SMU Adds Men's Lacrosse Program to Athletics
Southern Methodist University becomes the first Division I school in Texas to establish a men's lacrosse team.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Other Sports
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Southern Methodist University is launching a men's lacrosse program, marking the first varsity sport addition at the school since 2003. The program is set to compete starting in the spring of 2028.
Why it matters
The addition helps the Atlantic Coast Conference meet the six-team threshold required for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The initiative also responds to the significant growth of lacrosse across the state of Texas.
The university has secured $15 million in funding toward a $25 million goal by 2027 to support the team. Texas currently hosts more than 3,200 high school athletes across 160 lacrosse programs.
The players
Southern Methodist University
A private research university based in Dallas that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Atlantic Coast Conference
A collegiate athletic conference that requires six member teams in a sport to secure an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
Ryan McCabe
The official lead for building program operations and coordinating recruiting for the new lacrosse team.
The details
The program launch follows a two-month fundraising campaign and aligns with SMU's entry into the Atlantic Coast Conference. Ryan McCabe is currently overseeing the development of program operations and recruitment efforts.
Timeline
The university last added a varsity sport with the women's equestrian team in 2003.
The school aims to reach a $25 million fundraising total by April 1, 2027.
The men's lacrosse team is scheduled to begin competition in spring 2028.
Season Trajectory
SMU's entry into the sport is a strategic move to help the Atlantic Coast Conference reach the NCAA Tournament automatic bid requirements. This expansion elevates the conference's standing and mirrors a broader trend of universities adding niche sports to bolster league metrics.
The addition of the program provides a new pathway for the 3,200 high school lacrosse athletes currently playing in Texas to continue their careers in-state. This move also stabilizes the Atlantic Coast Conference's path to an automatic NCAA Tournament bid by increasing the total number of member teams.
The takeaway
The move demonstrates how universities are leveraging sport expansion to meet conference-wide qualification standards. High school athletes in the region now have a new Division I objective as the school builds toward its 2028 debut.
What happens next
The university plans to reach its $25 million fundraising goal by April 1, 2027, followed by the team's first competitive season in spring 2028.
Further reading
For more on collegiate athletics development, visit the Other Sports section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Dallas Morning News.
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