NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
SMU -head football coach Rhett Lashlee doubles on his belief that ESPN favors certain conferences with their location.
ESPN released its first football index rankings in June. Mustangs came out as No. 20 among college -football teams that entered the 2025 season, although ACC teams like Miami (No. 9) and Clemson (No. 11) were higher on the list.
The Football Power Index is a “Team Force Away, intended to be the best Predictor for a team’s performance in the future for the rest of the season.”
CLICK HERE for more sports cover at Foxnews.com
South Methodist Head coach Rhett Lashlee answers questions from the media during ACC Media Days at Hilton Charlotte Uptown. (Jim Dedmon/Imag- Pictures)
Now ESPN updated these rankings on Friday, and Mustangs, who came from a surprising college football playoffs, after walking 11-3 last season, however, only moved up one place to No. 19. Miami and Clemson took a rumbling to No. 17 and No. 16 respectively.
This led Lashlee to call ESPN’s ranking system a farse.
Arch Manning, Texas sits on top of the Forsy AP College Football Poll
“Because it’s all rigged,” he wrote at X.
Lashlee was also vocals during last season, questioning his belief that ACC and Big 12 were respected compared to the Big Ten and Sec, where he called the latter “Top tongue.”
Main coach Rhett Lashlee from Smu Mustangs talks to an official in the first half of the 2024 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Grant Half -Person/Getty Images)
“There are other leagues claiming depth,” Lashlee said according to the New York Post. “SEC has had the same six schools to win the championship since 1964. Same six. Not a single one has been different since 1964. It’s top -notch for me. It’s not depth.”
Lashlee clearly does not just believe in his Mustangs to have more success on the way into 2025, but he will have a little more respect for the schools he will go up against.
Clemson, led by veteran head coach Dabo Swinney, was the school that beat SMU during the 2024 ACC Championship, 34-31, although Lashlee’s group was the favorite in Tilt at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Main coach Rhett Lashlee from Smu Mustangs looks at before the 2024 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Grant Half -Person/Getty Images)
Lashlees the quest to lead his Mustangs to more success in 2025 begins with their first match against East Texas A&M on August 30.
