SMU takes Rhett Lashlee off market with contract extension

Field Level Media|published: Sat 1st November, 11:57 2025

NCAA Football: Baylor at Southern Methodist

Sep 6, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; SMU Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee looks on during the game between the SMU Mustangs and the Baylor Bears at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

SMU announced a contract extension for football coach Rhett Lashlee on Saturday, hours before the Mustangs were set to host No. 10 Miami in Dallas.

No contract details were announced, but The Athletic reported the deal is a two-year extension that will make him one of the 10 highest-paid coaches in college football.

The contract now runs through 2032.

"SMU is a special place to our family. We are so excited for the opportunity to continue the process of building our program on the national stage," Lashlee said in a statement.

The extension comes at a time when Lashlee, 42, could have been a candidate at some higher-profile programs, including Florida, Penn State and LSU. There is also a coaching vacancy at Arkansas, his alma mater.

Lashlee is in his fourth season at the helm at SMU and has a 34-15 record, including 5-3 (3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) in 2025.

He led the Mustangs to an 11-3 record and their first College Football Playoff last season, where they lost 38-10 to Penn State.

--Field Level Media