Lashlee, Swinney hoping for 3 ACC groups in CFP
The ACC is hoping it will not be a one-bid league, and the 2 coaches taking part in for the convention championship made it clear there are not less than two — and presumably three — groups worthy of a Faculty Soccer Playoff bid.
SMU and Clemson will face off Saturday with the ACC’s assured playoff bid on the road. The issue for SMU is the Mustangs are safely in as of at present with an 11-1 report, however a loss to Clemson within the ACC championship sport may put the Mustangs’ playoff hopes in jeopardy because the SEC pushes to get not less than one in every of its 4 9-3 packages — Alabama, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Missouri — into the 12-team area.
“I believe our children have earned the correct to be one of many 12 finest groups in America, and I actually hope the committee sees it that means,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee stated. “I do hope the committee continues to worth our résumé and our whole physique of labor. The fact is, there’s two Energy 4 groups that went undefeated of their convention, and that is Oregon and us. To me, that ought to imply quite a bit.”
SMU presently has the No. 9 power of report, based on ESPN, and the No. 75 power of schedule, regardless of taking part in a 10-2 BYU and 8-4 TCU out of convention. SMU’s loss to BYU got here by simply three factors within the final sport earlier than the Mustangs made a change at quarterback, going from Preston Stone to Kevin Jennings. Since Jennings took over, SMU is 9-0, averaging greater than 40 factors per sport and a 20 points-per-game common margin of victory.
Clemson must win to make the playoff after falling to South Carolina 17-14 in Week 14, however coach Dabo Swinney stated the ACC’s depth and power was on show all season and warrants a number of bids — no matter who wins the league championship.
“For SMU, they need to win the sport, however they need to be in it doesn’t matter what. They’ve earned that. I do not assume they need to be punished. I do know the system is about as much as be what it’s, however they’re an 11-1 soccer crew,” he stated. “And for us, we have to win. However we management our future. If we would had a fantastic common season, possibly we would have that chance, however we have to win. However SMU, they need to be in.”
Then there’s Miami at 10-2, which was the very best ranked ACC crew in final week’s prime 25 at No. 6, however after blowing a 21-point lead at Syracuse in Week 14, the Canes are on the perimeter of the playoff, too.
Miami’s losses are to 7-5 Georgia Tech, a crew that went eight overtimes at Georgia in Week 14, and Syracuse, a 9-3 program that figures to be within the committee’s prime 25 this week.
“I do not assume there’s any query we have separated ourselves as one of many prime three leagues,” Lashlee stated, “and it is onerous to objectively argue we should not have not less than two groups within the playoff. I believe we ought to be in regardless, however you take a look at Miami crew that is 10-2 … if it not less than looks like colleges like Tennessee and Ohio State which can be 10-2 are in, then Miami ought to most likely be checked out in the very same vein.”
Swinney echoed these feedback, saying he “cannot think about Miami would not be in.”
Lashlee stated he will not do a lot public politicking whatever the final result of the ACC championship, suggesting it is unlikely to sway the committee regardless, however he is additionally assured SMU’s résumé is sweet sufficient with no gross sales push.
“Based mostly on what we have heard and what we have been instructed, I might like to be ok with,” Lashlee stated. “Hopefully [the ACC championship game] is a reward, and we’re taking part in for a first-round bye. However actually all we are able to do is management our play, and we will do all the pieces we are able to to win a championship.”
