Now in year five at SMU, Lashlee is paid $2.47 million and has repeatedly stressed his north star: a national championship is attainable in his tenure. He described the current and future playoff formats as increasing access for non-traditional programs to compete for a title.
SMU’s recent CFP history under Lashlee adds context to his optimism. The Mustangs earned a 2024 CFP bid as the No. 11 seed (finishing 11-3) but were eliminated in the first round. In 2025, SMU did not make the bracket, yet the program remains positioned as a challenger with continued momentum.
Lashlee has underscored parity in college football by pointing to a recent national championship storyline in which Indiana beat Miami by six points, and noting SMU’s own ability to beat Miami by the same margin last season. He framed these results as evidence that a non-traditional program can contend for the title in the near term.
Beyond that, Lashlee has emphasized the talent on SMU’s roster and the trajectory built over four seasons, including back-to-back 11-3 campaigns and a conference title in 2023. The Mustangs reached the ACC title game in 2024 and earned SMU’s first CFP berth after joining the conference.
Looking ahead to 2026, Lashlee is eyeing a roster led by QB Kevin Jennings and defenders Isaiah Nwokobia and Ahmaad Moses, while noting that the 12-team playoff structure—along with conference champions guaranteed bids—bodes well for SMU’s championship quest. His loyalty to SMU has been highlighted by a seven-year extension through 2032, despite interest from SEC programs in previous years.
The program is also investing to sustain the push: after a 9-4 record in 2025, Lashlee and SMU aim to translate their recent success into a title-level run in 2026, leveraging the improved access of the current CFP format and the continued development of their roster.
