Sources: SMU, Rhett Lashlee nearing lucrative deal through ’32
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Adam RittenbergOct 31, 2025, 09:17 PM ET
- College football reporter; joined ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.
SMU and coach Rhett Lashlee are finalizing a new seven-year contract through the 2032 season, sources confirmed to ESPN.
The agreement, which will extend Lashlee’s current deal by two seasons, is expected to place him among the 10 highest-paid coaches in college football, according to sources.
The deal will likely ensure Lashlee returns to SMU in 2026. He had been mentioned as a potential candidate for the coach opening at Arkansas, his alma mater, as well as other vacancies in the South and Southeast. In November 2024, he agreed to an extension with SMU through 2030.
Lashlee guided SMU to the College Football Playoff last season in the team’s first year as an ACC member. He’s 34-15 at the school with an American Conference title in 2023 and an ACC runner-up finish last season.
Lashlee, 42, had been an offensive coordinator at Miami, SMU, UConn, Auburn and Samford, before replacing Sonny Dykes as the Mustangs’ head coach. SMU made significant financial commitments to enter the ACC and remain a CFP contender.
SMU, in its homecoming game, will host the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes on Saturday.
Yahoo first reported the expected agreement between SMU and Lashlee.
