in league play in 2019. The Mustangs have 32 wins, the most for a Power 6 team in Texas over the past four seasons.
THE SERIES
The Mustangs are 0-3 all-time against the Cougars, including a meeting in the 1980 Holiday Bowl. The teams last met in 1997 as members of the Western Athletic Conference with then-No. 23 BYU winning 19-16 in overtime at the Cotton Bowl.
ABOUT THE COUGARS
The Cougars (7-5, Independent) enter the game having won three straight, including a win at Pac-12 foe Stanford to end the season. BYU is playing in the New Mexico Bowl for the second time and appearing in a bowl game for the 17th time in the last 18 seasons.
THE COACHES
• Rhett Lashlee is in his first season as the head coach at SMU and has a 7-5 record. Lashlee, who served as offensive coordinator for the Mustangs for two seasons (2018-19), served as the Offensive Coordinator at Miami in 2020 and 2021. A one-time finalist (2013) and two-time semifinalist (2019, 2020) for the Broyles Award, Lashlee has the distinction of being the only coach ever nominated for the Broyles Award four different times at four different schools (Arkansas State, Auburn, SMU, Miami).
• Kalani Sitake is in his seventh season as head coach at BYU and has a 55-34 record. He has led the Cougars to bowl eligibility six times. Sitake was a student-athlete at BYU in 1994 and 1997-00.
GOIN’ BOWLIN’
SMU’s win over USF on Nov. 12 made the Mustangs bowl eligible for the fourth straight season, the longest streak since four straight from 2009-12. SMU has now been bowl eligible for five of the past six seasons and nine of the past 14. This is the 20th bowl bid, with the Mustangs holding a 7-9-1 all-time record (2020 & 2021 cancelled). SMU is looking for its first victory since a 43-10 win over Fresno State in the 2012 Hawaii Bowl.
MUSTANG CAPTAINS
Elijah Chatman, Tanner Mordecai, Jimmy Phillips Jr., Rashee Rice and Austin Upshaw were voted captains for the 2022 season. Upshaw was also honored with the No. 23 jersey in honor of Jerry LeVias (page 8).
SHARE THE WEALTH
SMU has had 17 players score touchdowns in 2022. Eight different Mustangs have rushing TDs (Lavine 9), while nine have receiving TDs (Rice 10). Elijah Chatman adds a fumble recovery for a TD.
LASHLEE NAMED SMU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
Rhett Lashlee returned to SMU, this time as Head Football Coach, on Nov. 29, 2021. Lashlee previously served as offensive coordinator for the Mustangs, including during the record-setting 2019 season. Lashlee, a one-time finalist (2013) and two-time semifinalist (2019, 2020) for the Broyles Award, presented to the nation’s top assistant coach, comes back to the Hilltop after two seasons as the Miami Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Lashlee also has the distinction of being the only coach ever nominated for the Broyles Award four different times at four different schools (Arkansas State, Auburn, SMU, Miami). In his first season in Coral Gables, the Hurricanes jumped to No. 32 in the FBS in total offense (from No. 98), No. 29 in passing offense (from No. 52), No. 26 in scoring offense (from No. 90), No. 17 in red zone offense (from No. 122) and No. 20 in first downs gained (from No. 84). In 2021, Miami again ranked 26th in scoring average, improving to 34.1 PPG, and jumped up to 22nd in total offense (448.). Prior to heading to Coral Gables, Lashlee helped lead the Mustangs to a 10-3 finish in 2019, guiding an offense that ranked No. 7 in FBS in scoring (41.8 points per game), No. 13 in passing offense (309 yards per game), No. 9 in total offense (489.8 yards per game) and No. 12 in first downs gained (322). SMU’s 10 wins were the school’s most since the 1984 season, and its 35 rushing touchdowns set a school record.
BOWL FOES
Despite only having met three times, the Mustangs and Cougars squared off in one of the most entertaining bowl games in college football history, the 1980 Holiday Bowl. The game featured two teams with distinctly different offensive philosophies. SMU relied upon the running of Eric Dickerson and Craig James, while BYU boasted an explosive aerial attack led by Jim McMahon. The Mustangs jumped out of the gate early, racing to a 19-0 lead in the first quarter after touchdown runs by Dickerson and James, a safety and a 42-yard field goal by Eddie Garcia. SMU had increased its lead to 29-7 in the second quarter before BYU’s Vai Sikahema returned a punt 83 yards, pulling the Cougars within 16 at halftime. Entering the fourth quarter, SMU led 38-19, and with four minutes remaining the Mustangs held a 45-25 advantage. With his team trailing by 20, McMahon led BYU to two quick touchdowns to cut the SMU lead to 45-39. With 18 seconds remaining, BYU’s Bill Schoepflin blocked Eric Kaifes’ punt to give BYU possession at the Mustang 41-yard line. After two desperation passes by McMahon fell incomplete, the Cougars had one final opportunity with just three seconds left. As time expired, McMahon found tight end Clay Brown in the end zone for a 41-yard touchdown pass, guiding BYU to one of the greatest comebacks in bowl history.
