SMU Mustangs

Florida Atlantic (10-3, Conference USA) vs. SMU (10-2, AAC), Dec. 21, 2:30 p.m. CT

Shane Buechele passed for three touchdowns, Xavier Jones ran for two scores, and SMU closed the regular season with a 37-20 win over Tulane on Saturday night.

Members of the SMU football family helped assemble and distribute dinners on Tuesday to those in need with their Turkey Blitz in southern Dallas and Duncanville.

Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry generated 357 yards of total offense and scored the game-winning touchdown in a 35-28 victory over No. 21 SMU on Saturday.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Tyson Jolly had 15 points as SMU narrowly beat Evansville 59-57 on Monday night, a week after the Purple Aces stunned former top-ranked Kentucky.

Isiaha Mike scored 22 points as SMU beat New Orleans 77-64 on Tuesday night.

Shane Buechele threw five touchdown passes, Xavier Jones broke one of Eric Dickerson's school records and No. 23 SMU bounced back from a first loss that dramatically changed the course of its season, outscoring East Carolina 59-51 on Saturday.

They will need some help just to win their division and make it to the American Athletic Conference championship game after that spotlighted loss at Memphis. The Mustangs (8-1, 4-1 American, No. 25 CFP) are home Saturday against East Carolina (3-6, 0-5).

Two from the Big Ten. Two from the Southeastern Conference. And the undefeated defending national champions on the outside looking in — for now.

Tyson Jolly totaled 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals to propel SMU to a 74-65 victory over Jacksonville State on Tuesday night in a season opener for both teams.

The 24th-ranked Memphis Tigers had a national stage both in their town and on their field.

A New Year's Six game remains a possibility for the winner, while SMU is chasing even more than that with its best season since 1982.

SMU coach Sonny Dykes conceded that the Mustangs did not play well and still managed to escape with a win.

The Mustangs are wearing the uniforms at the request of Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, university officials said. No lives were lost -- but numerous homes, schools and business were damaged or destroyed by the EF-3 tornado that struck late Sunday.

Shane Buechele set career highs with six touchdown passes and 457 passing yards as No. 19 SMU improved to 7-0 with a 45-21 win over Temple on Saturday.

SMU will now try to get to 7-0 for the first time since 1982, when Eric Dickerson and Craig James led to an 11-0-1 season. The Mustangs are at home Saturday against Temple (5-1, 2-0) in a matchup of AAC division co-leaders.

DALLAS (AP) -- Shane Buechele is having the kind of season so many envisioned after the quarterback started all 12 games as a true freshman in the Big 12 Conference three years ago.

With an open date next, there is some extra time to ponder the changing momentum and an incredible comeback -- both in the last game, and in the program overall in three decades since resuming play after the NCAA death penalty.

Not since the Pony Express days with Eric Dickerson and Craig James has SMU been undefeated this deep into a season. 

With a win over the Golden Hurricane (2-2, 0-0), SMU would be undefeated halfway through the regular season. The last time the Mustangs got to 6-0 was 1982, when they went on to an unbeaten season (11-0-1) with running backs Eric Dickerson and Craig James.