BEAUMONT, Texas – For the first time in more than a month the Lamar University Cardinals (3-1/1-0 SLC) will step on the field to play a game at Provost Umphrey Stadium. The Cardinals have been away from home for so long that Saturday's game may feel like the home opener. Saturday's opponent will be Northwestern State as the two schools get set for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
 
After opening the year with a victory over then No. 15 Abilene Christian, back on Aug. 29^th, the Cardinals have been on the road. The Cardinals posted a 2-1 record on the road trip and enter Saturday ranked 14^th in the STATS Perform FCS Top 25 Poll and tied for second in the Southland standings just a win back of league-leading Stephen F. Austin.
 
For Lamar to keep pace with the Lumberjacks and UIW (the team Lamar is currently tied with) they will have to find a way to get past a Northwestern State squad that is hungry for a win. It has been a tough start for Northwestern State (0-5/0-2 SLC), but it is early in the season and there is plenty of time for them to right the ship. The best way to jump start that turnaround would be by knock off a nationally ranked conference opponent on its home field.
 
The Cardinals are coming off their biggest offensive output since 2023 in their win at Nicholls. Big Red hung 49 first-half points on the Colonels, and the defense prevented Nicholls from mounting a serious rally in the second half as LU won its conference opener. Big Red was led by an Aiden McCown-to-Davin Driskell connection where the LU tight end hauled in four passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. That performance saw Driskell grade out as the highest-rated FCS tight end in week 4 while McCown – who three for three scores and rushed for a fourth – was FCS football's ninth-rated quarterback.
 
History has not always been on Lamar's side in the series, but with a win Saturday the Cardinals would move to .500 all-time against the Demons (12-13-1). While the two schools have split the previous 10 meetings, Lamar has won three of the past four and would tie the longest win streak against NSU with a win Saturday. The Cardinals are 6-2-1 (.722) all-time against Northwestern State in Beaumont.
 
Saturday's kick off is set for a 6 p.m. start from Provost Umphrey Stadium. The game will be broadcast on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.
   
LU vs. the Demons
The Cardinals are just a game under .500 (12-13-1) all-time against Northwestern State and have been making up ground in the series recently. While the two teams have split the past 10 meetings, Lamar has won three straight and four of the previous five and is 6-2-1 (.722) all-time against the Demons in Beaumont. A win Saturday would equal the longest LU win streak in series history.
 
Hot Start
Lamar jumped out to a quick start Saturday to put Nicholls in a deep hole it was unable to climb out of. The Cardinals scored 28 points in the first quarter and 49 in the first half. The 49 points were the most in a game by LU since scoring 52 against McNeese in 2023. It was also the most in a half since scoring 62 in the first against then Houston Baptist in 2014. The 28 first-quarter points were the most by an LU squad since scoring 31 against Bacone College (2015).
 
Century Mark
Senior tight end Davin Driskell is quickly making a name for himself as one of the top tight ends in the Southland Conference. The Milledgeville, Ga., native hauled in a team-high four passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's win at Nicholls. It was the first 100-yard receiving game of his LU career. Driskell currently ranks among the Southland's top 10 in receptions, top 15 in receiving yards and is tied for tops in touchdown receptions.
 
Special Teams Being Special
Right when it appeared that Nicholls might take back some of the game's momentum in the first quarter, sophomore Caleb Holmes quickly stole it right back. Following a Nicholls' score to trim the Cardinals' lead to seven points, Holmes fielded the ball on his own 14 and returned it 86 yards for the score. Holmes becomes the first player in the Southland this season to return a kickoff for a touchdown. It is also the Cards' first kick returned for a score since 2023. He would go on to be named SLC Special Teams Player of the Week.