SMU Coach Rhett Lashlee Questions Sun Belt's 2025 CFP Berth at ACC Media Days

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 17

Rhett Lashlee used ACC Media Days on Friday to argue an ACC champion should have reached the 2025 College Football Playoff instead of “a team from the Sun Belt,” a remark widely read as a shot at James Madison.
The dispute stems from last season’s format, which gave automatic bids to the five highest-ranked conference champions; 8-5 Duke won the ACC but was unranked after championship week, while JMU claimed the berth.
Lashlee’s comments drew immediate backlash online, with James Madison fans piling onto social media posts and mocking the SMU coach over the comparison.
The issue is largely moot for 2026 because each Power 4 conference champion will now receive a guaranteed CFP spot, a change that could benefit SMU if it contends near the top of the ACC.