Two future home games for SMU after heading down I-30W. On Thursday, the Mustangs announced matchups against LSU (2027) and Oklahoma (2029) will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington instead of Ford Field. This will be the first time SMU plays at the home of the Dallas Cowboys since the 1980s. Massive news for the program, as over 80,000 people could be in attendance.

Some pushback on the decision has taken place online, with fans wanting the games to take place in Dallas. But head coach Rhett Lashlee came to SMU’s defense, explaining the thought process. Lashlee says playing at AT&T will help the Mustangs move forward on the national stage.

“I’m always gonna want to play our games at home at Ford, without question,” Lashlee said via the Dallas Morning News. “But there’s certain strategic things we have to do to continue to advance our program. There’s two-four big neutral site games a year, and not just anybody can get in on those. You see the progress of our program to be considered for those kinds of games.”

Both contests against LSU and Oklahoma are a part of home-home series. The one against OU is the back-end after SMU visited Norman during the 2023 season. But Lane Kiffin will lead LSU to AT&T Stadium in 2027 before welcoming SMU back to Baton Rouge the following year.

On3’s Brett McMurphy was the first to report the news. However, Billy Embody of On3 | Rivals’ On The Pony Express added more in his own story. Embody says both LSU and Oklahoma were looking to buy their way out of the game, something popping up throughout college football. Moving the games to Jerry World helped keep everything in place.

“Moreover, LSU and Oklahoma both were exploring the buyout possibilities for their matchups against SMU, sources told On The Pony Express,” Embody said in his report, which you can read here. “They’re expected to be marquee, primetime matchups.”

Either way, Lashlee appears happy with the decision when thinking bigger picture. For now, his focus is on having SMU prepared for the 2026 season, its third inside the ACC. An appearance in Charlotte came in Year 1, eventually earning a spot in the College Football Playoff. Getting back there is certainly a goal in the near future.

SMU will begin its year with a conference showdown, facing Florida State in Tallahassee. It’s one where a ton of national attention will be on the Mustangs, scheduled for Labor Day.