LET’S GET EXPLOSIVE
How SMU ranks among the nation in explosive plays:
Yards No. of Plays Yards No. of Plays
20+ 76 (t13) 60+ 5 (t26)
30+ 37 (t8) 70+ 3 (t17)
40+ 19 (t10) 80+ – (-)
50+ 9 (t19) 90+ – (-)
• Tanner Mordecai connected with Jordan Kerley on a 70-yard TD pass at USF.
• On the first play from scrimmage at Tulsa, Preston Stone threw a career-long 75-yard TD pass to Rashee Rice.
• In the win over Navy, Tanner Mordecai became the first FBS QB this season with three 20+yard pass TDs and a 20+ yard rushing TD in a single game this season. His 60-yard TD run was a career long.
• Tanner Mordecai had two TD passes of 50+ yards (51 to J. Kerley, 75 to R. Daniels Jr.) against UNT. The 75-yard TD pass to Daniels Jr. was a career long.
• TJ McDaniel had a TD run of 57 yards vs. Lamar, a career long, Velton Gardner added a 39-yard run for a TD at UCF.
• Mordecai’s 51-yard TD pass to RJ Maryland at Maryland gave him eight TD passes of at least 50 yards at SMU.
KEEP THE FLAG
The Mustangs rank 11th nationally in fewest penalties per game (4.42). SMU has committed three or less in five of 12 games this season, including two in games against Houston and USF.
ON THE RECEIVING END
Biletnikoff Watch List selection Rashee Rice finished the regular season as the FBS leader in receiving yards (1,355, SMU record) and receiving yards per game (112.9) and was fifth in receptions per game (8.0) and 11th in receiving TDs (10). He finished his career with a streak of 40 straight games with a reception (4th FBS). Overall, SMU has had at least one 100-yard receiver in 10 of 12 games this season (four different players – Rashee Rice (6), Dylan Goffney (2), Jordan Kerley (2), Jake Bailey (1)), most recently Rice (147 against Memphis). The Mustangs have had 8+ players catch a pass in nine of 12 games, while nine have caught a TD pass. The Mustangs had three players on the 2021 Biletnikoff Award Watch List – Reggie Roberson, Jr., Rashee Rice and Danny Gray. With Rice on the list in 2022, it is the 14th consecutive year a Mustang has made the list dating back to 2009. SMU was one of only 11 teams with multiple student-athletes listed in 2021, and one of only two (Nevada) with three players. It was the third straight season that the Mustangs have had at least two players mentioned. SMU is one of only three schools in The American to have ended 2021 with at least three players with multiple 100-yard receiving games – Rice (4), Roberson, Jr. (10), Gray (3) – and was the only school in The American to have had five players with 100-yard receiving performances in 2020. The Mustangs also had multiple 100-yard receivers three times in 2020.
STREAKING
The Mustangs started 7-0 in 2021 for the second time in three seasons (8-0, 2019), while the 5-0 start gave SMU its third consecutive season of starting 5-0 for only the second time in program history (1981-83). The Mustangs’ eight-game win streak to start the 2019 season was the longest since SMU won 10 straight in 1982. SMU was also 3-0 to open AAC play for the second time in three seasons. The 2022 loss at Maryland snapped a regular-season, non-conference win streak of 14, the most since a streak of 17 from 1979-85. SMU also had a win streak of seven straight regular-season, non-conference road games before that game.
HOT START
SMU led or was tied after the first quarter in 34 of the past 46 games, and were also leading or tied at halftime in 34 of 46.
