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The nation’s longest conference streak ended with mistakes in all three phases, and a head coach who owned them all.
“I did a really poor job for them today,” Rhett Lashlee said after SMU’s 13-12 loss to Wake Forest. “I hate it for them because I had to be better for them, and I wasn’t.”
SMU (6-2, 3-1 ACC) played well enough to win everywhere except the places that mattered most. The Mustangs’ defense was relentless, forcing five turnovers and keeping Wake Forest out of the endzone the entire second half. But the offense never found its footing with three giveaways, including two critical fumbles that turned a winnable game into a 13-12 heartbreaker.
“We played incredible on defense,” Lashlee said. “It’s hard to lose a game when you play that well on defense. We just didn’t play well at all on offense, really, really poor.”
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Special teams added to the collapse. A blocked extra point, a missed field goal, and a pair of shanked punts swung field position and, ultimately, the outcome. “We didn’t deserve to win as a team,” Lashlee said. “We did the things that get you beat, particularly on special teams and on offense.”
Even with the streak gone, Lashlee kept his focus forward. Injuries piled up as four offensive linemen left the game, quarterback Kevin Jennings re-aggravated a leg issue, and star back Camar Wheaton was already out.
For Lashless, there are no excuses. “If we win, great. If we don’t, it’s my fault,” Lashlee said. “That’s not coach-speak, that’s real. I’m the head coach, and I’ve got to find ways for us to win.”
The loss drops SMU to 3-1 in conference play with Louisville and Boston College waiting before the bye week. Lashlee knows the challenge ahead isn’t just physical, it’s emotional.
“Our locker room’s hurt,” he said. “We’ve got two tough ones before we get a breather, and we really need a full Ford Stadium on Saturday. There’s still a lot to play for.”
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