SMU Mustangs College Football Pregame Quote, 08/26/2025

Q: What are your thoughts heading into Week 1 against East Texas A&M?

Rhett Lashlee: We’ve had 10 good weeks here, and we’re excited. Clint Dozell’s team has our respect. He played quarterback there, was a great arena player, coached at Parish High School for Scott Nady, who thinks the world of him. Watching their film, they play hard, they play the right way, and they’re fundamentally sound. With 42 of our 85 scholarship players being new, we need to play someone else to see where we stand. We’ve had a good fall camp. We’re relatively healthy—just a few guys banged up, nothing too serious. Saturday night can’t get here fast enough.

Q: How important is this game as a tune-up, especially with Baylor and TCU ahead?

Rhett Lashlee: Every game matters in the playoff era. Last year, the Nevada game wasn’t ideal, but winning it helped us long-term. We want to get to 1–0 and build momentum. Our depth chart still has a lot unsettled, especially in the two- and three-deep. On offense, the starters won’t surprise anyone, but behind them it’s freshmen and newcomers. Same on defense—lots of new faces, even in starting roles. Game situations reveal things you can’t simulate. We’ll learn a lot Saturday.

Q: Is defense the bigger question mark compared to offense?

Rhett Lashlee: You’d think so. We’ve got more returning guys on offense—Jordan Hudson, Romello Brinson, Matt Hennar, RJ Maryland, Logan, PJ, and of course Kevin at quarterback. That gives us confidence in our identity. On defense, we’ve got two returning starters and maybe four or five co-starters. But there are tons of new faces. We need to see how we stop the run, swarm to the ball, and respond to adversity.

Q: What’s different about Kevin Jennings this year?

Rhett Lashlee: We all expect Kevin to take the next step. He’s not perfect—no one is—but his offseason has been fantastic. He’s grown as a leader, studied the game, and improved physically. He’s had the whole offseason knowing he’s the guy, and that changes things. It’s not pressure—it’s just different. He started 11 games last year, so this is like his second season. There’s still growth ahead, but I’ve got ultimate confidence in Kevin. Our team does too. I just want him to keep being Kev—that’s plenty good enough.

Q: What challenges come with preparing for a team with limited Week 1 film?

Rhett Lashlee: You expect some continuity from last year’s staff, but they’ve had an offseason to tweak things. Game ones are tricky—you usually don’t confirm what’s happening until midway through the second quarter. Clint was a quarterback, so offensively they like to push the ball vertically. Defensively, they base out of a four-man front but mix in odd and bare looks. They contest easy throws, get safeties involved in run fits, and force you to make low-percentage plays. They play hard, they’re physical, and they run to the football. That’s what stands out on film.

Q: Is the youth on the two-deep a reflection of SMU’s recruiting progress?

Rhett Lashlee: Absolutely. We still brought in transfers—mostly D-line and O-line—but at skill positions, we’ve leaned into high school talent. Being in the ACC and having success has helped us attract higher-caliber recruits. These guys chose SMU over bigger programs, and we expect them to contribute early. There’s no pressure—they’re freshmen, and we need patience. But they’ll have to grow up fast in these four non-conference games.

Q: Beyond the scoreboard, what defines success in Week 1?

Rhett Lashlee: We hope to minimize the usual sloppiness—penalties, turnovers, rhythm issues. I want our guys to play fast. On offense, play fast. On defense, swarm to the football. That’s what we’ve done the last two years. We want to be clean in the kicking game. But most of all, play hard. If mistakes happen, make them going full speed. Don’t hesitate, don’t overthink.

Q: What did you learn from last year’s playoff selection drama?

Rhett Lashlee: I’m thankful the committee let us in—they had a hard job. It’s a human system, and there are natural biases. Clemson, for example, has earned the benefit of the doubt. We haven’t yet—but we’re growing. It’s tough when league perception affects selection. Last year, our league had a winning record against the Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC. Yet the narrative was we didn’t play a tough enough non-conference schedule. We beat ranked Louisville on the road and undefeated Pitt at home—but those didn’t count late in the year. Ranked wins should count like they do in college basketball—when you beat them, not just if they’re ranked at season’s end. That’s a human decision. So when it came down to us vs. Alabama, I was thankful they went by merit. Moving forward, we probably won’t get the benefit of the doubt. We need to be clearly in. Until we build a brand that earns that benefit, we have to leave no room for debate. That’s our goal.

Q: Does being ranked No. 16 to start the season show brand growth?

Rhett Lashlee: It does. Preseason rankings are mostly about brand, and I think we’ve earned the right to be thought of more favorably than in the past. Starting at 16 gives us a better chance than starting unranked. It shouldn’t matter, but it does. If we win and stay ranked, we climb faster. It doesn’t guarantee wins, but it reflects momentum. The challenge now is: can we sustain it?

Q: How important is it to reconnect with former players like Craig James and Dickerson?

Rhett Lashlee: It’s vital. When we came back three years ago, reconnecting with former greats was a priority. Whether it’s Eric Craig, Jerry Ball, Kelvin Beachum, Cole Beasley, Emmanuel Sanders, Courtland Sutton, or James Proche—this is their school. We had over 300 former players at our recent barbecue. My first year, we had 50. That pride is returning, and it’s huge for sustaining success. We’re only here because they were here first.

Q: How do you keep your team focused and hungry with preseason hype?

Rhett Lashlee: This is what we asked for—players on watch lists, preseason rankings, high expectations. It means our program is growing. How do we handle it? We’re about to find out. Success is hard. Winning 11 games back-to-back is hard. Sustaining success is harder. We want to be ranked every year—preseason and postseason. We want to compete for the ACC and the CFP. This year will show how far we’ve come and how far we still need to go.

Q: Why is playing Texas schools in non-conference important to you?

Rhett Lashlee: Schedules are set years in advance, so I don’t take full credit. But playing Texas schools matters. We’ve played TCU for years. Baylor was scheduled long ago. We’ve played Lamar, Houston Christian, and now East Texas A&M. It helps in-state programs and keeps regional pride alive. Texas high school football is the best. College coaches here are great. We want to win national championships, and playing in-state helps. But we’re also shifting toward national brands. We’re the team in Dallas, and we want to be in those marquee Week 1 games. Still, I expect we’ll pl/ay at least one Texas school most years—it prepares us for what’s coming.