Aug 30, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) runs with the ball during the game between the Southern Methodist Mustangs and the East Texas A&M Lions at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

After starting the 2025 season with back-to-back home games, included a double overtime upset by Baylor last week, SMU football is begins Week 3 on the front half of a two-game road stand.

The Mustangs' time away from Dallas, however, begins with an interesting trip for a program that now competes in a Power Four conference for college football.

Rhett Lashlee and SMU are set to travel to Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 13 for a Week 3 matchup at Robert W. Plaster Stadium in Springfield, Missouri.

Saturday's meeting between the Mustangs and the Bears is the first in program history for both teams. Here's what to know on why the Mustangs are traveling to Missouri State for a buy game in Week 3:

Why is SMU playing at Missouri State?

According to the game contract obtained by USA TODAY Sports, SMU and Missouri State in June 2024 agreed to play a home-and-home series. The contract was signed by former SMU athletic director Rick Hart, SMU vice president of business and finance Christine Regis and former Missouri State athletic director Kyle Moats.

The home-and-home series was also agreed upon during different transitions for both teams. At the time of the contract being signed, SMU was in the final weeks of its tenure in the what was then called the American Athletic Conference (now called the American Conference) before joining the ACC., Missouri State, meanwhile, was still competing as a Division I FCS program in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

The 2025 college football season is Missouri State's first competing as a Division I FBS program, out of Conference USA. Saturday's game vs. SMU will be the Bears' home opener as an FBS program after back-to-back road games at USC and Marshall.

Interestingly, SMU is one of four Power Four programs traveling play non-Power Four competition in Week 3 of the 2025 college football season. The others are Oklahoma at Temple; Utah at Wyoming; and Duke at Tulane.

What conference is Missouri State in?

Missouri State is in its first season competing in Conference USA. The Bears announced on May 10, 2024, that they had accepted an invite to join Conference USA, a move that initiated a move up from the Division I FCS level to the Division I FBS level.

Prior to moving up to FBS and joining Conference USA, Missouri State was a longtime member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

SMU vs Missouri State future dates

The return game for SMU in its home-and-home series with Missouri State is set for Sept. 26, 2026 in Dallas at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is SMU football at Missouri State? Mustangs' road game part of home-and-home

Reporting by John Leuzzi, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

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