SMU Coach Rhett Lashlee Calls for 16-Team College Football Playoff

SMU Coach Rhett Lashlee Calls for 16-Team College Football Playoff originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

When it comes to the College Football Playoffs, SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee doesn’t hold back. During the opening of ACC Media Day the Mustangs head coach made his true feelings known.

Lashlee doesn’t just want expansion, he demands it. “It should be 16,” he said firmly. “More is better.”

It’s not just coach speak. Lashlee’s words echo the growing sentiment among programs that have sat just outside the inner circle for too long. Now, with the Mustangs in the ACC and momentum building behind a playoff overhaul, Lashlee is making it clear: schools like SMU deserve a seat at the table.

And he’s not just fighting for SMU, he’s fighting for the entire ACC.

A System Ready for Change

Last year’s 12-team playoff announcement was seen as progress. But Lashlee says it’s not enough.

“We saw what the playoff can do last year,” he said, referencing the electric on-campus atmosphere during the expanded format’s trial run. “On-campus games, fantastic. More exposure, more access. More people stay locked in all year.”

The idea is simple: bigger playoff, more football, wider reach. Programs like Miami, who finished 10-2 and still missed the cut, are the reason Lashlee is adamant about a system that rewards results, not reputation.

“When you have a human committee making decisions, it gets tough,” Lashlee said. “They’re good people, but the NFL doesn’t do it that way. Neither does high school football. Let it be decided on the field.”

The ACC’s Case for Respect

Lashlee says the numbers speak for themselves. Since 1990, only three conferences, the SEC, Big Ten, and the ACC have teams that have won national titles. In the past 15 years, the ACC is tied with the Big Ten for second-most championships.

“So why is that not talked about?” Lashlee asked. “We’ve got national brands, we’ve got our own network, we’ve got resources. The revenue gap between us and fourth place? It’s almost double.”

In Lashlee’s eyes, the ACC is being overlooked. With a 16-team playoff, that changes. The field widens, the politics fade, and more programs get the chance to prove themselves.

That includes SMU.

Why It Matters to the Mustangs

For the Mustangs and their fans, the expanded playoff isn’t just a national story, it’s a personal one. SMU entered the ACC with one goal: earn respect and prove they belong among college football’s elite.

But the current system makes it harder for teams outside the traditional powerhouses to break through.

“If they stay at 12, we’re still a multi-bid league every year,” Lashlee said. “But the more teams, the better. Let more fanbases dream. Let more players play in big games.”

His message is clear: build a bigger bracket, and let football decide the rest.

The Bottom Line

Lashlee isn’t interested in hypotheticals. He’s seen what’s possible. He’s seen what’s fair.

It’s time to expand. And for him, 16 is the magic number.

“Most people want to see it decided on the field,” Lashlee said. “So let’s do that.”

Related: Mustangs’ Back-End Bet: Why SMU’s Safety Duo Might Be College Football's Best

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.