Don't Assume Opponent Will Be Tulane if SMU Sinks Navy Saturday

Green Wave will have difficult time securing potential match-up with Mustangs in AAC championship game over motivated UTSA, possible Texas A&M target Jeff Traylor

 DALLAS – SMU football coach Rhett Lashlee is adamant about keeping his players focused on the next game in line. There is nothing being talked about in that locker room other than Navy.

However, that doesn't mean everyone else can't work with the assumption SMU will now end up in the AAC championship game after a tough road win over Memphis last Saturday. The biggest question to ponder is which team SMU will meet should the Mustangs handle business at Ford Stadium Saturday morning.

While many have worked under the assumption it's going to be Tulane, that line of thinking might be a bit premature. The Roadrunners are red hot right now. 

The running game has begun to hit its stride, quarterback Frank Harris is coming off his biggest passing game of the season against South Florida, and, if the stories of head coach Jeff Traylor interviewing at Texas A&M are true, there is a mountain of motivation to have the team prepared. Traylor did little to curtail speculation with his non-denial denial of the interview during his weekly press conference.

UTSA Head Coach Jeff Traylor was asked on Monday about being interviewed at Texas A&M. Here is response pic.twitter.com/L5egElzlnq

— JJ Perez (@theJJPerez) November 20, 2023

Depending on how that reported meeting went, Traylor may be in the position to either use Friday afternoon's game against the Green Wave and the impending AAC championship game to prove to Aggies' athletics director Ross Bjork he deserves the job, or to carry momentum with Texas A&M fans and recruits once he takes over. Knocking off a Top 25 team followed by a conference title is as big of a boost as Traylor can get in either circumstance.

That means everyone can expect to see peak UTSA when they turn the TV to ABC at 2:30 p.m. Friday. If Tulane manages to hold on for the win, that will speak highly as to where the Green Wave are late in the season when the Mustangs presumably clash with them.

The good news for SMU fans is they will know for sure who their potential opponent will be heading into Saturday's game. Just don't tell any SMU players, nor ask Lashlee about it. He doesn't take kindly to questions that extend beyond the upcoming Saturday. 

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PONY EXPRESS:

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WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO CRUNCH TIME, LASHLEE TURNED TO STONE

DEFENSE STEPPED UP AGAINST MEMPHIS WHEN MUSTANGS NEEDED IT MOST

MAY NOT MATTER HOW MANY WINS PONIES RACK UP IN MAGICAL SEASON IF COURTS RULE AGAINST THEM

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