SMU Officially Adds NCAA Men's Lacrosse, Starting in Spring 2028

The university’s plan positions SMU as the first NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse team in Texas, creating a new varsity sport for the campus and a historic first for the state’s collegiate athletics. Coverage of the announcement appeared simultaneously across five outlets. The Business Journals highlighted SMU’s status as the first Division I team in Texas, while the Dallas News described the university as the first Division I institution in the state to add men’s lacrosse.

USA Today echoed the milestone, noting the program will be Texas’ inaugural Division I men’s lacrosse effort. SMU Athletics issued its own release confirming the launch, and Inside Lacrosse reported the official addition and the 2028 start date. The development fills a gap in Texas’ college sports landscape, where no university previously fielded a Division I men’s lacrosse squad.

By establishing the sport at the highest collegiate level, SMU joins a broader national trend of expanding lacrosse programs, though the coverage does not detail other regional initiatives. The move expands SMU’s athletic portfolio and introduces a new recruiting arena for the university. Future reporting will likely track the program’s implementation steps, including recruitment of players, hiring of coaching staff, and alignment with a conference for competition.