Smart Business or Bad Tradition? | LSU-SMU Move To Jerry World Explained

LSU vs. SMU Game Relocation

• 🏟️ The 2029 LSU vs. SMU season opener will be played at AT&T Stadium (Jerry World) in Arlington, Texas, instead of on SMU's campus.
• 🏈 This change means SMU will still play at Tiger Stadium in 2028, but their return home game in 2029 shifts to a larger venue.

Financial Incentives for Venue Change

• 💰 The primary reason for the move is financial gain for SMU, allowing them to sell more than double the tickets.
• 🎟️ Gerald Ford Stadium, SMU's home, seats 32,000, while Jerry World holds over 80,000, significantly increasing potential revenue.
• 💸 This is an SMU home game moved to a larger stadium, similar to Georgia Tech moving a home game to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for increased capacity and ticket sales.

LSU's Neutral Site Game Strategy

• 📈 LSU has a history of playing marquee neutral-site openers for financial benefits, receiving guaranteed payouts without the operational costs of hosting.
• ✅ These games are considered a "financial win" because they eliminate the expenses associated with hosting a home game and the financial loss of a return trip payout.

SEC Scheduling Challenges

• 🏈 The SEC's mandate for nine conference games plus a Power Four non-conference opponent results in 10 Power Four games per season for its teams.
• ⚠️ This policy potentially puts the SEC at a disadvantage compared to conferences like the Big Ten, which also plays nine league games but does not require a Power Four non-conference opponent.

Future LSU Non-Conference Schedule

• 🗓️ Upcoming non-conference matchups include Clemson in 2026, a neutral-site game against Houston in 2027, and the home-and-home series with SMU in 2028 and 2029.
• 🔄 The planned Arizona State games for 2030 and 2031 are expected to be cancelled, meaning LSU will need to schedule a new non-conference opener for 2030.