BEAUMONT, Texas – The eighth-ranked Lamar Cardinals (5-1/3-0 SLC) are in the midst of a four-game win streak and are currently tied with No. 3 Stephen F. Austin atop the Southland standings, but for that win streak to continue the Cardinals will have do so on the road in a very tough environment. Lamar will be in Hammond, La., Saturday to face Southeastern Louisiana (3-3/1-2 SLC). The Lions entered last week's contest at UT Rio Grande Valley winners of three straight before falling to the Vaqueros.
 
A huge reason for Lamar's current win streak comes on the offensive side of the ball. While the Cardinals have the league's third-best scoring offense, LU has led the league in scoring over the course of the past three weeks averaging 43.0 per game during that stretch. A huge factor in the Cardinals recent surge offensively is due to running back Jojo Uga. The Hyde Park, Mass., native is currently tied for the Southland lead in rushing yards (66.0 ypg) and leads the Southland in rushing touchdowns.
 
While the Cardinals enter the week riding some momentum, history is not on Big Red's side in this series. The Cardinals trail the all-time series to Southeastern, 6-11 (.353), a mark which includes a 3-6 (.333) mark all-time in Hammond. While the two schools have split the previous four meetings, Southeastern has taken 10 of the previous 13. The 2025 showdown was a defensive struggle that saw Lamar take a 14-12 decision in Beaumont. With a victory Saturday, Lamar would secure back-to-back series road wins for the first time since 2010 and 2011 and just the second time ever.
 
Saturday's contest will serve as Southeastern's homecoming and is set for a 4 p.m. kickoff from Strawberry Stadium. The contest will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.
   
LU vs. the Lions
Southeastern Louisiana leads the all-time series between the two schools, 11-6 (.647), a record that includes a 3-6 (.333) Lamar record in Hammond. The Cardinals have found some success in the series lately winning two of the last three contests with the lone setback during that stretch being an overtime game in Beaumont two years ago. The series dates back to the 1967 season.
 
Hot Start
Lamar has started the season 5-1 (.833) for the second consecutive year. It marks the 13th time in program history that Big Red has started a new season with at least a 5-1 record. Prior to the 2025 campaign, Lamar had not opened a new season 5-1 since 1974. Among the program's 5-1, or better, starts, seven came prior to the 1960 season with five of those taking place as a junior college.
 
Dominating Ground Attack
Junior running Jojo Uga recorded his second 100-yard rushing effort of the season Saturday with 22 carries for 144 yards (6.5 ypc) and three touchdowns in the win over UIW. It's the most rushing yards for a Cardinal since Khalan Griffin rushed for 146 against Southeastern Louisiana in 2024. His three rushing touchdowns are the most for the Red and White since Jordan Hoy rushed for three in the season opener against Bethel in 2019.
 
Speed Limit 43
Lamar's offense seems to be hitting its stride midway through the 2026 season. In the previous eight games (dating back to last season), the Cardinals had averaged 17.0 points per game but over the course of the past three games Lamar has the Southland's top scoring offense averaging 43 points per game during that stretch.
 
The Rossomando Effect
Since the arrival of head coach Pete Rossomando, Lamar has made historic strides. LU is coming off an NCAA FCS Playoff appearance and is currently in the midst of its best run of success (in terms of consecutive winning seasons) since the mid 1960s. Just four games into his fourth season, Rossomando had already won more games at LU than any previous coach after four years.