Matt Leinart's Son, Cole, Commits to Play for SMU

© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Cole Leinart, son of USC Trojans Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, has committed to play for the No. 13 SMU Mustangs (8-1, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference). Like his father, the younger Leinart is a quarterback. Unlike his father, however, he throws right-handed.

Leinart chose SMU over No. 20 Colorado (6-2, 4-1 Big 12 Conference), Utah (4-4, 1-4 Big 12), No. 18 Pitt (7-1, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), Arizona (3-6, 1-5 Big 12) and other top programs.

At 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, Leinart is a junior at Redondo Union High School in Los Angeles. He is a member of the 2026 recruiting cycle and the second in the 2026 class to pledge to SMU.

Matt Leinart

The elder Leinart had a legendary career with USC during the Pete Carroll era, leading the Trojans to two national championships and winning the Heisman Trophy in 2004. Across the three seasons that he was the starting quarterback of the Trojans, the team's record was 37-2. He was the No. 10 overall selection in the 2006 NFL Draft.

He is currently a host on Fox Sports News' Big Noon Kickoff.

He dated former USC women's basketball player Brynn Cameron. Their relationship produced Cole.

© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Cole Leinart

The younger Leinart joins an SMU program headed by coach Rhett Lashlee. The Mustangs are one of only two teams unbeaten in games within the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Cole Leinart is the second player to commit to the Mustangs' 2026 class, joining Lancaster, Texas native cornerback Victor Lincoln. In the 2025 class, the Mustangs recently secured a commitment from four-star dual-threat quarterback Ty Hawkins. Thus, Lashlee has increased the SMU quarterback room's depth and strength.

Like his father, Cole Leinart began his prep career at Southern California powerhouse program Mater Dei. However, he later transferred.

SMU began pursuing him early on, extending an offer to him before his freshman year in high school. He visited SMU last weekend and was in attendance for the Mustangs' convincing victory over Pitt.

In remarks to reporters, he expressed enthusiasm for his choice: "The culture they're building at SMU—I just want to be a part of it," Leinart told ESPN. "I love the coaching staff. They're literally like family now. I just want to be part of what they have there."