SMU coach Rhett Lashlee and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney stated their case Sunday for a heavier ACC presence in the College Football Playoff, regardless of how the conference's title game shakes out next weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The ACC is hoping it won't be a one-bid league, and the two coaches playing for the conference championship made it clear there are at least two -- and possibly three -- teams worthy of a College Football Playoff bid.
"I think our kids have earned the right to be one of the 12 best teams in America, and I really hope the committee sees it that way," SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said."I do hope the committee continues to value our résumé and our total body of work. The reality is, there's two Power 4 teams that went undefeated in their conference, and that's Oregon and us. To me, that should mean a lot.
Clemson needs to win to make the playoff after falling to South Carolina 17-14 in Week 14, but coach Dabo Swinney said the ACC's depth and strength was on display all season and warrants multiple bids -- regardless of who wins the league championship. Miami's losses are to 7-5 Georgia Tech, a team that went eight overtimes at Georgia in Week 14, and Syracuse, a 9-3 program that figures to be in the committee's top 25 this week.
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