SMU stops Tulane on goal line as time expires for 41-38 win
Courtland Sutton #16 of the SMU Mustangs celebrates with teammates James Proche #3 and Ryan Becker #14 after scoring a touchdown against the North Texas Mean Green during the second half at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
DALLAS (AP) - Ben Hicks threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns, and SMU needed a goal-line stand, confirmed by a review, in the closing seconds to edge Tulane 41-38 on Saturday.
SMU (7-5) reached seven wins for the first time since 2012.
On the final drive of the game, Tulane receiver Darnell Mooney made a leaping catch over the middle in traffic for 19 yards with 46 seconds left and Terren Encalade added an 18-yard grab 10 seconds later to reach the SMU 5.
After a pass interference penalty with 25 seconds left, Tulane quarterback Jonathan Banks missed an open Mooney and was stopped on a sneak on second down. On third, SMU was called for a penalty to make it first-and-goal at the 1, but Banks was called short of the end zone on a sneak as time ran out. Officials reviewed the questionable call and stayed with the ruling on the field.
Xavier Jones ran for 38 yards to top 1,000 yards on the season for SMU and Courtland Sutton had 107 yards receiving to also reach the plateau. Trey Quinn, who leads the nation with 9.1 receptions per game, had six catches for 139 yards and two scores, including a 77-yard catch-and-run in the second quarter.
Banks threw for 314 yards and two scores, and added 48 yards rushing on 19 carries for Tulane (5-7), which had two 50-plus yard touchdowns in the first half.
Ahead 38-34, the Green Wave went for it on fourth-and-2 near midfield, but Banks was sacked with 7:06 remaining by SMU senior Justin Lawler. Eleven plays later, Quinn was open over the middle for a 19-yard touchdown for a 41-38 lead.