SMU lacrosse: Mustangs to launch Texas' first NCAA Division I men's program
SMU announced a new men's lacrosse program that starts play in spring 2028 and will become the sixth member of the ACC.
Why smu lacrosse is trending
SMU Athletics announced on Oct. 15 that it is launching a men's lacrosse program, the first NCAA Division I men's program in the state of Texas. That announcement is why the term is spiking in search right now.
The program does not exist yet in any competitive sense. SMU says it will officially begin play in the spring of 2028. There is no coach, no roster and no schedule attached to today's news, just the launch itself.
What happens next, according to the school, is a buildout phase. Ryan McCabe, SMU's Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance, has been named program lead and will oversee operations and recruiting as the Mustangs prepare for that 2028 debut.
The ACC angle
SMU will become the sixth ACC men's lacrosse program when it joins the sport in 2028. The other five current ACC programs have each won at least one national championship since 2009, and all five qualified for the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Hitting six teams matters beyond prestige. SMU's addition gets the ACC to the six-team threshold required for an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship, though that is subject to NCAA eligibility requirements and approval.
SMU Director of Athletics Damon Evans called it a historic moment for SMU and for the sport of lacrosse. SMU President Jay Hartzell said SMU is so proud to bring high-level lacrosse to the Hilltop.
The money behind it
SMU says it has raised $15 million in just two months toward a $25 million goal, with a deadline of April 1, 2027, to hit that number. The school credited a group of founding donors for making Wednesday's announcement possible, including Kamela and Kenneth Aboussie, Tony and Kali Creme, Gary T. and Sylvie P. Crum, and several other named families and foundations.
That fundraising pace is part of why SMU is framing this as a serious investment rather than a token addition. Evans said the move is a bold investment meant to let SMU compete and win immediately once the program starts play.
What it means for Texas lacrosse
Texas already has a sizable youth and high school lacrosse scene, with more than 3,200 high school athletes playing across nearly 160 varsity and junior varsity teams statewide, according to SMU. Until now, none of those players had an in-state NCAA Division I option.
SMU's program is pitched as a pipeline for those in-state recruits as well as players from around the country looking to compete at the highest level. For now, there is nothing to watch on the field. The first actual games are still more than a year out, set for spring 2028.
Facts per SMU Athletics. Opinion is the taproom's.