SMU backup quarterback Preston Stone is transferring to Northwestern, according to multiple reports.

That made for an interesting scenario Saturday in the fourth quarter of the Mustangs’ 38-10 loss to Penn State in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

SMU coach Rhett Lashlee made the decision to pull starter Kevin Jennings and left the option up to Stone on whether or not he wanted to finish the game. Stone declined the offer.

“Look, I get it,” Lashlee said during the postgame press conference. “At that point, we don’t want Kevin to go back in and get hurt; we don’t want him to go into the offseason hurt. Preston is about to have an opportunity to go play somewhere else. And in fairness to him, it’d be a shame to roll him out there for a drive or two that doesn’t actually have an impact on the game and him get hurt. It was a great conversation with (Stone) and us, and we just decided to let Keldric (Luster) go with it.”

Stone excelled during the 2023 season with 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns against six interceptions. He began this season as the starter before losing the starting job to Jennings in September.

Stone was 30-of-51 passing for 421 yards, five touchdowns and one interception this season.

–Field Level Media