SMU Back in Top 25 This Late for First Time Since 1986

Rhett Lashlee makes debut in AP rankings to set up matchup of ranked teams Saturday

DALLAS — It's been awhile since SMU was in the AP Top 25 this late in the year, barely slipping in at No. 25 Sunday afternoon. Now the goal is to just stay there going into a bowl game after they play in the AAC Championship game Saturday in New Orleans against No. 17 Tulane.

It's the first time in Rhett Lashlee's two seasons the Mustangs have been ranked and it comes after blowing out Navy, 59-14, to make to their first AAC Championship game just before they leave for the ACC next season. It's also the latest the Ponies have even been in the poll since 1986.

They were ranked No. 18 that year, but lost to No. 11 Arkansas, 41-0, the next week to finish that out. The next time they were ranked anywhere in the poll was 2019 and slipped back in just in time for an opportunity to move higher ... if they can win.

That will come later. With everyone waiting to hear the status of quarterback Preston Stone, who went out of Saturday's game late with a lower leg injury, the challenge in front of the Mustangs against the Green Wave is a big one.

Opening betting lines had Tulane as a 3.5-point favorite and that went to 4 in just a matter of hours. Stone's status will be determined, perhaps as early as Sunday, and that will play a role in that, too.

Kickoff for the championship game Saturday will be 3 p.m. and broadcast on ABC and fuboTV.

PONY EXPRESS:

RHETT LASHLEE DIDN'T USE KEVIN JENNINGS MORE IN WIN OVER NAVY "BECAUSE WE DIDN'T NEED TO"

PONIES' QUARTERBACK PRESTON STONE GOES DOWN WITH SERIOUS-LOOKING INJURY IN SECOND QUARTER

SMU OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR CASEY WOODS COUNTING ON EXPERIENCE TO AVOID LETDOWN AGAINST PESKY NAVY DEFENSE

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