Lashlee’s Criticism of the SEC
SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee recently revisited his critical stance toward the SEC during the ACC Kickoff media event in Charlotte. Reflecting on his comments from the previous year, Lashlee stood by his assessment that the SEC is a top-heavy conference rather than a deep one.
«Let's look at the past and be honest with ourselves,» Lashlee stated. «Last year, we went 8-6 against the SEC. And it's funny. I ruffled some feathers last year here, unintentionally, when I said since 1964 the same six schools have won a certain conference every year. Ironically, it held through last year.»
Lashlee argues that while other conferences claim to have significant depth, the historical dominance of a small group of programs in the SEC suggests otherwise. He believes the ACC offers a more rigorous weekly challenge where even bottom-tier teams pose a genuine threat.
The Case for ACC Competitiveness
Highlighting the strength of the ACC, Lashlee pointed to the high number of bowl-eligible teams and squads with 9 or 10 wins, noting that there are «not a lot of easy wins» on the schedule. He emphasized that the ACC requires consistent performance every week, unlike conferences that may benefit from a perception of depth that isn't backed by broader parity.
Supporting Duke’s Playoff Hopes
During the event, Lashlee also defended Duke’s performance last season, suggesting the Blue Devils were unfairly excluded from the College Football Playoff. Despite their path to the ACC title game, Duke missed out on the CFP, with a team from the Sun Belt, James Madison, taking a spot instead.
«I think we all know they should have easily been in the playoffs,» Lashlee remarked. «When you win the ACC, the way they did and who they beat, they should have been in instead of a team from the Sun Belt. But hopefully things get learned and that doesn't happen again. We should have been a two-bid league.»
Lashlee’s comments arrive as the college football landscape shifts. Moving forward, the CFP structure will ensure that Power Four conference winners receive automatic qualification, a change intended to provide more clarity and fairness in the postseason selection process.