BEAUMONT, Texas – After an open week, the Lamar University football team will be back in action Saturday when they return to the friendly confines of Provost Umphrey Stadium to take on No. 10 Central Arkansas. For the Red and White, it marks the fourth nationally ranked team the Cardinals (4-4/2-3 Southland) have faced in their first nine games.
 
The last time LU stepped on the field it was two weeks ago at UIW, and unfortunately San Antonio's version of the Cardinals put an end to the Big Red's modest two-game win streak. Due to some shuffling in the league standings during the Cardinals' open week, LU enters the game against Central Arkansas eighth in the standings just a game back of McNeese in the win column.
 
The Bears enter the contest alone atop the Southland Conference standings with a 6-2 (.750) overall record and a 4-1 (.800) mark within the league. UCA has taken advantage of the fact the rest of the league has been beating up on itself by winning each of its past three games. The three-game win streak – which includes victories over McNeese, Northwestern State and Sam Houston State – all came by margins of less than 10 points. Central Arkansas is coming off a four-point victory against Sam Houston State in Conway last week.
 
The recent schedule hasn't been too kind to the Red and White of late. Saturday's game against UCA marks the second time in the past three games that LU has faced the team sitting in first place in the standings (Sam Houston State). The only team not in first place during that stretch was UIW who was in second when Big Red traveled to San Antonio.
 
Historically, the series against the Bears has not gone in LU's favor. The Cardinals are 1-7 (.125) all-time against Central Arkansas but the one win was an impressive victory last season. In the midst of the Cardinals' six-game win streak to close out the year, LU traveled to nationally ranked UCA and defeated the Bears, 38-24. It was one of three wins over a top 25 team during Big Red's run to the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
 
Saturday's game will serve as the Cardinals Black Out game as LU unveils its new uniform. The uniform reveal coincides with the Military/First Responders Appreciation game. Military vehicles will be on campus and a special swearing in ceremony will take place during pregame as nearly 50 individuals will be sworn in to the U.S. Military.
 
Saturday's game is being sponsored by Education First and fans will receive co-branded foam fingers as they walk through the gates at Provost Umphrey Stadium. Fans are encouraged to spend day on campus with the Red and White and enjoy tailgating at Cardinal Lane, and cheer on the Cardinals as they make their way through the tailgate into the football stadium. The game will kick off at 3 p.m. – the Cardinals' earliest start for a home game this season – and will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 and seen live on ESPN+.