SMU Coach Rhett Lashley on ACC and CFP

[4shotB]

Now that I think about it, it's ironic that I used FSU as a reference point above bc their 60 point loss in their bowl game to an SEC team after being the undefeated ACC champion didn't do us (the ACC) any favors either. All the rationalizations in the world doesn't help. Bottom line, rhetoric alone won't change the narratives. It must happen via action. As hard as it may be unfortunately. Playing .500 against the Big 10 and SEC doesn't seem to change perceptions. That maybe wrong, and it probably is, so I am not saying I agree with it but...iiwii.

 

[4shotB]

Anyone seen BYU play? Are they a possible NC team?

 

[CEB]

Resume rankings based on who you played only. This is from before Saturday, so BYU and Tennessee are falling. SMU will too, even though they played BYE, because their loss to BYU isn't as good

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This still feels too generous to several teams… there is clearly a bump for one loss and undefeated members of the BIG. That conference seems to be more about who you avoid than who you play.
For programs outside of the “big 2” there seems to be far less value on teams with 0-1 losses and a lot more scrutiny about who you’ve played.

I still think they’re getting this wrong, but I have to admit, there seems to be a vacuum to fill this year.
Is it just me, or are a LOT of schedules weaker across the board?
The talking heads told us that massive conferences and 9 game schedules were going to give us more impactful power team matchups but I don’t think it has. It feels to me like the number of big games is actually fewer and the resumes of many “top” teams is weaker. In years previous, you knew that top division teams had to play one another and then division champs faced off. I guess the playoff will be the process by which that happens now, but the process of seeding the playoff seems like more of an ambiguous beauty contest than ever.

 

[Root4GT]

SMU’s resume isn’t great, but neither is Texas’s, Penn State’s or even Ohio State’s. Penn State’s most accomplished thing is losing close to Ohio State and Ohio State’s best accomplishment is beating Penn State and playing Oregon close. They don’t have any other ranked wins. Penn State doesn’t have a single ranked win. Texas doesn’t either. Our league is measured by a different standard. If you want to put a 2 loss Bama above SMU because they have three ranked wins, that’s fine with me, but that means they should also be ahead of those other teams I mentioned. You can’t judge some schools by “quality record” and others simply by the loss column. Either or. Make a choice. As it stands, SMU is getting screwed. Even within their own conference. How are they below Miami?

Watching teams play matters. Miami has had it's issues but until last week when we beat them they were undefeated whereas SMU lost in week 2 to BYU. So Miami had an advantage from week 2 on vs SMU. BYU losing to a 4-6 Kansas team yesterday did not help SMU or the ACC's case for 2 bids. Same for the Big 12, they are now a 1 bid league.

 

[Root4GT]

This still feels too generous to several teams… there is clearly a bump for one loss and undefeated members of the BIG. That conference seems to be more about who you avoid than who you play.
For programs outside of the “big 2” there seems to be far less value on teams with 0-1 losses and a lot more scrutiny about who you’ve played.

I still think they’re getting this wrong, but I have to admit, there seems to be a vacuum to fill this year.
Is it just me, or are a LOT of schedules weaker across the board?
The talking heads told us that massive conferences and 9 game schedules were going to give us more impactful power team matchups but I don’t think it has. It feels to me like the number of big games is actually fewer and the resumes of many “top” teams is weaker. In years previous, you knew that top division teams had to play one another and then division champs faced off. I guess the playoff will be the process by which that happens now, but the process of seeding the playoff seems like more of an ambiguous beauty contest than ever.

As much as I dislike UGA they get credit for playing a very tough Conference and OOC schedule. At Alabama, at Ole Miss, at Texas. That is a tough conference 3 road game slate. Tennessee at home as well. Clemson in Atlanta and GT at home are very respectable OOC games.

 

[CEB]

As much as I dislike UGA they get credit for playing a very tough Conference and OOC schedule. At Alabama, at Ole Miss, at Texas. That is a tough conference 3 road game slate. Tennessee at home as well. Clemson in Atlanta and GT at home are very respectable OOC games.

i agree… and I’ve said so in several posts. UGA has played the toughest SEC schedule so far. If they make the SECCG, no other team is even close.
They aren’t the issue this year. There are several other teams being pushed as equals in the CFP when they’re just riding SEC coattails.

Big Ten is the bigger issue in my opinion. Their scheduling disparity is ridiculous. IU and PSU are CFP locks, which is ridiculous.

But the overall point(s) from Lashlee and in those replying in this thread are:
Losses don’t matter in the SEC
Quality wins don’t matter in the BIG
Everyone else is held to BOTH standards

 

[Root4GT]

i agree… and I’ve said so in several posts. UGA has played the toughest SEC schedule so far. If they make the SECCG, no other team is even close.
They aren’t the issue this year. There are several other teams being pushed as equals in the CFP when they’re just riding SEC coattails.

