© Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
SMU football coach Rhett Lashlee ruffled some feathers in the SEC earlier this offseason with his commentary on scheduling. He doesn’t believe the Southeastern Conference is head and shoulders above other leagues, including the ACC.
The remarks led to an immediate response from media personality Paul Finebaum. He suggested that Lashlee was actually positioning himself to be the next Arkansas football coach behind the scenes.
Lashlee is from Springdale, Arkansas. He was a member of the Razorbacks‘ football team from 2002-2004 before moving into coaching.
He has been on the short list of potential replacement candidates should Sam Pittman be fired. Finebaum suggested that he’s been lobbying for the job while at SMU.
Does Rhett Lashlee want the Arkansas job?
Paul Finebaum believes so. He said the following on his show earlier this week:
“Rhett Lashlee [is] working every angle that he can to undermine Sam Pittman at Arkansas… An Arkansas guy who made his name in Northwest Arkansas. He’s making fun of the SEC for only having a handful of schools winning championships.”
“It’s such an idiotic comment, especially for a guy who is begging and desperate and undermining the current staff at Arkansas so he can be the next coach.”
-Paul Finebaum
What did Lashlee say?
The SMU coach chimed in on a strength of schedule narrative that’s been pushed over the last few months. The SEC refuses to move to a nine-game conference slate due to its supposed superiority.
Lashlee rejected that line of thinking while speaking at ACC media days.
“The same six schools have won the SEC since 1964. Not a single one is different from 1964. That’s top-heavy to me. That’s not depth.”
-Rhett Lashlee
Like all leagues, at least in Lashlee’s eyes, the SEC has a few top teams. The rest of the conference consists of members not unlike the majority of other college football programs.
His team was heavily involved in the debate last season. SMU made the College Football Playoff after an 11-1 regular season. Despite falling to Clemson in the ACC title game, they were picked over the likes of Alabama, Ole Miss, and South Carolina by the selection committee.
The Mustangs beat two ranked foes in 2024. Their two losses prior to the CFP came by a combined six points. Still, some believed they were undeserving of a postseason bid.
Strength of schedule was at the root of that conversation.
Regular season SOS according to Team Rankings:
2. Alabama
6. South Carolina
8. Ole Miss
41. SMU
Rhett Lashlee later walked back his SEC shade.
The coach appeared on Paul Finebaum’s show after making his initial comments. He backtracked a bit while speaking to the college football host.
Rhett Lashlee contrasts the shot he took at the SEC vs the shot taken by Curt Cignetti:
“I just brought up a historical fact…I didn’t throw shade at SEC scheduling when I didn’t play a Power 4 team on my schedule, myself.” pic.twitter.com/dG0CjWFvcN
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) July 28, 2025
Finebaum would have listeners believe his reversal on the subject stems from his desire to coach the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Is there any truth to Paul Finebaum’s insinuation?
Arkansas insider John Nabors broke the situation down on his Inside Arkansas podcast. He and his co-hosts don’t believe that the comments hold much weight.
“This is very fascinating,” said Curtis Wilkerson. “We all understand the connections. Any time there’s any sort of hot season rumblings about Sam Pittman, the next question is, ‘Who would replace him?’
“Rhett Lashlee’s been on that short list for a hot minute. Now, you’re hearing Paul Finebaum say… that Rhett Lashlee, himself, is doing some back channeling and angling to get the job… It kind of blew my mind.”
His partner, Andrew Ellis, then chimed in with his thoughts.
“There are a lot of things that Paul Finebaum wants us to believe with these statements,” he said. “He wants us to believe that Rhett Lashlee made his name in Fayetteville, which is an objectively untrue statement. Did not happen…
“He also wants you to believe that Rhett Lashlee has been pining for the Arkansas job and has not gotten it, almost implying that Rhett Lashlee could not obtain the Arkansas job… He also mentioned the death penalty stuff… What does that have to do with Rhett Lashlee?
“I’m having a very hard time taking a lot of what he said here seriously.”
The Razorbacks did not fire Sam Pittman after a 7-6 campaign in 2024. That, coming off the heels of a 4-8 output in ’23.
A massive buyout was said to have played a part in that decision.
Did Lashlee lobby for the job after his College Football Playoff appearance? At this point, it’s just noise. He remains at SMU as college football moves into the 2025 season.
Should things change in the near future, though, this discussion would certainly return to the headlines.