BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University was back on the climb in the national polls after Saturday's Homecoming win over Houston Christian. The Cardinals (6-2/4-1 SLC) jumped two spots to 13^th in the AFCA Coaches poll and one in the STATS Perform Top 25 poll (15^th). Big Red's biggest jump came in the FCS Triumvirate Poll where the moved up four spots to 13^th. Both FCS Nation and Redshirts Polls have Lamar at 14^th.
 
The Cardinals opened the season ranked and have remained in the top 25 through the first nine weeks of the 2026 season.
 
Lamar currently sits alone in second place in the Southland standings with four games remaining – two at home and two on the road. The Cardinals have won five of their past six games and will put their national ranking on the line Saturday when they travel to Edinburg for the first time in program history to face UT Rio Grande Valley (4-4/2-3 SLC). The Vaqueros are currently tied for fifth in the conference standings and are a perfect 10-0 at home during their first two seasons of existence.