The LSU Tigers and SMU Mustangs have scheduled a home-and-home football series for the 2028 and 2029 seasons, both schools announced Monday.
In the first game of the series, LSU will host SMU at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2028. The series will conclude the following season when the Tigers travel to face the Mustangs in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2029.
According to the copy of the game contract obtained from Louisiana State University, the specific site of the game at SMU is not mentioned. SMU’s home stadium, Gerald J. Ford Stadium, has a seating capacity of 32,000. It’s possible that the game at SMU could be played at another site, namely AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
LSU and SMU have only met twice on the gridiron previously. The Mustangs claimed the victory in the first contest on Oct. 14, 1922 in Dallas, 51-0, and then the two schools played to a 14-14 tie 12 seasons later on Oct. 6, 1934 in Baton Rouge.
SMU is the first announced non-conference opponent for LSU in 2028.
LSU now has four non-conference games scheduled for the 2029 season. The Tigers are also scheduled to host the Arizona State Sun Devils on Sept. 8, the Rice Owls on Sept. 29, and the McNeese Cowboys on a date to be determined.
If the SEC moves to a nine-game conference schedule, which seems likely, the Tigers will need to trim one opponent from its 2029 slate.
SMU now has two non-conference opponents set in 2028. The Mustangs are also slated to host the Nevada Wolf Pack that season.
LSU is the first scheduled opponent for SMU in 2029. SMU was previously scheduled to play Vanderbilt in a three-game series in 2024, 2028, and 2029, but those games were canceled.
FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
I am beyond surprised that LSU even considered a home and home series.
What do you mean? LSU can´t do a a one off game because SMU is in a power conference now along with the fact that SMU is a quality opponent.
LSU just completed a home-and-away with UCLA. They would have had a series with Texas, but COVID prevented the second game (which would have been the home game for LSU) from being played.
They also have a series scheduled with Arizona State, Utah and Clemson…
It’s great to see new people like yourself are being introduced to this sport every day, though! Welcome!
SEC teams having a non conference road game (SMU plays at a microscopic stadium compared to the rest) is usually an automatic “No”. I still see SMU having some Go5 influence, but I guess in 2029 they’ll be a powerhouse by how they’re looking now.
I keep forgetting SMU is in the ACC now lol
Again, as you watch the sport more and more, you’ll learn that the SEC thing is a bit of a myth.
Just to pick three:
Alabama is just wrapped a home-and-away series with Texas prior to them joining the SEC. They are in the middle of a series with Wisconsin and will start one with Florida State this year.
On the horizon for the Tide are Ohio State, West Virginia, Georgia Tech, MInnesota, Boston College, Oklahoma State and Arizona, among others.
Florida, which is interesting because they have two out-of-conference rivals in their own state, still has away games scheduled at Colorado, Notre Dame, and Arizona State in the coming years.
Ole Miss just played at Wake Forest, and will have away games against Oregon State, Virginia Tech and Purdue in coming years.
SEC teams will play homa-and-away sets of games. You’ll understand that the more you watch the game.
If only there was some website someplace that listed all the schedules so you could just see for yourself… Maybe one day.
This is all about LSU looking to recruit the DFW area and 2025’s schedule proved they could not guarantee a conference game in Texas. By scheduling SMU this assures a game. Not exactly the same but LSU is also traveling to “Houston” to play the Cougars at NRG in 2027.
I don’t think the Vanderbilt series is happening. Vandy already cancelled the first game of the three game series last year. It’s not clear if that meant the entire series is cancelled or not but I would guess it is and this is essentially the replacement series.
Yeah, I corrected it. SMU-Vandy series was scrapped.
If the contract specifically says “Dallas, Texas”, then AT&T Stadium doesn’t qualify because it’s not in Dallas.
The Cotton Bowl is actually in Dallas, is undergoing significant renovations, and has much more college football history.
I am a Fan of Cotton Bowl excellent facility.
Contracts can be amended.
I think the LSU-SMU football game is gonna played in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in 2029.
@Shocked? Yes I know Ole Miss went to Wake Forest this year, but they decided to chicken out this year against them. I have known for a very long time that SEC teams usually go against non-con ACC teams. Pardon my part, but when I wrote that comment I still thought SMU was still in the AAC.
On the other hand, I expect a mass exodus of SEC teams playing non-con games at Go6 schools (not sure about new Pac-12 schools).
@Shocked?, speaking of which, I would not be surprised one bit if 2026’s Ole Miss at Charlotte is on the chopping block