BEAUMONT, Texas – For a program that had never been ranked in the STATS Perform FCS Top 25 poll prior to the 2024 season, Lamar University has now been ranked in consecutive years. The Cardinals find themselves back in the top 25 after their seven-point win over No. 4 South Dakota, 20-13, Saturday evening at Provost Umphrey Stadium. The win propelled the Big Red to No. 24 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll.

In addition to the STATS Perform Top 25 poll, FCS Nation Radio has the Cardinals at No. 13 in their poll while Redshirt Sports has Lamar at No. 20 - the highest rank for any Southland school entering week three.
 
The Cardinals landed in the top 25 last season after an upset victory over then No. 20 Weber State. The Cardinals remained in the polls for three weeks and climbed as high as 19^th.
 
South Dakota scored 10 points on its opening two possession to take a 10-0 lead and slightly outgained Lamar in terms of total offense, but the Cardinals eventually settled down late in the first. The Cardinals allowed just three points on 85 yards of offense in second half and never looked back after battling back to tie the game by halftime.
 
Lamar's defense also came up with three turnovers which included two fumbles and an interception. The first recovery came on a botched kickoff return after Lamar had just scored a field goal to get on the scoreboard. That recovery set up LU's first touchdown of the game tying the score at 10. The second recovery came on the LU one-yard line thwarting what appeared to be a go-ahead score for the Coyotes. Beaumont native Kristian Pugh's first interception of the season set up a field goal early in the second half to give Lamar its first lead of the game.
 
The Cardinals return to action Saturday when they travel to Houston to take on Texas Southern. The game against the Tigers is slated for a 6 p.m. kick off from Shell Energy Stadium.