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Southern Methodist head coach Rhett Lashlee answers questions from the media during ACC Media Days at Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Journalist goes off on SMU HC Rhett Lashlee after SEC remarks

By Colby Colwell | Last updated Jul 23, 2025 5:14 PM ET

The trash-talking has already begun with the college football season rapidly approaching.

When speaking at the 2025 ACC Kickoff on Tuesday, SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee had some pointed remarks toward the SEC.

"The SEC has had the same six schools win the championship since 1964," Lashlee said. "That's top-heavy to me. That's not depth."

Journalist and radio personality Paul Finebaum took issue with Lashlee's comments and did not hold back during an appearance on ESPN's "Get Up" on Wednesday morning.

"First of all, I think Alabama's won about 11 national championships in that period that he laid out, but that's not even the main point," Finebaum said. "If I understand correctly, he's the head coach at SMU. ... 1987, you know what happened at SMU, they shut the program down. While he's making fun of the SEC for winning national championships all over the place, SMU's the most corrupt program in the history of college football. And Rhett Lashlee has the nerve to get up there and through stones? ... That's one of the most comical, embarrassing rants I have ever heard."

.@finebaum responds to SMU's head coach Rhett Lashlee comparing the depth of the SEC to the ACC:

"That's one of the most comical, embarrassing rants I have ever heard." pic.twitter.com/sdJUKRKhLE
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 23, 2025

To be fair, Lashlee led SMU to an 11-3 record in its first season as a member of the ACC last season. The Mustangs lost to Clemson in the ACC Championship game before falling to Penn State in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

As for the league as a whole, six ACC teams won at least nine games in 2024 while SMU and Clemson reached the CFP. In the SEC, eight teams won at least nine games and three of them (Texas, Georgia, Tennessee) were playoff teams.

The same SEC teams do tend to be atop the league each season, but there have been three different champions dating back to 2019. Clemson is the only ACC team to win a CFP title (since 2014) while Florida State (2013) and Miami (2001) are the only other programs to win any title since 2000.

Known as the "Voice of the SEC" and the host of the "Paul Finebaum Show" on the SEC Network, Finebaum has never shied away from voicing his opinion. It should be noted, though, that Alabama did not make the playoff last season while SEC newcomer Texas did. Ole Miss and Missouri did not reach the 12-team playoff, but both finished with better records than the Crimson Tide, proving the SEC was as deep as it has ever been despite not coming away with a title.

The Big Ten has claimed the last two titles with Michigan (2023) and Ohio State (2024), but the SEC is still right there and recent history suggests it is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Colby Colwell

Colby Colwell is a freelance contributor with a bachelor’s in Computer & Information Technology and a minor in Psychology from Western Kentucky University. With a deep passion for sports, especially NASCAR, he offers his substantial knowledge along with his adept writing skills. When he’s not writing, Colby enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with his family

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