After SEC Media Days came and went, it's now the turn of the Big Ten and the ACC to make their case for why their respective programs will be successful in 2025. Apparently, both conferences got together to make it a point to take swipes at the SEC.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti took a swipe at scheduling in the SEC, which had a hint of truth to it when looking at teams like Ole Miss or Missouri.
But it was the comments from SMU coach Rhett Lashlee that made every SEC fan turn their head and go "Huh?"
SMU coach claims SEC is top heavy
During his press conference, Lashlee made it known he doesn't think the SEC is as deep as it thinks it is:
"The SEC has had the same six schools win the championship since 1964. Not a single one has been different since 1964. That's top-heavy to me. That's not depth."
Does Lashlee really want to play this game?
Since 1954, this is the list of teams to win a national title while they were an active member of the ACC:
- Clemson
- FSU
- Georgia Tech
That's it, that's the list.
If you are also keeping score at home, the ACC was 2-11 in bowl games last season, and their two representatives in the playoffs (Clemson and SMU) lost by a combined 76-34.
See, what makes the SEC brutal isn't just the list of teams who can win a national title, but it is the strength of the conference in the middle of the pack.
SMU didn't beat a single ranked team last season, and the only ranked team that Clemson beat was SMU.
If you gave Florida the schedule that SMU has in 2025, anything short of 10-2 for the Gators would be a colossal disappointment. Miami is the second most challenging game on SMU's 2025 schedule. Miami is either the 4th or 5th most challenging game Florida has in 2025.
So drone on about depth if you must to help the image of a crumbling conference, but those who live in a glass house probably shouldn't throw stones.