SMU embraces ‘moving up in weight class’ to ACC

Jul 22, 2024, 06:20 PM ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C.– Rhett Lashlee isn’t naïve about the huge obstacle facing SMU as his team transitions to the Atlantic Coast Conference this season.But that has actually

n’t dampened the third-year head coach’s confidence.

“It’s a jump,” Lashlee said. “We are going up in weight class. We are going to learn a lot about our program and where we stand. We are thrilled about that. I do seem like we can contend and I will be really dissatisfied if we don’t.”

The Mustangs have actually understood since last September that they were headed to the ACC, but he stated being at the conference’s preseason media days Monday in Charlotte made it feel all the more real.SMU is coming off an 11-3 season and an American Athletic Championship game, making a journey to the Fenway Bowl and finishing ranked 22nd in the AP Top 25 survey. However Lashlee acknowledged that dealing with an elite level of competitors”week in and week out” will be this team’s greatest challenge.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated He has some issues about this team’s overall depth, particularly on the offensive and protective lines. And he likewise acknowledged it may take some time for the Mustangs to reach the other ACC schools on the recruiting front.But he believes that’ll take place as the program gets more exposure from playing in the ACC this season.Lashlee, who is 18-9 in 2 seasons at

SMU, recognizes with the school’s abundant football history, which includes establishing stars such as Doak Walker and Eric Dickerson and winning 11 Southwestern Conference championships, and he believes that helps in the shift. “We have been at this level in the past,” Lashlee said.” We are various than a school that perhaps has actually never ever been at the power level that gets the call-up versus a school that had it for a very long time and had it taken away.” SMU was a nationwide power in the Southwestern Conference before the NCAA handed down a” death sentence”in 1987 for secret slush fund payments to players after several warnings. The NCAA canceled the

1987 season and the university opted not to return for 1988, a two-year hiatus that had significant ramifications for the program.Now the money is pouring in– lawfully, under brand-new pay-for-play guidelines– to SMU, the only major college football program within a 30-mile radius to Dallas.Earlier this month, SMU revealed it had actually gone beyond a$125 million fundraising

objective since being contributed to the ACC together with Cal and Stanford. That comes as SMU gives up nine years of media-rights distribution payouts from the ACC and does not make a full share till its 10th league season.”It simply speaks to the recognition from our neighborhood, the SMU community, this isn’t practically sports, “athletic director Rick Hart said.”This is an institutional moment. And it’s an unbelievable chance for SMU to elevate– institutionally, athletically, nationally– in manner ins which we’ve not had the ability to do before.” Returning beginning quarterback Preston Stone is among the players embracing the chance. He said he invites being thrust into the”unpleasant situation”of moving up from what he called a middleweight class.But he said having bet Oklahoma, Memphis and TCU last season has actually helped SMU get ready for the

transition.”Absolutely we will be able to complete right away,”Stone stated.”Regardless of who we are playing, if we can appear and perform our game plan and play our football we have a possibility to win every game on our schedule.”The schedule makers didn’t do SMU any favors.The Mustangs ‘very first 2 ACC games will come against protecting champ Florida State on Sept. 28 in your home, and at runner-up Louisville on Oct. 5.”The league has a common sense of humor,” Lashlee joked.”We will discover genuine quickly where we stand.”The Associated Press added to this report.