Rhett Lashlee challenges Mike Norvell to EA SPORTS College Football 25 game

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Rhett Lashlee excited for SMU's future in the ACC

SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee hopes to entertain the masses this fall. At the 2024 ACC Media Days, Lashlee laid down an unexpected challenge to Florida State head coach Mike Norvell.

“I challenged Mike Norvell to a game of College Football [25],” Lashlee said. “I don’t know if he’s going to do it, but like that would be that would be great TV, right? And maybe that decides who wins the [coin] toss or something on September 28. You’re on the spot, Mike.”

If both coaches used their respective teams, Lashlee would be at a disadvantage. In the game, SMU has 84 overall rating while Florida State has an 88. The Mustangs’ defense is particularly worse, sitting at a 78 rating.

Nonetheless, Lashlee is confident in his team and for good reason. In only his second season at the helm, Lashlee led the Mustangs to an 11-3 record and perfect 8-0 mark in the American Athletic Conference.

With 62% of the team’s production returning for the 2024 campaign, SMU hopes to make a splash in its first season in the ACC. SMU’s first conference matchup in its new era will be against Florida State on Sept. 28.

Rhett Lashlee’s history with Mike Norvell

Lashlee intimately understands the challenge Norvell and the Seminoles pose. Lashlee was the offensive coordinator at Miami for two seasons. While with the Hurricanes, Lashlee lost both meetings against FSU. At the ACC Media Days, Lashlee opened up further on his history with Norvell.

“I’ve known Mike since 2007,” Lashlee said. “I got just so much respect for him and how he runs his program. We played him at Miami and to see where those two years have now brought the program to now, it’s not a shock.

“They happen to be our first conference game. They won the league last year. So, in a lot of ways, they’re the measuring stick for everybody this year. That’s the defending champ’s responsibility almost. I think being at Miami and having probably seven or eight guys on our roster that have transferred from Miami, there will be some guys excited about it.”

While Florida State and Miami have an extensive history against one another, SMU and the Seminoles have never faced off in the past. Rhett Lashlee and Co. will look to properly introduce themselves this season.

Nonetheless, before SMU can look too far ahead, it must take care of its non-conference opponents. SMU will kick off its 2024 campaign in a showdown against Nevada on Aug. 24.