BEAUMONT, Texas – The 20^th-ranked Lamar University Cardinals posted a 3-1 record in non-conference games with the only loss being a season-opening setback at North Texas. The Cardinals now turn their attention to the start of Southland Conference play as Nicholls comes to town.
 
Lamar (3-1/0-0 SLC) enters league play with some momentum at their back having won three straight, but the face a Colonels' squad that has a jump start on league play. Despite having dropped four consecutive – against four very tough non-conference opponents – the Colonels make their way to the Golden Triangle as co-leaders. Nicholls pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season in Week 0 with a 20-6 decision over then No. 5 UIW.
 
Big Red enters the week looking to start 1-0 in SLC play for the second time in three years under head coach Rossomando, who has led LU to 3-1 starts each of the past two seasons.
 
Pollsters have not yet been able to get an accurate feel for the Red and White. While Lamar has been ranked in at least one poll for four-straight weeks, the Cardinals are now ranked in all of the major FCS polls. The pollsters have LU ranked as high as 13^th (FCS Nation poll) all the way to 25^th in the AFCA Coaches poll.
 
The Cardinals are a game over .500 all-time against Nicholls and have won two of the last three meetings. That mark jumps to 6-2 (.750) when the series moves to Beaumont. An odd side note in the series, Lamar has scored 24 points in each of the last three meetings.
 
Saturday's game will kick off at 3 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.
   
LU vs. the Colonels
The Cardinals are a game over .500 all-time (8-7) in the series with Nicholls, which dates back to 1972. LU's record jumps to 6-2 (.750) when the series shifts to Beaumont. Lamar has won two of the last three meetings including a 24-7 decision in Beaumont last season. An odd side note to the series, Lamar has scored 24 points against Nicholls in each of the past three contests. 
 
LU in SLC Openers
The Cardinals are 12-24 (.333) all-time in Southland Conference openers, and 3-10 (.231) in SLC openers since bringing back the program, but 1-1 under head coach Pete Rossomando. Saturday's game will be just the second time that LU has opened conference play against Nicholls. The only other meeting came in February 2021 when the fall season was pushed to the spring due to COVID.  
 
Getting Stronger as the Game Goes On
Lamar's defense continues to prove that it gets stronger as the game wears on. Despite allowing 15 points in the fourth quarter to Central Arkansas, LU's defense has proven to be stingy in the second half. Big Red is allowing just 6.0 points per game to opponents in the second half. Even if you include the game at FBS North Texas, Lamar is still surrendering just 10.7 points per game in the final 30 minutes of action.
 
LU Specialist Being Special in Return Game
Lamar is setting the tone for the rest of the league in the return game. The Cardinals are third in the league in kickoff returns (21.3 ypr) and lead the league in punt returns (19.8 ypr). Freshman LaDamion McDowell is the SLC's top kick returner (26.6 ypr) while senior Kyndon Fuselier is the SLC's top punt returner (26.8 ypr). Fuselier was vital to the Cardinals' efforts in last week's win over Central Arkansas returning three punts for 97 yards (32.3 ypr). He also caught four passes for 53 yards and a score just for good measure.