Rhett Lashlee: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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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.

College Football News / Touchdown Alabama Magazine / June 10

SMU head coach says Tide and Mustangs should have made playoff

Alabama football was left out of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff bracket over seven months ago and some people are still making the argument that the Crimson Tide should have been included in the 12-team field.

College Football News / Alabama Crimson Tide on SI / June 10

SMU HC Rhett Lashlee Reflects on CFP Choosing Mustangs Over Alabama

The morning of December 8, 2024, was rough for Alabama football. The night before, Crimson Tide fans were switching up who to root for in the ACC Championship between Clemson and SMU, as the winner would automatically qualify for the 12-team College Football Playoff, while the loser wasn't guaranteed to contend for it as well.

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How many of the players to be chosen with the fourth-overall pick in each NFL Draft since 2000 can you name in five minutes?

College Football News / Athlon Sports / June 4

SMU Football Makes Underrated Hire After Playoff Season

Rhett Lashlee and SMU Football have added a former Texas high school offensive coordinator to his support staff. According to Mike Roach of 247Sports, former North Texas staffer Matthew McHugh has taken over as the Mustangs director of player personnel. For SMU, this is an underrated hire in the Lone Star State.

College Football News / Athlon Sports / June 1

SMU Football Faces Backlash After Team GPA Under Rhett Lashlee Surfaces

The SMU football program found itself at the center of social media mockery this week. After celebrating an academic milestone they felt was impressive,

College Football News / Athlon Sports / May 14

SMU Football continues to make waves as they land dynamic 3-star athlete

SMU football’s 2026 recruiting class just got stronger—and faster. Markel Dabney, a three-star athlete out of Huguenot High School in Richmond, Virginia, has committed to the Mustangs, giving head coach Rhett Lashlee another versatile weapon on defense.

College Football News / Athlon Sports / May 10

Historic College Football Program Suffers Massive Recruiting Loss To Rising ACC Team

Rhett Lashlee and the SMU Mustangs are intent on becoming a national powerhouse in college football. In SMU's first season in the ACC, the Mustangs reached the conference championship game and played in the College Football Playoff. In doing so, the program achieved a final ranking of 12th in the Associated Press poll – its highest since 1984.

College Football News / Athlon Sports / April 28

Memphis defensive tackle Keveion'ta Spears transfers to SMU

Former Memphis transfer defensive lineman Keveion’ta Spears announced he's transferring to SMU on Sunday. The Mustangs landed the big 6-foot-4, 300-pound defensive lineman, played 36 games over his career and racked up 30 tackles (six for loss) with two sacks, and a pass breakup. The Baton Rouge, La.

College Football News / Athlon Sports / April 14

SMU loses former four-star running back to transfer portal

L.J. Johnson Jr's time in Dallas is over. The former four-star running back has reportedly decided to hit the transfer portal for the second time in his career.

College Football News / Athlon Sports / April 14

College Football Playoff Contender Loses Key Playmaker Via Transfer Portal

It was an amazing season for the SMU Mustangs and head coach Rhett Lashlee, who shocked many by going 11-3 and 8-0 in ACC matchups, leading them to enter the College Football Playoff as the No.

College Football News / Athlon Sports / March 26

SMU becomes latest college football program to scrap spring game

SMU will not hold a traditional spring game this year. The announcement by head coach Rhett Lashlee on Tuesday comes while other programs around the country have asked the NCAA to allow for NFL-style joint practices.

College Football News / Mike Farrell Sports / February 11

Rhett Lashlee, Kevin Jennings Have SMU Mustangs Thinking Big in 2025

By Matt Girard The cloud of the “Death Penalty” that had hung over the SMU Mustangs for nearly 40 years have completely dissipated. Since taking over the once forlorn football program in 2022 head coach Rhett Lashlee has rebuilt the Mustangs into a perennial championship contender quicker than the up-tempo offense his teams have been known for.

SMU Mustangs News / Yardbarker / December 23

Rhett Lashlee says CFP closes chapter on SMU's 'death penalty' past

There was a time when all SMU football was known for was "the death penalty" it received from the NCAA in 1987 for the scandal of paying players to play college football.

