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Intro to the 2026 Season
By Andrew Golden
By: Andrew Golden | southernmenslacrosseleague.com
Atlanta, GA – The Southern Men’s Lacrosse League is back for its fourth season and looking stronger than ever.
The league will have 11 teams this season, the most it’s ever had. All nine teams from last season, Georgia College, Western Kentucky, Mississippi State, Chattanooga, Morehouse, South Alabama, Western Carolina, Samford, and Emory, have returned, and Florida A&M and Saint Louis have joined. Florida A&M has had a team on and off since 2015, and was officially re-founded in the Fall of 2024. They were independent last season and had a game against Morehouse. Saint Louis has a long history dating back to 1992. They come from the MCLA, a league they had been a member of for almost 20 years.
A new change this season is the implementation of divisions in the league. Chattanooga, Western Kentucky, Western Carolina, and Saint Louis make up the North Division. The West Division welcomes Samford, South Alabama, and Mississippi State, while Morehouse, Georgia College, Emory, and Florida A&M round out the East Division. Teams will play opponents in their division at least once throughout the regular season.
The 11 SMLL teams will combine to play 50 games in 2026, another record high. Of the 50 games, nine are against non-SMLL opponents. Games are scheduled for every week this spring with the exception of 3/13-3/15, 3/20-3/22 (Spring Break), and 4/3-4/5 (Easter). Teams on average play around 8 games, and Chattanooga will play 13, the most of any team. Non-league opponents include Georgia Southern (MCLA), Life (NAIA), Brevard (NAIA), Louisville (NCLL), Xavier (NCLL), and Ball State (Independent).
Huntsville’s Loretta P. Spencer Sports Complex will serve as the host for the 2026 SMLL Championship. The tournament will feature eight teams in a single-elimination bracket, all played on April 11th. The top two teams from each division, along with two wildcards, will make up the field. Georgia College looks to claim its third straight league title after defeating Western Kentucky in the 2025 tournament finals.
The season kicks off this Saturday, January 24th, when Chattanooga, Western Carolina, and South Alabama meet at Emory.
Atlanta, GA – The Southern Men’s Lacrosse League is back for its fourth season and looking stronger than ever.
The league will have 11 teams this season, the most it’s ever had. All nine teams from last season, Georgia College, Western Kentucky, Mississippi State, Chattanooga, Morehouse, South Alabama, Western Carolina, Samford, and Emory, have returned, and Florida A&M and Saint Louis have joined. Florida A&M has had a team on and off since 2015, and was officially re-founded in the Fall of 2024. They were independent last season and had a game against Morehouse. Saint Louis has a long history dating back to 1992. They come from the MCLA, a league they had been a member of for almost 20 years.
A new change this season is the implementation of divisions in the league. Chattanooga, Western Kentucky, Western Carolina, and Saint Louis make up the North Division. The West Division welcomes Samford, South Alabama, and Mississippi State, while Morehouse, Georgia College, Emory, and Florida A&M round out the East Division. Teams will play opponents in their division at least once throughout the regular season.
The 11 SMLL teams will combine to play 50 games in 2026, another record high. Of the 50 games, nine are against non-SMLL opponents. Games are scheduled for every week this spring with the exception of 3/13-3/15, 3/20-3/22 (Spring Break), and 4/3-4/5 (Easter). Teams on average play around 8 games, and Chattanooga will play 13, the most of any team. Non-league opponents include Georgia Southern (MCLA), Life (NAIA), Brevard (NAIA), Louisville (NCLL), Xavier (NCLL), and Ball State (Independent).
Huntsville’s Loretta P. Spencer Sports Complex will serve as the host for the 2026 SMLL Championship. The tournament will feature eight teams in a single-elimination bracket, all played on April 11th. The top two teams from each division, along with two wildcards, will make up the field. Georgia College looks to claim its third straight league title after defeating Western Kentucky in the 2025 tournament finals.
The season kicks off this Saturday, January 24th, when Chattanooga, Western Carolina, and South Alabama meet at Emory.
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