SMU's Rhett Lashlee Admits the College Football Playoff Made an Error

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeff Hauser | Last updated Jun 10, 2025 9:55 PM ET

The SMU Mustangs made the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff after losing a closely-contested ACC championship against Clemson. However, there was one team Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee says should’ve gotten in.

SMU clinched the last spot over Alabama in the playoff, resulting in weeks of debate across college football. Many wondered if more teams meant a more problematic outcome for the Playoff Committee.

Lashlee feels SMU and Alabama should’ve both been included in the postseason. But if that's the case, who gets left behind?

“Well, I felt like we deserved to be in but after we came up short 12 hours before in that ACC championship game with Clemson," Lashlee said in an interview with The Next Round.

"I cannot say I felt great with the way it was shaping up to be either us or Alabama, which I’m not sure that’s the way it should’ve shaped up. I think maybe we both should’ve been in.”

SMU ended the regular season with a top ten ranking at 11-1. Their only loss was to BYU in non-conference play. But the loss to Clemson was followed by a 38-10 Playoff defeat to Penn State in Happy Valley.

As for Alabama, they will have another chance to prove themselves as a worthy postseason contender in 2025. At 9-3, the late-season loss to Oklahoma killed off any chance of sneaking into the playoff. Under Kalen DeBoer, the Crimson Tide had three wins against ranked opponents, including No. 2 Georgia.

SMU hopes to repeat the magic of last year in a wide open ACC. The game to watch will be a title game rematch at Clemson on Oct. 18.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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