BEAUMONT, Texas – For the second time this season, the Lamar University Cardinals will be hosting the STATS Perform FCS Game of the Week. Saturday's contest between No. 13 Lamar University and second-ranked Stephen F. Austin marks the second nationally ranked showdown in Provost Umphrey Stadium this season.
 
The Cardinals, who recently jumped to 10 in the NCAA FCS Committee Power Rankings, enter the week 7-2 (.778) overall and 5-1 (.833) in Southland Conference play. Big Red has won consecutive games and six of seven while Stephen F. Austin is 9-0 overall and has been atop the Southland standings since day one (6-0). The Lumberjacks are coming off a 37-6 victory over Houston Christian last week in Nacogdoches.
 
A victory in Saturday's No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown would not guarantee Lamar the title but it would put the Red and White in the driver's seat for the league's automatic bid with just two games remaining. A win for SFA would secure at least a share of the league crown.
 
Saturday's kick off is set for 3 p.m. from Provost Umphrey Stadium. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 and streamed on ESPN+.
   
 
LU vs. the Lumberjacks
The series between Lamar and Stephen F. Austin dates back to the 1951 season and is split right down the middle with both teams holding a 16-16 (.500) overall record, which includes a 9-9 (.500) mark in Beaumont. The recent history has swung in SFA's favor with the Lumberjacks winning eight of the previous 10 meetings including a 26-15 decision in Nacogdoches last season. The Cardinals are going in search of the first series win since 2018.
 
On the Verge Of ...
With Saturday's victory at UT Rio Grande Valley, the Cardinals are the verge of some small program wins. LU's win Saturday secured the program's fourth consecutive winning season (first time since 1964-67). With just one more win, LU would tie the single-season mark for wins (as a four-year school) for a second-straight year as well as tie the single-season record for SLC wins (6 in 2018). The Cardinals need two more wins to keep a unique run in place for head coach Pete Rossomando. Since his first year with the team, the Cardinals have increased their win total from the year before culminating in last season's eight-win campaign that led to the playoffs.
 
Speed Limit 52
Lamar scored a season-high 52 points Saturday at UT Rio Grande Valley, which marks the first 50-point outing for the Cardinals since scoring 52 against McNeese in the 2023 season. It also marks the third time this season that Lamar has scored at least 42 points in a game.
 
A First Time for Everything
LU's win Saturday at UT Rio Grande Valley marked the first time an opponent had defeated the Vaqueros on their home field. It also marked first time an opponent has led at halftime and it was the most points surrendered by a UTRGV squad at Vackar Stadium.
 
Returning a Pick/Kick 6
Junior Bryce McDonald picked off a pass and returned it for a score and sophomore Blake Thomas returned a kick for a touchdown Saturday. It marks the second time this season that LU has returned either a pick or a kick for a touchdown.