BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's team ends the 2026 season with a top-10 regional ranking announced ITA officials Wednesday morning. The Cardinals compete in the ITA Texas region and finished year ranked 10^th overall just behind national powerhouses Texas, TCU, Baylor and Texas A&M.
 
The ranking comes following a season that saw Lamar finish just short of a Southland Conference regional-season title in what turned out to be one of the closest races in league history. Big Red (12-14) went into the final day of the season fighting for a share the title falling just short to the eventual champion. Big Red entered the postseason in a three-way tie for second in the conference standings.
 
This is Lamar's highest ranking since 2018 when the Cardinals rallied late in the year with a freshman-laden squad to win their third of three consecutive Southland tournament titles advancing to the NCAA Championships.