Lashlee, Swinney Advocate for Multiple ACC Spots in CFP

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The winner of the matchup between the No. 9 SMU Mustangs (11-1, 8-0) and No. 12 Clemson Tigers (9-3, 7-1) in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game on Dec. 7 in Charlotte, N.C. will earn an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff. But, will other ACC teams make it into the 12-team playoff field?

According to SMU coach Rhett Lashlee and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, it should not be a debatable point. The respected coaches concur that multiple ACC teams should advance to the CFP.

Media Remarks: Swinney, Lashlee

On Dec. 1, both coaches participated in a Zoom call with media members in advance of the conference title game.

In the remote session with reporters, Swinney said that regardless of the outcome of the ACC championship tilt, he believes SMU and the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes (10-2, 6-2) should be included in the 12-team playoff field. Of course, if the Tigers triumph over SMU in the conference championship, then they would be automatically included, leaving the postseason fates of the Mustangs and Hurricanes to the selection committee.

Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard - Imagn Images

When the Hurricanes fell to the Syracuse Orange (9-3, 5-3) on Nov. 30, Clemson was ensured a spot against the Mustangs in the league title game.

Lashlee expressed a viewpoint similar to Swinney's. His verbatim opening remarks to the media in the Zoom conference were:

“Well, we’re obviously just incredibly excited to get a chance to compete in the ACC Championship game. Pretty cool being in our first year in the league, but just really proud of our team to go 8-0, you know in a conference is, to me, is tough and is, you know, just top to bottom filled with a lot of parity as the ACC. We just feel really fortunate to be one of the two teams getting to compete for our championship. So I know our guys are really looking forward to preparing for a great Clemson team this week and getting to Charlotte and competing.” 

When asked about how his team should be seeded/ranked by the CFP committee, Lashlee first said he would refrain from lobbying for the Mustangs, but then went on to point out that "there’s two [P]ower [F]our teams that have gone undefeated in their conference. It’s us and Oregon." The SMU coach's understated, yet forceful and persuasive, advocacy on behalf of his team was evident to all.

ACC Ascendance

In a college football season in which many pundits and reporters have suggested the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten Conference are the only two "real" college football "power" conferences, the teams of the ACC have flexed considerable muscle.

The ACC has the second-most nonconference wins against nonconference teams this season. Historically, only teams of the SEC have won more national titles than ACC teams.

The demonstrated strength of teams from the SEC, such as stalwart performers Clemson and Miami, along with newcomer SMU, has undercut arguments that the SEC and B1G should transcend all other conferences in football. As stressed by Swinney and Lashlee, the teams of the ACC belong in the upper echelons of college football.