Rhett Lashlee on the significance of joining the ACC, what SMU brings to conference

SMU is one of three new programs joining the ACC this season following an offseason headlined by massive conference realignment across collegiate athletics. But unlike Cal and Stanford, the Mustangs join the conference as a jump up after competing at the Group of Five level since 1996.

Monday marked SMU’s first media days as a member of the ACC, where head football back coach Rhett Lashlee spoke on the significance of the move ahead of the highly anticipated 2024 season.

“It’s hard to put into words, it means a lot to our program, it means a whole lot to our school,” Lashlee said. “I’ve said this a bunch lately, I feel like the fan base, the SMU family, and so many people that have supported our program for years, maybe we have a different level of gratitude and appreciation for this moment.”

SMU’s football program is rich with history dating back to their first season in 1915. But it’s hard to mention without touching on the program receiving the ‘death penalty’ in 1987 for multiple NCAA rules violations. Setting the national powerhouse back into a rebuild that lasted multiple decades long.

“We were on this stage many years in the Southwest Conference, we won over 11 conference championships, and three national titles, and it just had a rich history and tradition,” Lashlee explained. “And I think to have had that and lost it and now to have it back, I don’t think there’s any question our school, and we believe our program, right in the heart of Dallas belongs on the national stage and so we’re just very grateful for the opportunity to be back.”

After a rough stint in the WAC, the Mustangs were able to achieve success in Conference USA and most recently the American Athletic Conference. Finding themselves ranked in the AP Top 25 in four of the last five seasons, fresh off of their best finish since 1982 with a 11-3 record last season.

“It means a lot for our team, our players to do it in the way we did. In the last five years nobody’s won more games in the state of Texas than SMU football. Won in a conference championship, finished ranked last season, so we feel like we’re coming in on a high note,” Lashlee said.

“And like I said, we’re going to gain a lot from being in this conference and I also think we’re going to add a lot of value to the conference as well.”

SMU has the chance to be a force to be reckoned with immediately upon their arrival to the ACC, as a program desperate to return to the spotlight now does so at the perfect time.