Tulsa Beats SMU In Battle For First AAC Win

With Tulsa and SMU both sitting at 0-3 in the American Athletic Conference, the quest for a win was on. But Tulsa was the team to prevail, beating SMU 40-31, improving to 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the AAC.

Scoring Summary:

The Mustangs took a quick lead, scoring on the first possession with a 5-yard connection from Matt Davis to Courtland Sutton to help SMU to a 7-0 advantage.

Tulsa didn't get on the board until minute mark 4:02 when Redford Jones kicked a 21-yard field goal to help close the gap with 3.

SMU soon ended the 1st quarter with another touchdown to enter the 2nd leading 14-3.

Zack Langer stepped up early in the 2nd with a short rush to cut TU's deficit 14-10. The score shifted the game's momentum and Golden Hurricane took control. 

TURNING POINT: TU went on to take its first lead of the game when Kerwin Thomas jumped the passing route and returned a 31-yard interception, making it a 16-14 ball game.

The Mustangs didn't stay down long, reclaiming its lead on a 39-yard scoring reception to go up 21-16.

Tulsa wouldn't resign in the battle for superiority, clinching a 23-21 advantage after D'Angelo Brewer ran in a 23-yard score with 19 seconds before the half.

After a going back and forth without a score, minutes into the 3rd, Langer tallied his second TD, boosting Tulsa to a 9-point lead (30-21). 

SMU brought the score within 6 with a 37-yard FG, but Jones extended it back to 9 with a 44-yarder (33-24) with just under a minute before the 4th.

The Mustangs added more points to the board when Davis found Sutton for an 18-yard TD pass. At this point, Tulsa still held a 33-31 lead with 14:43 left to play.

Langer stayed hot, punching it in from the 1-yard line on 4th & goal, elevating TU up 40-31 with 10:08 on the clock, a lead that Tulsa held until the end.