WHAT A RUSH
The Mustangs have four games this season with 3+ TDs (USF, Tulsa, Lamar, TCU), including two with the same player posting 3+ (Lavine Tulsa, Siggers TCU). Four Mustangs have multi-TD games (Wheaton, Lavine, McDaniel, Siggers). SMU’s six running backs who have seen action in 2022 have combined for a loss of only 45 yards off 349 carries. Lavine leads the Mustangs with 551 yards off 119 carries and nine TDs. In his first career start, Tyler Lavine rushed for 112 yards (2nd straight 100+) and a TD against the USF. Lavine had a rushing TD in four straight games (Cincinnati-USF) and was 66-361 with six TDs in those games. He had a career day against Houston with 25 carries and 146 yards, while adding a TD. He was coming off a three-TD performance in the win at Tulsa. In the regular season finale against Memphis, Lavine posted his second multi-TD performance of the season.
OUR SPECIALTY
• Collin Rogers is 56-56 on PATs including an SMU-record 11-11 against Houston. He is also 15-19 on field goals. Rogers is 15-15 on the season from 46 yards or less (misses are 49, 49, 52, 53). He is the SMU single-season record holder with 56 PATs and is tied for seventh for single-season points at 101.
• Ray Guy Award candidate Ryan Bujcevski has 36 punts for 1,578 yards (long of 64), including eight of 50+, 14 inside the 20, 18 fair catches and three touchbacks
BLOCK PARTY
• The Mustangs rank ninth nationally and first in the AAC in blocked kicks with four, two from DeVere Levelston, one from Elijah Chatman and one from Isaac Slade-Matautia.
• Levelston’s pair of blocked kicks (UNT, Cincinnati) rank fifth in the FBS, one behind the national lead of three.
CLUB TAKEAWAY
• Club Takeaway is open for business in 2022. The Mustangs have at least one takeaway in 20 of the past 25 games, 29 of the past 35 games and 49 of past 57 games.
• The Mustangs forced three turnovers (3 INT) in the win over Houston. Nick Roberts had a pair (first Mustang since 2016) and Jahari Rogers added one.
• Jahari had back-to-back picks in the end zone against Houston and USF.
• Nick Roberts ranks 22nd nationally in fumbles recovered (2).
• SMU has six multi-takeaway games in 2022.
• Elijah Chatman’s fumble return for a TD at Tulsa was the first for the Mustangs since 2017.
• SMU had seven takeaways in the first three games of the season (multiple takeaways in each game).
GETTING DEFENSIVE
• Elijah Chatman opened 2022 on Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award Watch Lists.
• The SMU Defense held No. 21/19 Cincinnati to 379 yards, the second-lowest of the season (364 at Tulsa).
• The Mustangs had nine TFLs and a season-high five sacks against TCU, including a career-high 3.0 sacks from Nelson Paul. Paul’s were the most by an SMU players since 3.0 by DeVere Levelston vs UCF (11-13-21), and the team total was the most since 5.0 in the same game. In his first game this season after coming back from injury, Je’lin Samuels added 1.5 and Elijah Chatman had 0.5.
• SMU tied its season high with five sacks at Tulsa (5 different players).
• Brandon Crossley sealed the win over Memphis with an interception in the end zone with :02 left on the clock.
BYU COUGARS NOTES:
• THE SERIES. BYU and SMU are meeting for the fourth time overall and the second time in a bowl game. The two schools met in the historic 1980 Holiday Bowl that featured one the greatest comebacks in college football history by the Cougars in a 46-45 win. Read more about that game on page 6.
• BOWLING. BYU is playing in a bowl game for the 6th time under Kalani Sitake in 7 years and the 17th time in the last 18 seasons. BYU’s 40 bowl invitations rank tied for No. 20 among college programs—more than storied programs such as UCLA, Notre Dame, Oregon, Iowa and Wisconsin.
• VS. THE AAC Since the league was founded in 2013, BYU is 12-5 against teams from the American Athletic Conference. The Cougars are 7-3 under
Sitake against the AAC. BYU went 1-1 against the league this year, with a win over South Florida in the season opener.
• LAVELL’S 50th ANNIVERSARY. The 2022 season marks the 50th anniversary of Hall of Fame coach LaVell Edwards being named the head coach at BYU. In the 47 seasons prior to Edwards, BYU had won 173 games, ranking 113th nationally. Since Edwards’ takeover in 1972, BYU has won 436 games, tied for No. 8 nationally. BYU more than doubled its average win total per season from under 4 to 8.6. Edwards won multiple national coach of the year awards and led BYU to the 1984 national championship and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The program will honor him in various ways this season to highlight his legacy.
