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SMU’s Rhett Lashlee Addresses Speculation Regarding New Arkansas Coaching Opening

Lashlee is one of the early names linked to the open job at Arkansas.

Mike McDaniel

SMU Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee is one of the early names linked to the Arkansas opening.
SMU Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee is one of the early names linked to the Arkansas opening. / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Arkansas fired head coach Sam Pittman on Sunday, one day removed from a 56-13 home loss to No. 22 Notre Dame that was the school's worst home loss in five years.

As the Razorbacks commence their coaching search for a job that will pay the head coach well but will perhaps need more investment in the roster in the revenue sharing era, SMU's Rhett Lashlee has been rumored as one of the early candidates for the job.

Lashlee is a Springdale, Ark. native and a Razorbacks alum, with the school undoubtedly holding a special place in his heart.

Lashlee was asked about the speculation regarding the Arkansas job in his weekly press conference on Tuesday, and gave a respectable answer.

"I don't stand anywhere on speculation and hypotheticals," Lashlee said. "I'm happy. I've got a great job. When your name gets linked to jobs, it means your team has done well, the program has done well, so it's a compliment to what our staff and administration and players have built over the last three-plus years. A lot of times there's obvious connections, I mean if it's your alma mater, it's easy to link names. But I haven't given it any thought because there hasn't been anything to give thought to. It's a great and fair question. But I'm really excited about what we're building here."

Lashlee is 31-14 through his first 45 games at SMU. The program has won 11 games in back-to-back seasons, and the Mustangs played in the ACC championship and College Football Playoff a season ago.

SMU is 2-2 through four games and hosts visiting Syracuse on Saturday in Dallas.

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Mike McDaniel
MIKE MCDANIEL

Mike McDaniel is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where he has worked since January 2022. His work has been featured at InsideTheACC.com, SB Nation, FanSided and more. McDaniel hosts the Hokie Hangover Podcast, covering Virginia Tech athletics, as well as Basketball Conference: The ACC Football Podcast. Outside of work, he is a husband and father, and an avid golfer.

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