Shut Out of the First CFP Top 25: SMU Is Unranked, Wake Forest Is 16th, and November Is Rhett Lashlee's Month

By Brooke Calloway, RF Sports Radio SMU voice

Pony Up, Dallas. The College Football Playoff committee released its first Top 25 on Tuesday night, and SMU was not on it. That stings, but it also clears things up. The Mustangs' path now runs through the ACC, one Friday night at a time.

The facts

Miami (8-0) is No. 1 in the first CFP rankings, followed by Georgia, Utah and Indiana, per the College Football Playoff. It is the first time Miami has been No. 1 in the CFP rankings and the first ACC team at the top since Clemson in 2017. Under this season's format, the top four teams in the rankings earn the top four seeds and first-round byes, per NCAA.com.

Wake Forest (7-1) is the only other ACC team in the Top 25, at No. 16. Notre Dame is No. 11. SMU (6-2, 4-2 ACC) is unranked, though it is 24th in the coaches poll and receiving votes in the AP poll, per SMU Athletics. Wake Forest visits Dallas on Nov. 14, which means the Mustangs still get a crack at a ranked team. The next CFP rankings come out Tuesday, Nov. 10, around 9 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. CT, on ESPN, per the CFP.

First comes Virginia Tech (6-2, 3-2) on Friday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN at Ford Stadium, per SMU Athletics. Here is the number SMU fans should hold onto: Rhett Lashlee is 14-2 in November since 2022. That .875 mark is the best in program history for the month, and SMU's 14 November wins in that span are tied for third in FBS behind Georgia and Ohio State, per SMU Athletics.

Kevin Jennings threw for 351 yards and two touchdowns in the 30-27 loss at Syracuse and passed 10,000 career passing yards, per SMU Athletics. He is 25-9 as a starter. The SMU defense has held opponents to 27% on third down, third in FBS, and the Mustangs are 35-5 under Lashlee when they score 30 or more.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: I am not mad at the committee. A two-loss team without a signature win this year has no complaint about being left out on Nov. 3. The good news is that being unranked does not change the math. Win the ACC and you are in. Beat Wake at home and you will be ranked.

That makes Friday a must-win. Lose to Virginia Tech, and three league losses probably ends the ACC title dream. Win, and Lashlee's November record says this team knows how to close.

My key is third down. If SMU's defense keeps getting off the field the way it has all year, Jennings and this offense will find 30 points. And when SMU scores 30 under Lashlee, it almost always wins.

What to watch next

Watch Friday's injury news and the turnover battle against the Hokies. For our preview of the Virginia Tech game, read our Nov. 3 Virginia Tech preview, and follow the Mustangs on our SMU Football page.

Radio question: should SMU fans care that the Mustangs were left out of the first CFP rankings, or is winning the ACC the only number that matters?

Sources: College Football Playoff - CFP selection committee releases first rankings of 2026; NCAA.com - Miami, Georgia lead the first College Football Playoff rankings of 2026; SMU Athletics - SMU set for Friday night showdown with Virginia Tech; AP News - Miami gets top spot in first CFP rankings.