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Football
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee is one of nine finalists for the 2024 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award presented by the Football Writers Association of America, in conjunction with the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Named the 2024 ACC Coach of the Year, Lashlee led No. 10 SMU to a perfect conference regular-season record and a spot in the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Football Championship game in the Mustangs’ first year in the league.
The Mustangs will be making their first College Football Playoff appearance this season, earning the No. 11 seed. SMU is 11-2 on the season and posted an unblemished conference season, going 8-0 in league play. The 11-win season is the fourth in program history, and the second consecutive season, while SMU has been unbeaten in conference play in back-to-back seasons.
SMU enters the CFP as one of only two Power 4 teams to go undefeated in conference play this season and one of just 10 teams in all of FBS to record 11 wins or more.
The Mustangs currently rank in the top 25 nationally in 19 different statistical categories in addition to leading the ACC in three different stats. SMU has been dominant on both sides of the ball this year, ranking in the top six nationally in rushing defense, scoring offense and defensive touchdowns.
Following a win over then-No. 22 Louisville on October 5, Lashlee and company jumped into the Associated Press Top 25 Poll at No. 25 and have not looked back. The Mustangs have been ranked in the AP Poll in each of the last 10 weeks, including moving up to as high as No. 8 in the Week 15 poll on December 1….
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