TULANE at SMU
Saturday, Nov. 25 • Noon • CBS Sports Network
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000/FieldTurf)
Dallas, Texas
Television
CBS Sports Network
Dave Ryan, Corey Chavous and Melanie Collins
Radio
WMTI-FM 106.1 (Tulane)
KTCK-FM 96.7 (SMU)
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 24th meeting between Tulane and SMU in a series that dates to 1943 … Tulane holds a 13-10 series lead, but SMU has won the two meetings under the American Athletic Conference banner, including a 35-31 win in New Orleans last year … Tulane’s last win in Dallas was a 41-34 overtime decision in 2007..
TULANE
5-6, 3-4 American
Head Coach
Willie Fritz (Pittsburg State ’83)
8-15, second season
Notes
Tulane needed wins in its last three games to gain bowl eligibility for the first time since 2013, and the Green Wave has done its part in the first two games of that stretch … The Green Wave was an overtime winner at ECU (31-24) before taking a 20-17 decision against Houston last Saturday … Tulane is 1-4 in road games and 4-2 at home this season … QB Jonathan Banks has thrown for 1,483 yards and 10 touchdowns and has rushed for 544 yards and seven TDs … RB Dontrell Hilliard has rushed for 1,049 yards, ranking third in The American, and has 11 TDs … WR Terren Encalade is the top receiver with 32 catches for 619 yards and four touchdowns … LB Rae Juan Marbley leads the defense with 88 tackles … CB Parry Nickerson has five interceptions this season and holds The American’s career record with 15 picks.
SMU
6-5, 3-4 American
Head Coach
Chad Morris (Texas A&M ’92)
13-22, third season
Notes
SMU, which is bowl eligible for the first time since 2012, looks to snap a three-game slide after the Mustangs fell 66-45 to SMU … SMU started the season with six wins in its first eight games to clinch a bowl appearance but has fallen to UCF, Navy and Memphis in successive weeks … QB Ben Hicks has thrown for 3,067 yards and 28 touchdowns with seven interceptions … RB Xavier Jones has rushed for 981 yards and nine touchdowns … WR Trey Quinn is the national leader in receptions at 9.1 per game … Quinn has 100 catches for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns, while WR Courtland Sutton has 56 catches for 910 yards and 12 TDs … DE Justin Lawler leads The American with 8.5 sacks and has 14.0 tackles for loss … S Jordan Wyatt has four interceptions, including two that have been returned for touchdowns.