CFP takeaways: Penn State's defense dominates SMU in first-round thumping

SMU band got the shaft in their CFP game at Penn State

Reports: SMU backup QB Preston Stone headed to Northwestern

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College Football News / NCAA Football on ClutchPoints / December 22

Rhett Lashlee’s message to critics who ripped SMU’s CFP inclusion

As expected, the selection of the first ever 12-team College Football Playoff field was not without controversy. Even though the expansion from four to 12 teams was expected to minimize the number of programs and fans that had a gripe as the postseason began, it appears as if the opposite is true.

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College Football News / Penn State Nittany Lions on SI / December 21

What They Said After Penn State's Playoff Victory Over SMU

STATE COLLEGE | Penn State dominated at home in the first round of the College Football Playoff, slamming No. 11 seed SMU 38-10 on Saturday. It was James Franklin’s 100th career win at Penn State, and a resounding one at that.

College Football News / NCAA Football on ClutchPoints / December 21

SMU HC Rhett Lashlee reveals what team wasted in lopsided CFP loss to Penn State

SMU football returned to the national title picture for the first time since 1982 Saturday. However, the Mustangs’ debut in the College Football Playoffs ended in lopsided fashion against Penn State.

College Football News / Yardbarker

Storylines to follow in the 2024-25 College Football Playoff

There is plenty of excitement and intrigue surrounding the first 12-team College Football Playoff. Here's our take on some storylines to keep an eye on before and during this historic tournament.

College Football News / Larry Brown Sports / December 18

SMU coach addresses big concern about facing Penn State

SMU will travel to Penn State in the opening round of the College Football Playoff, and many are wondering how the Texas-based team will handle the frigid temperatures.

College Football News / Penn State Nittany Lions on SI / December 12

Is Penn State Hosting 'America's Team' in the College Football Playoff?

Penn State is officially locked in for its first College Football Playoff matchup. But as the playoff format encourages, the Nittany Lions will play a first-round game against an opponent they’re unfamiliar with: SMU. The Mustangs claimed the bracket’s No.

SMU Mustangs News / Yardbarker / December 10

SMU HC Rhett Lashlee thankful CFP committee didn't take brand name into consideration

The SMU Mustangs almost had an "almost perfect" season on their hands after going 11-1 in head coach Rhett Lashlee's third regular season with the program.

With inclusion, SMU now has eyes of college football world upon it

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College Football News / Field Level Media / December 8

Meet the 12 CFP Title Contenders: No. 11 SMU

11. SMU Mustangs 11-2 (8-0 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season) What's next: at No. 6 Penn State, State College, Pa., Dec. 21, Noon ET Head coach: Rhett Lashlee (three seasons, 29-11 overall) About Lashlee: The 41-year-old is enjoying success in his first college head coaching gig and has guided the Mustangs to back-to-back 11-win seasons.

SMU coach Rhett Lashlee offers strong comment about making CFP

SMU Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee offered some strong comments on Saturday night regarding his team’s status as a contender for the College Football Playoff.

College Football News / Last Word On Sports / December 5

Another First for SMU

There are a lot of firsts in the ACC this season. The ACC Coach of the Year is in his first year in the conference, with a school in its first year in the ACC.

ESPN Computer Predicts Winner Of No. 8 SMU vs. No. 17 Clemson

SMU are going to attempt the exceptionally rare feat of winning a conference championship in two different conferences in back-to-back seasons. But standing in their way is one of the preeminent powers of the ACC, the Clemson Tigers.

College Football News / NCAA Football on ClutchPoints / December 4

SMU football’s Rhett Lashlee drops bold COVID take amid CFP rankings hysteria

SMU football head coach Rhett Lashlee made a bold statement on the Mustangs’ playoff chances. The latest College Football Playoff rankings have caused a massive stir heading into championship week.

College Football News / NCAA Football on ClutchPoints / November 24

SMU coach Rhett Lashlee reacts to making championship game history

On Friday afternoon, almost a year to the day after signing his first contract extension with the SMU Mustangs, head coach Rhett Lashlee agreed to another contract extension with the university that will keep the 41-year-old coach in Dallas through 2030.

College Football News / Field Level Media / November 22

SMU coach Rhett Lashlee lands another contract extension

SMU and head football coach Rhett Lashlee are in agreement on a contract extension. The school announced the extension on Friday but, as a private university, is not required to disclose any terms.