SMU Football Moving Home Games to AT&T Stadium for Bigger Wins

Mustangs seek to boost branding and revenue potential with iconic venue switch

Apr. 11, 2026 at 7:34am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting an abstract college football game between SMU and Oklahoma, with the players' movements and the stadium's architecture broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color, with the iconic AT&T Stadium silhouette visible in the background.The strategic move to play home games at the expansive AT&T Stadium provides SMU football with an opportunity to recapture past glory and build a bright future.Baton Rouge Today

SMU is making a strategic move to shift its future home games against Oklahoma and LSU to the iconic AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. This decision marks a significant shift for the Mustangs, as they look to enhance their branding and revenue potential by playing in a larger venue with an 80,000-seat capacity, compared to their current home at the 32,000-seat Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

Why it matters

The move to AT&T Stadium is reminiscent of SMU's successful run from 1979 to 1986, when they played all their home games at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys' previous home. During that era, the Mustangs enjoyed seven winning seasons, including four consecutive years with double-digit victories, and ranked as high as No. 2 in the final AP Poll in 1982. This strategic shift not only enhances SMU's brand and revenue but also provides an opportunity for the team to reclaim its glory days, building on the success of the past and looking towards a bright future.

The details

The SMU-Oklahoma game on September 11, 2027, will be a pivotal moment, completing a home-and-home series with the Sooners. The first game of SMU's series with LSU in 2028 will be a historic encounter in Baton Rouge, with the return match in 2029 at AT&T Stadium, marking the first meeting between the two teams since 1934. This move is expected to provide the Mustangs with larger crowds and increased exposure, as they look to build on their recent success, including a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024 and consecutive 10-3 seasons in 2023 and 2024.

  • The SMU-Oklahoma game will take place on September 11, 2027.
  • The first game of SMU's series with LSU will be in 2028 in Baton Rouge.
  • The return match against LSU will be held at AT&T Stadium in 2029.

The players

Rhett Lashlee

The current head coach of the SMU Mustangs football team.

Eric Dickerson

A legendary running back who was part of the Pony Express duo that led SMU to success in the early 1980s.

Craig James

The other half of the Pony Express duo that helped SMU achieve success in the early 1980s.

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What they’re saying

“This strategic shift not only enhances SMU's brand and revenue but also provides an opportunity for the team to reclaim its glory days, building on the success of the past and looking towards a bright future.”

— Rhett Lashlee, Head Coach, SMU Mustangs

What’s next

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The takeaway

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