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Lashlee named ACC Coach of the Year
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Dec 5, 2024, 5:06 PM
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – After leading No. 8 SMU to a perfect conference regular-season record and a spot in the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Football Championship game, Rhett Lashlee has been named the ACC Coach of the Year for the 2024 season.
Lashlee is the first coach to win the award for SMU, which is in its first year as a member of the ACC.
Heading into the 20th ACC Football Championship Game on Saturday, December 7, versus No. 17 Clemson, the No. 8 nationally ranked Mustangs are 11-1 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 championship weekend as one of only two Power 4 teams to go undefeated in conference play this season and one of only six Power 4 teams, plus Notre Dame, with one loss or fewer this year.
The Mustangs are on a nine-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the ACC and the fourth-longest active streak in the country. The nine-game winning streak is also tied for the fifth-longest in program history.
Behind signal caller Kevin Jennings, the Mustangs’ offense ranks first in the ACC in passing yards per completion (13.95), second in scoring offense (39.2 ppg) and passing efficiency (159.84), third in third-down conversion percentage (46.1), fourth in completion percentage (65.2), and fifth in first downs made (269) and total offense (441.8 ypg).
SMU’s defense leads the conference and ranks in the top 20 nationally in rushing defense (95.8 ypg), defensive touchdowns (4), third-down conversion percentage defense (31.4) and scoring defense (19.8 ppg). The Mustangs also rank second in the ACC in fourth-down conversion percentage defense (43.6) and red zone defense (74.4 percent), third in fewest first downs allowed (222), interceptions (15), and tackles-for-loss per game (7.3) and fourth in sacks per game (3.08). The defense also ranks second in the ACC and 28th nationally in total defense, allowing 326.1 yards per game this season.
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 nine weeks, including moving up to as high as No. 8 in the most recent poll. The Mustangs have also been ranked in all five of the College Football Playoff Rankings this season, coming in at No. 8 in this week’s rankings.
In three seasons under Lashlee, the Mustangs are 29-10 overall and 21-3 in conference play. The Mustangs are 19-1 over their last 20 regular-season games, 20-2 in their last 22 games and 15-1 over the last 15 home games under Lashlee.
The breakdown of the voting for the 2024 ACC Football Coach of the Year:
2024 ACC Coach of the Year
Rhett Lashlee – SMU (64)
Manny Diaz – Duke (3)
Brent Key – Georgia Tech (2)
Fran Brown – Syracuse (1)
Mario Cristobal – Miami (1)
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