BYU BOWLS BY THE NUMBERS
1 – BYU’s biggest bowl victory came in 1984 as the No. 1 ranked Cougars rallied from a 17-10 deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Bo Schembechler’s Michigan Wolverines 24-17. The win preserved a perfect 13-0 season and kept BYU at No. 1 in both the AP and UPI Coaches polls. On Jan. 2, 1985, BYU was crowned National Champions in all the polls. It’s the only time in college football history that the eventual national champion played its bowl game prior to New Years Eve.
3 – Only three quarterbacks have lead BYU to multiple wins in bowl games. Consensus All-American Jim McMahon lead a Cougars to back-to-back Holiday Bowl wins in 1980 and 1981, while Max Hall guided the Cougars to two bowl victories in 2007 and 2009, both at the Las Vegas Bowl. Zach Wilson went a perfect 18 of 18 in the 2018 Potato Bowl victory and led the Cougars to last year’s Boca Raton Bowl win in 2020.
4 – BYU longest consecutive bowl winning streak came between 2009 to 2012. The four-straight included wins over Oregon State, UTEP, Tulsa and San Diego State. Four is also the longest losing skid in BYU bowl history, which happened twice. The first four bowl games in 1974-76-78-79 and again in 1998-99-2001-2005.
11 – Since going independent in football in 2011, the Cougars have been invited to play in 11 bowl games over the past 12 seasons. Of the 11, the Poinsettia (2012, 2016) is the only bowl BYU played in more than once.
39 – Beginning with the Fiesta Bowl in 1974, BYU has appeared in 39 bowl games over the past 47 seasons. The Cougars have an overall record of 16-22-1.
BOWL GAME HISTORY
APPEARANCES
BYU has made 39 previous bowl appearances with a record of 15–22–1. The Cougars have appeared in 20 different bowl games against 35 different opponents.
BOWL RECORDS
BYU’s record in each bowl game:
Holiday Bowl (4–6–1), the Cotton Bowl Classic (1–0), the Las Vegas Bowl (3–3), the Copper Bowl (1–0), the Tangerine/Citrus Bowl (0–2), the Freedom Bowl (1–1), the Liberty Bowl (0–2), the Aloha Bowl (0–1), the Fiesta Bowl (0–1), the Motor City Bowl (0–1), the All-American Bowl (0–1), the New Mexico Bowl (1–0), the Armed Forces Bowl (1–0), the Poinsettia Bowl (2–0), Fight Hunger Bowl (0–1), the Miami Beach Bowl (0–1), the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (1–0), Hawaii Bowl (0–1), Boca Raton Bowl (1-0), Independence Bowl (0-1)
BOWL FACTS AND FIGURES
Of BYU’s 39 bowl appearances, 19 of them have been decided by a one-score margin or less, including four games in Sitake era — the 2016 Poinsettia Bowl (24-21 victory over Wyoming), 2019 Hawaii Bowl (38-34 loss to Hawaii), 2021 Independence Bowl (31-28 loss to UAB).
TAKING IT TO THE HOUSE Listed below are the longest scoring plays in BYU bowl history from various scoring categories:
• Passing: 70 yards – Aleva Hifo from Zach Wilson in the 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
• Rushing: 39 yards – Tyler Allgeier in the 2020 Boca Raton Bowl
• Interception return: 35 yards – Tom Holmoe in the 1981 Holiday Bowl
• Fumble return: 34 yards – Matt Bauman in the 2009 Las Vegas Bowl
• Kickoff return: 102 yards – Dave Lowry in the 1976 Citrus Bowl
• Punt return: 83 yards – Vai Sikahema in the 1980 Holiday Bowl
• Field goal: 45 yards – Justin Sorensen in the 2013 Fight Hunger Bowl and Trevor Sampson in the 2014 Miami Beach Bowl
THE HOLIDAY SEASON Bowl games tend to fall on or near one of the many holidays in December and January. Over the years, BYU has played on New Year’s Eve twice (1998 Liberty Bowl, 2001 Liberty Bowl), New Year’s Day once (1997 Cotton Bowl), Christmas Day once (1992 Aloha Bowl) and Christmas Eve once (2019 Hawaii Bowl).
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE BYU defeated San Diego State 23-6
in the 2012 Poinsettia bowl behind the super-human performance of All-American Kyle Van Noy. The junior linebacker finished the night with two touchdowns, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery for a score, an interception returned for a touchdown, eight tackles and a blocked punt. In all, Van Noy recorded an amazing 7.5 disruptive plays in the box score and scored 12 of BYU’s 23 points.
