College Football Playoff Rankings Spark Heated Exchange Between Iowa State and SMU Athletic Directors
It’s not every day you see college athletic directors throwing shade at each other on social media, but that’s exactly what happened late Tuesday night. The College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings have sparked a fiery back-and-forth between Iowa State’s Jamie Pollard and SMU’s Rick Hart, and let’s just say, things got personal. This isn’t your typical polite disagreement—it’s a full-blown turf war, complete with a “stay off my lawn” mic drop moment.
Here’s the situation: SMU, boasting an impressive 11-1 record and riding a nine-game winning streak, landed at No. 8 in the latest CFP rankings. Meanwhile, Iowa State, sitting at 16th, is gearing up for the Big 12 title game. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as the Big 12 appears poised to receive just one bid in the 12-team playoff field set to be revealed on Sunday. And Pollard? Well, he’s not exactly thrilled about SMU’s ranking.
The Social Media Showdown
Pollard took to X (formerly Twitter) to air his grievances, calling out SMU’s schedule and questioning their ranking. He pointed out that SMU hasn’t faced some of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s (ACC) top teams, including Clemson, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, or Miami. Oh, and let’s not forget SMU’s home loss to BYU, a fellow Big 12 team. Pollard didn’t hold back, quipping, “Looks like your lawn may be artificial.”
But Hart wasn’t about to let that slide. In a sharp yet respectful response, he clapped back with, “Respect you, but bad take.” Hart then laid out his case, comparing nonconference schedules and highlighting SMU’s dominance during their nine-game winning streak. According to Hart, the Mustangs have trailed for a grand total of just six minutes over those nine games. He ended his post with a playful jab: “I could go on … Stay off my lawn!”
Jamie, respect you but bad take. ISU had No. D, Iowa, Ark. St. non-con. SMU had Nev., HCU, TCU, BYU. (And scrambled due to Vandy dropping us.) SMU 1 of 2 to win all conf. games, 1 of 3 with 9 P4 wins, trailed a TOTAL of 6+ mins. last 9 games. I could go on… Stay off my lawn! 😂 https://t.co/gsGSAbL9KR
— Rick Hart (@AD_RickHart) December 4, 2024
Breaking Down the Debate
So, who has the better argument? Let’s look at the facts:
- SMU’s Record: The Mustangs are 11-1 and have won nine straight games heading into the ACC title game.
- Iowa State’s Position: The Cyclones are ranked 16th and are playing for the Big 12 title, with the conference likely to secure just one playoff spot.
- Nonconference Schedules: SMU’s included Nevada, Houston Christian, TCU, and BYU, while Iowa State faced Northern Iowa, Iowa, and Arkansas State.
- SMU’s Dominance: The Mustangs have trailed for only about six minutes in their last nine games.
Pollard’s frustration seems to stem from the perception that SMU’s path to the CFP has been less challenging, especially given their ACC schedule. On the other hand, Hart’s defense of SMU highlights their consistency and dominance, even if their schedule hasn’t included some of the ACC’s top-tier teams.
What’s at Stake?
For Iowa State, it’s simple: win the Big 12 title or miss out on the playoff. The Cyclones are in a “win-or-else” scenario, with no room for error. SMU’s situation is a bit more complicated. If the Mustangs lose to No. 17 Clemson in the ACC title game, the CFP selection committee will face a tough decision. How much should they penalize a team that made it to a conference championship game, especially when other contenders didn’t?
One potential scenario could see SMU competing for the final playoff spot against Alabama, which is currently ranked 11th. The Crimson Tide are the last team in this week’s projected bracket, and a loss by SMU could open the door for Alabama to sneak in.
Looking Ahead
While the social media spat has provided plenty of entertainment, the real answers will come on the field this Saturday. Even Pollard acknowledged this, offering a bit of an olive branch in his initial post: “Rick, beat Clemson Saturday and I will respect your ranking.”
For now, though, the debate rages on, and fans of both programs are sure to be glued to their screens this weekend. Will SMU prove they belong in the top eight, or will Iowa State make their case with a Big 12 title? One thing’s for sure: the CFP committee has some tough decisions ahead, and the drama is far from over.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Originally Written by: Heather Dinich