Big Ten is the bigger issue in my opinion. Their scheduling disparity is ridiculous. IU and PSU are CFP locks, which is ridiculous.

But the overall point(s) from Lashlee and in those replying in this thread are:
Losses don’t matter in the SEC
Quality wins don’t matter in the BIG
Everyone else is held to BOTH standards

If you buy Lashlee point then who in the ACC or Big 12 should be ranked higher? Miami is #9, They have 0 quality wins. SMU has 0 quality wins and are ranked #14, Who should SMU be ranked above? Those are based on last weeks rankings. It will be interesting to see this weeks rankings. In the Big 12 BYU was ranked #6 with 1 quality win over SMU. They lost yesterday to a bad Kansas team. You could make a case Penn State should have been #6 vice #4 but that is at the margins.

 

[Vespidae]

It’s a pointless discussion. The whole reason for a national ranking system in the first place was to generate fan interest and sell newspapers.

Want more media attention? Make sure the teams that appeal to the largest fan bases are ranked. And you justify it by the talent (per cent of 4/5 stars at the schools, ranking recruiting classes, schools producing NFL talent, etc.) … all of which justify any planned bias.

Saban quipped that the NFL would be ecstatic to have all teams at 8-8 and have an equal chance at the playoffs. That’s what is happening in college football. Once, it was inconceivable that a two loss team would be in contention. This year, we have FIVE. The goal is to keep fan interest as long as possible and you do that by keeping hope alive via expanded playoffs and talent mobility.

The system today is not designed to crown a champion. It’s designed to maximize money. It’s amazing that SMU hasn’t figured that out.

 

[CEB]

If you buy Lashlee point then who in the ACC or Big 12 should be ranked higher? Miami is #9, They have 0 quality wins. SMU has 0 quality wins and are ranked #14, Who should SMU be ranked above? Those are based on last weeks rankings. It will be interesting to see this weeks rankings. In the Big 12 BYU was ranked #6 with 1 quality win over SMU. They lost yesterday to a bad Kansas team. You could make a case Penn State should have been #6 vice #4 but that is at the margins.

Everyone in about the top 10-12 sitting behind IU and PSU should be ranked higher…EVERYONE… that would include Miami for certain, and probably SMU needs to be in that discussion too.

Miami and SMU arguably both have better wins than Indiana or PSU. Miami tumbled in ranks for a loss to upper / mid conf opponent. It wouldn’t happen in the Big / SEC… they would move that upper / mid team into rankings.

ND should be higher based on quality wins and their loss shouldn’t matter, right? CFP keeps changing the rules. Undefeated matters until it’s a team / conference they don’t like, then losses don’t matter.

Heck, Boise St has arguably as good a win as the Hoosiers. Has IU beaten a bowl eligible team yet? If they have, that team got eligible yesterday. Weak… but they’re too big to fail now.

When Miami is living on borrowed time, it’s weakness. Oregon proved unquestionable superiority last night against a stalwart wisc team, right?

If quality wins is the measure (your citation), then two Big Ten CFP locks
(IU &PSU) should be outside the top ten… possibly the top 15. Throw in Texas too… their best win (at the time, and possibly still)…Michigan?

Michigan is another UGA… they have played every top BIG team and stepped out of conference for Texas. That’s the type of scheduling we were promised from BIG / SEC teams but instead we’re getting a bunch of teams in late November who haven’t beaten anyone.

Yeah, the ACC needs to get it done in some big games, but it won’t matter. We’ve gotten it done before and it didn’t elevate the conference in any meaningful way. Most times it was ignored

 

[CEB]

The system today is not designed to crown a champion. It’s designed to maximize money. It’s amazing that SMU hasn’t figured that out.

we have all figured this out.

SMU (and some others) are POINTING it out. They’re screaming into a vacuum, but I don’t understand why we condemn them for trying. Isn’t that what ACC fans have been begging leadership to do for years?

 

[Vespidae]

we have all figured this out.

SMU (and some others) are POINTING it out. They’re screaming into a vacuum, but I don’t understand why we condemn them for trying. Isn’t that what ACC fans have been begging leadership to do for years?

If he is POINTING it out, he’s late to the party. He may as well scream “Hitler has invaded Poland!”

 

[CEB]

If he is POINTING it out, he’s late to the party. He may as well scream “Hitler has invaded Poland!”

Interesting analogy. In this analogy, the world presumably stood idly by (if not supported) during Hitlers run through all of Europe… no point in trying to undo the damage now?

I think it’s odd that we would prefer that we all silently “take our medicine.”
Speak it, call it out, then put your money where your mouth

 

[Vespidae]

Interesting analogy. In this analogy, the world presumably stood idly by (if not supported) during Hitlers run through all of Europe… no point in trying to undo the damage now?

I think it’s odd that we would prefer that we all silently “take our medicine.”
Speak it, call it out, then put your money where your mouth is.

