SMU HC After CFP Loss to Penn State: 'We Earned Our Spot Here, Deserved to Be Here'
SMU coach Rhett Lashlee stood firm in his belief that his team deserved its place in the 12-team College Football Playoff despite a 38-10 blowout loss to Penn State in the first round on Saturday.
"We didn't play very good today. But this team is a quality team," Lashlee told reporters post-game. "We were a good team, we earned our spot here, deserved to be here."
The SMU Mustangs were overwhelmed in the first half, being outscored 28-0 by Penn State, sparking debate among college football fans about their legitimacy in the playoff field.
After their lackluster first half, Lashlee acknowledged the assumptions people might make about their place in the playoffs but maintained it was merely an off-day defensive struggle.
"People are gonna see the scoreboard of the halftime score and say things like, 'They shouldn't been in or didn't belong,'" Lashlee told reporters. We had our opportunities to make it the game it should have been, which was a really good defensive struggle."
Among college football fans, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin added fuel to the fire, taking to social media to troll the committee's decision to exclude the Rebels from the postseason and question SMU's inclusion over his team.
One of the biggest controversies surrounding SMU's inclusion was the absence of several SEC teams that failed to make the cut. However, with three losses on their résumés, it's difficult to sympathize with teams that didn't take care of business during the regular season.
Despite the criticism, Lashlee's confidence in his team extends to his starting quarterback, Kevin Jennings, who struggled against Penn State on Saturday. Jennings completed 20-of-36 passes for 195 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in the loss.
After the game, Lashlee walked straight to his sophomore quarterback and embraced him, saying, "I believe in you. Everyone believes in you."
SMU's season was remarkable despite its disappointing ending. The Mustangs achieved back-to-back 11-win seasons, went 8-0 in their inaugural ACC campaign and earned their first College Football Playoff berth in school history.
