Rhett Lashlee doesn’t often speak in hypotheticals. The SMU head coach, known more for sharp play designs and pragmatic optimism, typically keeps his commentary to what he can control. But when the topic of the College Football Playoff arises—particularly last season’s contentious selections—he doesn’t hesitate to voice his perspective.
“Look, I know everyone’s got opinions,” Lashlee said during a recent sit-down. “But if you’re asking me—and people have—I don’t think there’s any doubt Alabama and SMU both deserved to be in.”
It’s a bold statement from a coach whose team was on the outside looking in, despite a remarkable 2024 campaign. SMU finished the regular season 12-1, capped with an American Athletic Conference championship and a resumé that included dominant performances, high-octane offense, and a defense that improved drastically under Lashlee’s guidance. But when Selection Sunday came, the Mustangs were left out of the four-team playoff, a move Lashlee still believes was a mistake—not just for his program, but for the broader integrity of college football.
“This was a year where we saw how broken the system still is,” Lashlee said. “When a team like ours can go out, win week after week, dominate our conference, play tough non-conference opponents, and still not even get a sniff—it sends a message. And the message isn’t a good one.”
In fairness, the 2024 CFP selection process was chaotic. Undefeated Florida State, despite winning the ACC title, was controversially left out in favor of one-loss Alabama, whose thrilling SEC Championship win over previously unbeaten Georgia seemed to swing the tide in their favor. The committee cited the Seminoles’ quarterback injury and Alabama’s late-season surge as factors, igniting a national firestorm of debate.
Lost in that storm, however, was SMU. Quietly, methodically, and with growing belief in Dallas, Lashlee’s team was building something special. They weren’t just winning—they were overwhelming opponents. Their offense averaged over 39 points per game. Their defense allowed fewer than 18. And they were consistent. From opening week to conference title game, SMU didn’t flinch. Yet, unlike Alabama, their profile lacked the media weight, the blue-blood brand, and the perceived strength of schedule.
“That’s what bothers me,” Lashlee said. “We’re out here being told ‘strength of schedule this, conference prestige that,’ but the bottom line is: we did everything asked of us. You want a championship? We won one. You want quality wins? We got those. You want a team that’s playing its best in November and December? That was us. But when it comes down to it, if you’re not one of the ‘chosen few,’ none of it seems to matter.”
The frustration is palpable—and understandable. SMU hadn’t been in a position like this in decades. After years of rebuilding, reshuffling, and repositioning themselves in the evolving college football landscape, 2024 was supposed to be the breakthrough. It was the kind of season boosters dream of, fans rally around, and players remember forever. But the playoff snub left it with a bittersweet aftertaste.
Lashlee, however, isn’t bitter at Alabama—in fact, he’s one of their most vocal supporters.
“What they did at the end of the year was incredible,” he acknowledged. “They beat Georgia, who hadn’t lost in forever. They earned their way in, no doubt. But it shouldn’t have been either-or. That’s the problem with four teams—it creates false choices.”
To Lashlee’s point, the limitation of four playoff spots in a sport with over 130 FBS programs has always drawn criticism. With multiple Power Five champions and top Group of Five programs all vying for recognition, someone’s always left out. And in 2024, that “someone” included two undefeated conference champions: Florida State and SMU.
The irony, of course, is that 2024 marked the final year of the four-team playoff format. Starting in 2025, the field expands to 12 teams, a long-awaited shift that many believe would have alleviated last year’s controversies. Lashlee, though, isn’t letting the timing absolve the past.
“People keep telling me, ‘Well, it’ll be better next year,’ and that’s true,” he said. “But that doesn’t help the kids who gave everything last season. That doesn’t give them the shot they earned. You don’t get seasons like that every year. For some of our seniors, that was it.”
Indeed, the 2024 SMU team was senior-laden. Quarterback Preston Stone, in particular, had the kind of year that would have vaulted him into national stardom had his team made the playoff. Instead, he entered draft evaluations with a résumé stacked with numbers, but without the high-profile stage that amplifies legacies.
“These guys deserved more,” Lashlee said quietly. “And I’ll always carry that with me.”
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that Lashlee has no intention of using the disappointment as an excuse. Instead, he’s using it as fuel. His recruiting pitch now includes a clear message: SMU isn’t just trying to compete. It’s trying to crash the party—for good.
“We’ve shown we can build a playoff team,” Lashlee said. “Now we want to be a playoff program.”
That mission becomes more tangible with the new 12-team structure. Under the revamped format, SMU’s 2024 résumé almost certainly would have landed them in the field. The top six conference champions will now automatically qualify, which Lashlee believes is a major step toward equity in the sport.
“You shouldn’t be punished for the logo on your jersey,” he said. “You shouldn’t have to beg for attention or hope for chaos. Win your league. Win your games. That should be enough.”
And yet, Lashlee acknowledges that brand perception will always play a role. Programs like Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State command national followings, drive massive television ratings, and benefit from decades of institutional prominence. It’s not a level playing field—but Lashlee doesn’t expect one. He just wants a real chance.
“No one’s asking for handouts,” he said. “We’re asking for opportunity. That’s it.”
He points to programs like Cincinnati and TCU in recent years, both of whom managed to crack the playoff despite similar skepticism. Lashlee believes SMU’s time is coming—and when it does, the college football world might finally take notice of what’s brewing in Dallas.
“I tell our guys, keep your heads down and keep building,” he said. “Let the work speak for itself. That’s what we’ve done. That’s what we’ll keep doing.”
Lashlee’s comments about Alabama—and the notion that both programs should have made it—may not change last year’s outcome, but they’ve certainly added fuel to the ongoing debate about fairness and inclusion in the CFP era.
“I know people will say I’m biased,” he added. “And sure, I am. I love this team, these kids. But if you watched college football last year, really watched it, and came away thinking we weren’t one of the best four teams, I’d love to have that conversation.”
As the 2025 season looms and the new 12-team playoff begins, Lashlee’s words linger. His team won’t be sneaking up on anyone this year. Expectations are higher. The stakes are larger. And the spotlight, finally, is a little brighter.
Still, the memory of 2024 lingers. Not as a source of regret—but as motivation.
“They said we didn’t belong,” Lashlee said, shaking his head. “Next time, we’ll make it impossible to say otherwise.”
And with a new playoff format, a loaded roster, and a coach unwilling to be ignored, SMU might just get the last word.
