SMU’s head coach Rhett Lashlee made a notable statement during the recent college football media days, remarking that the Southeastern Conference (SEC) is “top heavy” and lacks depth. This statement came in the context of discussions surrounding potential changes to the College Football Playoff (CFP) structure. He asserted that the SEC should not be granted any additional automatic bids in the event that the CFP expands to 14 or 16 teams.

Lashlee emphasized that a current proposal would allow both the Big Ten and SEC to secure four slots each, while the Big 12 and ACC would only receive two. He clarified, “All I said was a comment, and unfortunately, it’s a factual comment: that the same six schools have won that league for the last 60 years. It’s just hard to argue parity if that’s the case.” He acknowledged that while he respects the SEC, the league should not assume preferential treatment based on perceived depth.

Furthermore, Lashlee indicated that he wasn’t targeting the SEC’s scheduling approaches, unlike Indiana’s Coach Curt Cignetti, who criticized the SEC’s eight-game conference schedule, which allows teams to schedule FCS opponents late into the season. Lashlee concluded by stating that his comments are backed by data and historical context, advocating for a rational discussion on the matter.