A well-known surname is making its way back to college football.

Cole Leinart, the child of former USC quarterback Matt Leinart, shared his decision to commit to SMU on Wednesday through social media.

Cole is a three-star quarterback in the 2026 recruiting class, per 247Sports. He has received offers from universities including Colorado, UNLV, Pittsburgh, and Georgia State. Additionally, he ranks as the No. 81 quarterback nationally and the No. 158 player in California, although he isn’t included in the composite rankings by 247Sports.

“Proud dad,” Matt Leinart expressed on X, previously known as Twitter, on Wednesday.

Matt Leinart, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2004, was picked as the 10th overall selection in the 2006 NFL draft following his victories in the national championships of 2003 and 2004 with the Trojans. He earned honors from two All-America teams, and his No. 11 jersey has been retired by USC.

However, Matt’s professional football journey was less illustrious, as he completed 366 of 641 passes for 4,065 yards with 15 touchdowns and 21 interceptions over seven seasons.

Cole Leinart is now preparing to join SMU, a school currently experiencing great success. The Mustangs are ranked 13th in the College Football Playoff rankings and hold an 8-1 record in their inaugural ACC season, positioning them well for a shot at the 12-team playoff.