Cam Newton implores Clemson to win ACC, eliminate SMU from College Football Playoff

Former NFL MVP Cam Newton has not been shy with his takes since being hired by ESPN to appear on First Take. Newton was on Friday’s show and discussed a number of topics, including the upcoming college football championship weekend.

One key game taking place this weekend is Clemson facing SMU in the ACC Championship Game. The Mustangs are in their first year in the ACC and have a chance to clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff with a win. Meanwhile Clemson is looking to return to the playoff for the first time since 2020.

Newton did not try to hide who he is rooting for in the ACC Championship Game.

“Man, Clemson, please win. Please win,” Cam Newton said on First Take. “When you’re talking about the College Football Playoff, I would not want to see SMU take a spot. And I’m just sorry for being honest.”

Those are obviously harsh words from Newton about the Mustangs, who are 11-1 on the season, with their only loss being by 3 points against BYU.

There are plenty of pundits who believe SMU should be in regardless of what happens against Clemson. However, College Football Playoff committee chair Warde Manuel left the door open for the Mustangs to fall out of the CFP with a loss to Clemson.

“Potentially, yes,” Manuel said when asked if Alabama could jump SMU if the Mustangs lose. “And they can move above teams, as well. Again, it just depends on the outcome of the game.”

SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee joined Andy and Ari On3 earlier this week and made it clear that he feels like SMU should be in the playoff, regardless of what happens Saturday.

“I think if you open up that door, you’re going to see a lot of people do a lot of crazy things,” Lashlee said of dropping a team that lost its conference title game out of the field. “We’re not going to. We’re going to go play in Charlotte, and we’re going to try to compete for our championship, because that’s the right thing to do. That’s what competitors do.”