Houston coach Tom Herman is a hot commodity in the coaching search at Texas, LSU and Baylor with the latest reports saying he could be the coach of the Tigers by Saturday.
"Don’t believe anything that you read," Herman told ESPN about the coaching rumors before Friday's game against Memphis, adding that the reports are "absolutely" false.
MORE: LSU denies Herman hiring rumors
"I’m not going to talk about any other job except the one I got right now and these kids," Herman said. "There’s nothing to handle except beating Memphis."
Houston has offered Herman a seven-figure raise in total compensation hoping to keep him with the No. 20 Cougars. He has gone 22-3 in two seasons and was the American Athletic Conference coach of the year last season.
The Cougars won the American last year, going 13-1 and capping the season with a dominant victory over Florida State in the Peach Bowl. Houston rewarded Herman last December with a new five-year contract worth $2.8 million annually.
His current contract also includes a buyout of $2.25 million if he leaves Houston before Feb. 28, 2019. Leaving prior to Feb. 28, 2017, would cost Herman, or his new employer $2.5 million.
Houston's board of regents chairman Tilman Fertitta does "not fear getting into a bidding war" with other schools to keep Herman.
"He's not going to leave because of money," Fertitta said earlier this week. "We're going to do whatever it takes to keep Tom."