As the ACC Championship Game draws near, a compelling subplot has emerged: the league’s coaches are vigorously campaigning for the conference to receive multiple bids to the College Football Playoff. SMU’s Rhett Lashlee and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney have been the most vocal advocates, contending that the ACC’s overall strength and the impressive resumes of its top teams warrant serious consideration from the playoff selection committee.
SMU’s Case for Inclusion
For SMU coach Rhett Lashlee, the argument is straightforward. The Mustangs enter the ACC title game with an 11-1 record, with their sole defeat coming by a mere three points against a formidable 10-2 BYU squad. Since inserting quarterback Kevin Jennings into the starting lineup, SMU has reeled off nine consecutive victories, lighting up scoreboards to the tune of over 40 points per game.
“I think our kids have earned the right to be one of the 12 best teams in America, and I really hope the committee sees it that way,” Lashlee asserted. “The reality is, there’s two Power Four teams that went undefeated in their conference, and that’s Oregon and us. To me, that should mean a lot.”
– SMU coach Rhett Lashlee
Lashlee emphasized that SMU’s body of work should secure the Mustangs a playoff spot regardless of the ACC Championship Game outcome. “For SMU, they want to win the game, but they should be in no matter what,” he stated. “They’ve earned that. I don’t think they should be punished.”
Clemson’s Playoff Predicament
While SMU can breathe somewhat easily, Clemson finds itself in a more precarious position. The Tigers’ shocking loss to South Carolina in Week 14 means they likely need a victory over SMU to punch their playoff ticket. Nevertheless, coach Dabo Swinney echoed Lashlee’s sentiments about the ACC deserving multiple bids.
“For us, we’ve got to win. But we control our destiny,” Swinney acknowledged. “But SMU, they should be in.”
– Clemson coach Dabo Swinney
Swinney also stumped for 10-2 Miami, suggesting the Hurricanes should be in the same conversation as fellow two-loss contenders like Ohio State and Tennessee. Miami’s setback against Syracuse in Week 14 has the Canes on the outside looking in, but Swinney maintained that “you look at Miami team that’s 10-2 … I can’t imagine Miami wouldn’t be in.”
A Three-Bid League?
Lashlee took the lobbying a step further, asserting that the ACC has done enough to earn a trio of invitations to the playoff party. “I don’t think there’s any question we’ve separated ourselves as one of the top three leagues,” he declared, “and it’s hard to objectively argue we shouldn’t have at least two teams in the playoff.”
The SMU coach pointed to his team’s unblemished conference record, Clemson’s steady excellence, and Miami’s overall quality as evidence of the ACC’s strength. If the selection committee rewards the likes of Ohio State and Tennessee for their 10-2 marks, Lashlee contended, then the ACC’s finest should receive equal recognition.
Ultimately, the ACC Championship Game will go a long way toward defining the conference’s postseason representation. An SMU victory would apply massive pressure on the committee to welcome the Mustangs, while a Clemson triumph could muddy the waters and crack the door for the likes of the SEC’s second-tier contenders. The stage is set for a colossal clash in Charlotte – and the ACC’s coaches have ensured that the playoff stakes couldn’t be any higher.
