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Rhett Lashlee gives honest take about Penn State environment, weather factor in CFP

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•12/18/24•

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Rhett Lashlee gives honest take about Penn State environment, weather factor in CFP
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Weather won’t affect SMU unless the Mustangs along it to, according to head coach Rhett Lashlee.

SMU heads to Penn State to take on the Nittany Lions Saturday in the first round of the College Football Playoff. It’s going to be cold and the weather won’t exactly be like Texas.

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But that doesn’t bother Lashlee or his players.

“Weather is only going to be a problem if we allow it to be, you know,” Lashlee said on The Pat McAfee Show. “Like we’ve told our guys, they all want to play in the NFL, right? Well, we’re getting into that playoff time of year in the NFL, shortly into December and January, where the playoffs are going to go through Arrowhead and they’re going to go through Buffalo, and they’re going to go through Green Bay. And so you have to be able to go on the road and play at those places, or you play for those teams if you want to play championship, playoff football at the next level. So we get an opportunity to do that in college this week.” 

Plus, SMU has experience from a cold ACC Championship Game against Clemson. 30 degrees? Or lower? No problem for Lashlee and SMU.

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“And you know, fortunately, that ACC championship game was in the 30s,” Lashlee said. “I know it’s going to be colder than that this week. Here’s what I’ll also say. I mean, I think the crowd and the home field environment is the biggest problem. Penn State’s got to play in the exact same weather, the exact same weather conditions we do. And last time I checked, they’ve never played a home game on December 21st in 20 degree weather. 

“So I even think they have an indoor (place) up there, you know. So that’s only going to be an issue if we make it one, and if we allow it to be one, it will be. But I think our guys showed, hopefully last week, that they’ll play in the elements. And if we want a chance to win and survive and advance in the playoffs, we’re going to have to overcome 20 degree weather and 106,000 fans. And if you’re a competitor, that’s the opportunity you want.”