Southern Methodist Mustangs NCAA Football News

" A pair of Conference USA schools have accepted bowl invitations. SMU, the nation's most-improved team in 2009, has accepted a bid to play in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Christmas Eve in Honolulu.

For the first time since 1984, SMU will be playing in college football's postseason.

Emmanuel Sanders, a violet and white lei hanging loosely around his neck, signifying SMU's first bowl game in 25 years, has no regrets about his four seasons on The Hilltop.

Shawnbrey McNeal rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 5:23 remaining, to lead SMU to a 26-21 win over Tulane on Saturday.

On the surface, it looks rather odd - 6-5 Marshall is a one-point underdog against 3-8 Texas-El Paso.

Looking to lock up their first bowl berth since 1984 and snap the nation's fourth-longest bowl drought, the SMU Mustangs host the Tulane Green Wave in the regular-season finale for both teams on Saturday, Nov.

SMU freshman quarterback Kyle Padron kidded that he used to beg family members to attend his games - they certainly didn't expect him, then the third-stringer, to play.

While SMU lost control Saturday of playing for and hosting a Conference USA championship, the Mustangs' message to each other was clear: All is not lost.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. The lasting image from Saturday for SMU won't be celebrating a long-awaited bowl milestone.

The post-Cody Slate era begins today, a bit sooner than Marshall fans had anticipated.

The story has made the rounds about a referee who planned to announce that Southern Methodist had just taken a timeout, but instead told the crowd, "Timeout, Hawaii ." That would have been a humorous but understandable slip.

UCF provided the fireworks, but it was SMU's responsibility to follow through. Mission accomplished.

Nick Greer wraps up Mora's Preston Carlisle during the Patriots 31-14 State AAA Tournament quarterfinal loss on Saturday afternoon in Duluth.

Series Record: SMU leads 9-7. Last meeting: 2008, UTEP 36-10. SMU is one victory away from becoming bowl eligible.

Originally published November 14, 2009 at 5:57 p.m., updated November 14, 2009 at 6:26 p.m. DALLAS a ' SMU quarterback Kyle Padron threw two touchdowns and added a pair of TD runs while Shawnbrey McNeal rushed for a career-high 169 yards and a score to lead the Mustangs to a 35-31 win over UTEP on Saturday.

On the scale of Texas tall tales, Margus Hunt's story rates as the most outlandish since Hakeem Olajuwon curled out of a cab in front of the University of Houston nearly 30 years ago.

June Jones has been given the moniker of a miracle man of sorts based in his success in Hawaii, and it's beginning to look like he still has the touch.

SMU senior receiver Emmanuel Sanders tapped out a text message to his teammates and coaches during the off-season, reminding them to put in inspired, hard work.Jeff Reinebold, the receivers coach, took it in, unsure of how Sanders would follow through on his leadership missive.

Originally published November 12, 2009 at 3:51 p.m., updated November 12, 2009 at 3:56 p.m. DALLAS a ' June Jones does not bring up SMU's dreadful history to his players.

June Jones has a history of rebuilding college football programs. Back in 1999, no one paid attention to The University of Hawaii.