Sports

CFP Commissioner Gives SMU Incentive To Forfeit ACC Championship

#SMU Mustangs
by Last Updated
Head coach Rhett Lashlee leads the SMU football team onto the field.

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The latest edition of College Football Playoff rankings were unveiled on Tuesday night ahead of the upcoming conference championship weekend. As it has following each of these releases, controversy swirled.

One particular storyline revolved around Alabama’s inclusion in the 12-team field despite its 9-3 overall record. Commissioner Warde Manual’s explanation of their standing gave SMU incentive to forfeit its next matchup.

The Crimson Tide landed in the No. 11 spot after beating rival Auburn in their regular season finale. They were able to hop Miami, who came in at No. 12, after the Hurricanes lost to Syracuse. Miami finished the year 10-2, a game better than the Tide. Alabama holds an edge in strength of schedule, but also boasts losses to a pair of 6-6 squads.

In the end, the committee valued competition over win-loss record. Some agreed with the decision, others believe brand gave Alabama the nod.

Deserving or not, the Tide are in. And it could stay that way after hearing Warde Manuel’s most recent comments. The College Football Playoff commissioner was asked about the possibility of movement for teams who will not play in conference title games. Most notably, Alabama, Miami, Ole Miss, and South Carolina – each of whom were considered for the final playoff spot.

Manuel says that no movement is possible within that bunch. There are no more “data points” to reference that would allow the Hurricanes, Rebels, or Gamecocks to jump the Crimson Tide. Essentially, if you don’t play a game, you cannot move.

That said, there is a way for Alabama to be left out – championship week upsets. Specifically, SMU losing to Clemson in the ACC title game.

Should that happen, Clemson would get in despite being currently ranked behind two ACC competitors. SMU’s fate would then hang in the balance. The CFP committee would have to decide how their resume stacks up to Alabama’s. Precedent with Miami gives reason to believe that another two-loss ACC team would fall behind the three-loss Tide.

Warde Manuel confirmed that on Tuesday night. “Potentially, yes,” he said when asked about the Mustangs dropping behind Alabama with a loss in the conference championship. Despite being 11-1 with just a three-point loss to a ranked BYU team, SMU’s season might hinge on its next game!

With Manuel definitively stating that no movement will be seen for teams who don’t play in their conference titles, while also hinting at the possibility that a loss can boot SMU from the playoff field, the Mustangs have incentive to forfeit their matchup with Clemson.

Based on Manuel’s explanation, that would allow Clemson to sneak in and steal the ACC bid while keeping SMU ranked ahead of Alabama due to its current standing. The Crimson Tide would be the team kicked to the curb, not the Mustangs!

Of course, that would rely on the committee keeping consistency, which has yet to be seen across the existence of the College Football Playoff. SMU might not want to test its luck against the Alabama brand given the committee’s recent history of giving the Crimson Tide the benefit of the doubt.

Rhett Lashlee responded to speculation of SMU’s forfeiture.

He has no plans to bail on this year’s ACC Championship, though he did suggest that future teams likely would if the committee penalizes the Mustangs for a loss.