What SMU’s Rhett Lashlee said at ACC Media Day originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
At the 2025 ACC Media Days, SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee delivered a confident and energized message about his program’s rise.
After making the College Football Playoff in SMU’s first full season with the ACC, Lashlee took time to reflect on the university’s growth and the opportunities ahead. Last year, the Mustangs opened up as a “dark horse.” However, that’s not the case a month before the season starts.
Lashlee pointed to the program’s back-to-back 11-win seasons, along with record-breaking ticket sales as evidence of SMU’s growing stature on the national scene. The city of Dallas, Lashlee said, is embracing Mustang football “at an all-time high,” and the team is embracing the city right back.
Recruiting and academics are also trending upward as well. Lashlee highlighted that the Mustangs had a program-best 2.95 GPA in the spring semester and that the 2025 recruiting class is ranked 31st nationally with five four-star recruits, which is also a school record. He credited the program’s ACC membership and location in Dallas as key factors in attracting top talent.
“I think it’s the best city in America,” Lashlee said of Dallas. “It deserves a big-time college football team… and our guys have given the city that.” He noted that with Dallas being a hotbed for high school talent, SMU’s proximity and access to elite athletes gives it a sustainable recruiting edge.
When asked about SMU’s transition into the ACC, Lashlee didn’t shy away from promoting the league’s stature. “There’s no question our league has separated itself as one of the top three in America,” he said, citing both revenue generation and championship history. He reminded reporters that the ACC, SEC, and Big Ten are the only leagues with national champions since 1990 and pushed back on narratives that undercut the ACC’s national credibility.
Lashlee strongly endorsed a 16-team College Football Playoff. He noted that the current 12-team format adds value, especially with on-campus games. But he argued that an expanded field would bring more fan engagement. Lashlee was critical of the CFP committee format, saying that no other major sport in the U.S. uses a committee to determine its playoff participants. “It’s set up for failure because there’s human bias,” he said. An interesting take considering SMU made the playoffs after losing to Clemson in the ACC Championship game.
Lashlee envisions a Championship Saturday that mirrors March Madness, with conference title games and play-in matchups for a 16-team CFP. It would also make the final weekend of the regular season into a national spectacle for positioning.
On the topic of college football’s future, Lashlee was cautiously optimistic about the emerging CSC (College Sports Collective) revenue-sharing model. He stressed the importance of standards and warned about the dangers of unregulated agents. This isn’t uncommon amongst coaches either. Lashlee advocated for standardized contracts and congressional oversight to protect players and families.
He also promoted the return of the Pony Express Award, given to the best duo in college football, launched by SMU legends Craig James and Eric Dickerson. Lashlee noted that Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter were last year’s recipients and praised the award for recognizing teamwork in a player-voted format.
Lashlee’s appreciation for SMU was heartfelt. He spoke of his wife, Lauren, as the “real head coach,” and joked that his four kids would likely have a post-game critique of his press conference performance. “I’m incredibly humbled to be the head coach at SMU,” he said.
Lashlee also took time to highlight the players who joined him at ACC Media Days—quarterback Kevin Jennings, safety Isaiah Nwokobia, lineman Logan Parr, and linebacker Alex Kilgore.
Jennings, now a dark horse Heisman contender, spoke about his rapid rise from unheralded backup to CFP quarterback. “I just remember where I came from,” he said. “At one point, I was a nobody.” Jennings said his experience in the CFP loss to Penn State was humbling and necessary. “I needed that game,” he said. “It reminded me of what I have to work on.”
Defensive back Isaiah Nwokobia, coming off a 100-tackle, 3-interception season, said his focus this offseason has been on film study and playing faster. He praised SMU’s brotherhood and credited off-field bonding for the team’s unity. During the long-standing DB debate, Nwokobia said with a smile, “I’m a T-step guy.”
Offensive lineman Logan Parr, an All-ACC selection, spoke openly about his journey. Once a highly touted Texas recruit, Parr found new life at SMU. “I kind of got run out of my last school,” he said. “But this staff gave me a chance, and I’m so thankful.” Parr, nicknamed “Professor” for holding three degrees, emphasized the O-line’s pride in protecting Jennings. “Kevin is one of my best friends. I’d hate to see anything happen to him.”
Altogether, Lashlee’s appearance at ACC Media Days captured the optimism and ambition surrounding SMU football as it embraces a new era and aims even higher.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.