Rhett Lashlee, the head coach of SMU, finds himself puzzled by the ongoing perception issues facing the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regarding its standing with the College Football Playoff (CFP) committee. Confronted with a statistic he regularly contemplates, Lashlee questions why the ACC appears to be fighting for respect when its teams’ performances suggest otherwise.
“I don’t understand how our league can be viewed as potentially obtaining only one playoff spot when we have a winning record against another conference (the Big Ten), which is expected to secure multiple spots,” Lashlee expressed shortly before the most recent CFP rankings. The Mustangs, boasting an 8-1 overall record and a perfect 5-0 in the ACC, find themselves just outside the top 12.
This season has seen a notable shift in college football dynamics, primarily with realignments that brought prestigious programs like USC and Oregon into the Big Ten while the ACC added less heralded institutions like SMU, Cal, and Stanford. Concerns voiced by ACC officials and coaches seem to be materializing, marking a troubling trend for the conference.
Pittsburgh’s coach, Pat Narduzzi, echoed similar frustrations, pointing out a distressing trend of disrespect that he believes has lingered from preseason perceptions. His team’s 7-2 record, displaying strength through victories over Big 12 opponents like Cincinnati and West Virginia, supports his argument that the ACC is among the nation’s toughest leagues.
Narduzzi noted that surprising outcomes, like Georgia Tech defeating Miami and Louisville overcoming Clemson, illustrate the depth and competitiveness of the conference. “It’s undeniable that we’ve been battling it out amongst ourselves, and that can hurt our collective image,” he said, alluding to the internal competition within the ACC.
Contrastingly, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) seems insulated from similar critical scrutiny. Teams like Alabama and Ole Miss find themselves in playoff contention even with multiple losses, while another two-loss contender, Georgia, ranks just above SMU in the current standings.
With the ACC’s chances to secure multiple playoff spots dwindling, the most promising scenario for the conference appears to hinge on SMU and Miami winning out, along with a highly competitive ACC championship game.
Warde Manuel, the chair of the CFP Selection Committee, acknowledged the impressive performances of both the Mustangs and the Hurricanes. However, the clear takeaway was that the committee currently views only one of them as a serious contender for the top 12 rankings, while teams from the SEC and Big Ten comfortably secure their spots.
Meanwhile, Louisville, ranked fourth in the ACC, is surging and could pose a significant threat to the conference’s representation in the playoff. Clemson remains a vital player, currently holding third place and still in contention for an ACC title berth, especially if they succeed in their upcoming games against Pittsburgh and longtime rival South Carolina.
Clemson’s coach, Dabo Swinney, expressed bewilderment over how some narratives about the league shift while others remain stagnant. For example, after an early season loss to Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech experienced criticism that now seems misplaced, especially as the Commodores have seen resurgence in their performance this season.
This same team, Virginia Tech, nearly defeated Miami earlier and comfortably won against Georgia Tech just weeks before the latter stunned the Hurricanes with their first loss of the season. Such instances bring to light the ACC’s competitive nature, but unlike the SEC, it does not appear to garner similar recognition for the level of competition.
“We face our own struggles when we compete against each other. Other leagues are praised for their competitiveness, while our internal battles seem to downgrade our conference,” Lashlee remarked. This sentiment extends to the Big 12, where similar narratives suggest a limited playoff bid outlook despite a tightly contested championship race.
The ACC has showcased its football prowess with an impressive 43 nonconference victories, including eight wins over fellow Power Four institutions, leading to eight teams qualifying for bowl games. The tight results of many conference matchups further bolster their claim of depth.
With star players making headlines, such as Ward in the Heisman Trophy conversation and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik gaining attention, the conference believes it has the necessary components to stand shoulder to shoulder with the SEC and Big Ten.
However, one major hurdle remains: brand recognition. While SMU establishes its presence in its inaugural year in the ACC, Miami’s struggles to maintain elite ranking status over the past two decades linger, and even Clemson, while still an elite team, has faced challenges recently.
Compounding these issues, defending conference champion Florida State has fallen dramatically from being a preseason top-10 team to facing their worst season in recent history. While Lashlee contemplates potential ifs and what-might-have-beens, he ultimately understands that the Mustangs’ fate is in their hands. Winning the conference title is the key to solidifying their rightful place in the playoff, but below that, they remain subject to a committee that may not currently give the ACC the same level of respect as other conferences.
“I’m not sure what changes can be made,” Lashlee commented. “It feels a bit predetermined, and that’s the bias we’re encountering. There are four quality leagues in college football, and each should have adequate representation.”
