SMU headed to title game

DALLAS — Preston Stone threw three touchdown passes before suffering an injury in the second quarter and SMU cruised over Navy 59-14 on Saturday to advance to the American Athletic Conference championship game.

Stone had already thrown for 322 yards on 14-of-19 passing when he went down awkwardly while being sacked with six minutes left in the first half. He was helped off the field then taken by cart to the dressing room.

SMU (10-2, 8-0) will travel to New Orleans to play No. 18 Tulane next Saturday. After Stone, redshirt freshman Kevin Jennings is the backup followed by Iowa transfer Alex Padilla. Jennings took over for Stone and Padilla also saw action as did fourth-stringer freshman Keldric Luster.

SAM HOUSTON 23

MIDDLE TENNESSEE ST. 20

Trevor Wiliams had a pick-6, John Gentry scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 3-yard run late in the fourth quarter, and the Bearkats closed out the season with a victory over the Blue Raiders in Huntsville.

Zeke Rankin kicked his second field goal of the game to give Middle Tennessee State a 13-9 lead early in the third quarter. Sam Houston punted on its ensuing possession, then on the Blue Raiders third play Williams intercepted a pass over the middle and avoided a handful of tackles on the way to a 31-yard touchdown return.

NORTH TEXAS 45, UAB 42

Chandler Rogers threw for 404 yards and three touchdowns and Noah Rauschenberg kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired to cap a 20-point fourth quarter for the Mean Green in a win over the Blazers in Denton.

TEXAS STATE 52 SOUTH ALABAMA 44

TJ Finley threw three touchdown passes as the Bobcats scored the first 24 points of the game and then held off the Jaguars for a win at home.