DALLAS (AP) — SMU will launch a Division I men's lacrosse program that will begin play in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the spring of 2028, the school announced Thursday.

The Mustangs will be the sixth ACC men's lacrosse program, joining Duke, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Syracuse and Virginia, allowing the conference to reach the threshold required to receive an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament. All five current ACC programs have won at least one national championship since 2009, and all five qualified for the 2026 national tournament.

“This is a historic moment for SMU and for the sport of lacrosse,” SMU athletic director Damon Evans said. "We are proud to be the first Division I school to bring men’s lacrosse to Texas, a sport that has tremendous growth potential across our state. This is a bold investment that will bring another elite program to our campus, and we expect to compete and win immediately.”

SMU will be only the fourth Division I team west of the Mississippi River. The others are Denver, which plays in the Big East, and Air Force and Utah, both in the Atlantic Sun.

SMU said it had raised $15 million of its $25 million goal to support the program.

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