This drama has been unfolding for 20, 30 years. I’m not really interested in debating that. I’m simply pointing out that anyone in the system today should’t be feigning surprise. Where has this dude been? He’s only now figuring this out?

 

[CEB]

This drama has been unfolding for 20, 30 years. I’m not really interested in debating that. I’m simply pointing out that anyone in the system today should’t be feigning surprise. Where has this dude been? He’s only now figuring this out?

To be fair to Lashlee… he just got here. He’s calling it like he sees it now.
I really don’t think most outside of the ACC care or pay attention. Which is all the more reason to call it out.
Can’t expect anyone else to carry our water.
But it begs the question many have asked before… why has the existing ACC been so complacent for so long?

 

[Root4GT]

Everyone in about the top 10-12 sitting behind IU and PSU should be ranked higher…EVERYONE… that would include Miami for certain, and probably SMU needs to be in that discussion too.

Miami and SMU arguably both have better wins than Indiana or PSU. Miami tumbled in ranks for a loss to upper / mid conf opponent. It wouldn’t happen in the Big / SEC… they would move that upper / mid team into rankings.

ND should be higher based on quality wins and their loss shouldn’t matter, right? CFP keeps changing the rules. Undefeated matters until it’s a team / conference they don’t like, then losses don’t matter.

Heck, Boise St has arguably as good a win as the Hoosiers. Has IU beaten a bowl eligible team yet? If they have, that team got eligible yesterday. Weak… but they’re too big to fail now.

When Miami is living on borrowed time, it’s weakness. Oregon proved unquestionable superiority last night against a stalwart wisc team, right?

If quality wins is the measure (your citation), then two Big Ten CFP locks
(IU &PSU) should be outside the top ten… possibly the top 15. Throw in Texas too… their best win (at the time, and possibly still)…Michigan?

Michigan is another UGA… they have played every top BIG team and stepped out of conference for Texas. That’s the type of scheduling we were promised from BIG / SEC teams but instead we’re getting a bunch of teams in late November who haven’t beaten anyone.

Yeah, the ACC needs to get it done in some big games, but it won’t matter. We’ve gotten it done before and it didn’t elevate the conference in any meaningful way. Most times it was ignored

Have you watched Indiana this year? They started the season unranked and picked to finish very low in the B1G. They had zero B1G positive bias to start the season. They have basically crushed most of their opponents. Conference schedules are what they are with 16 to 20 team Conferences. Before the season B1G teams viewed Indiana as an easy win. Michigan was the only competitive game Indiana has had and Indiana never trailed in the game. They get a test at Ohio State this week.

Frankly we all should root for Indiana as they are proving that you can overcome preseason rankings.

 

[BleedGoldNWhite21]

Watching teams play matters. Miami has had it's issues but until last week when we beat them they were undefeated whereas SMU lost in week 2 to BYU. So Miami had an advantage from week 2 on vs SMU. BYU losing to a 4-6 Kansas team yesterday did not help SMU or the ACC's case for 2 bids. Same for the Big 12, they are now a 1 bid league.

You’re right that watching teams play matter. The committee hasn’t watched an SMU game all year lol. Most people haven’t. Can Ward has looked good, but Miami has not looked better than SMU week in and week out. Neither has Texas. SMU lost a game without their current starting QB and yet now people are saying USCe possibly deserves a spot over them? The SEC **** has to get the **** out of here.

 

[cpf2001]

I think what would be best for the non-top-two conferences would be for those two to get 8 teams in for a couple years and the lower ranked of those 8 to consistently lose, with some big losses thrown in.

Cause we aren’t going to see the opposite and have a chance to see a third place ACC team knock off number one seed.

 

[CEB]

Frankly we all should root for Indiana as they are proving that you can overcome preseason rankings if you’re a member of the BIG or SEC.

Fixed that for ya.
You kind of prove the point. If you don’t get a shot against the overrated preseason teams, it’s hard to climb. IU has won the games they played, but they filled a vacuum. I’ll eat my crow if they get after OSU in Columbus.

By the way, this is another reason to abhor Florida state… if they proved to be even halfway competent, it would’ve been a huge boost to the conference. They squandered a BS preseason ranking opportunity for us (as a conference)

 

[Vespidae]

IU has won the games they played, but they filled a vacuum.

I’m not sure what vacuum they filled. Ranked or not, this is the current record of who they beat this year:

3-7
3-8
4-6
3-7
4-6
4-6
5-5
6-5
4-6
5-5

They beat one team with a winning record. Ouch.

 

[stinger 1957]

When your conference has one of it's top programs do a no show against the number one ranked team in the country opening the season you start out with a damn near dead argument for your conference. Winning will fix what we're facing, at least you have to start there

In todays CFB it seems to me you have to have a really good QB to compete where 10 or more years back you could be great overall and have a game mgr that was adequate passer and win championships. I don't think that is true today.