BEAUMONT, Texas – Approximately 100 football players reported for preseason camp Thursday as Lamar University begins preparations for the 2026 season. The players spent the majority of the day in meetings before hitting the practice field for the first official workout.
 
Entering his fourth season at the helm, head coach Pete Rossomando returns 32 letterwinners and 11 starters from last year's squad that tied an LU single-season record for wins (as a four-year institution) and advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs for the just the second time in school history (and the first since 2018). It marked the third-straight season that Lamar has recorded a winning record – a run of success not seen in Beamont since the mid-1960s.
 
Rossomando has already collected more wins at Lamar in three seasons than any previous LU head coach after four seasons other than Cardinal Hall of Honor inductee Vernon Glass.
 
There has been plenty of preseason hype surrounding the program prior to players reporting for camp. In addition to the excitement surrounding the new locker room, senior defensive end Andrew Huff was named to the Buck Buchanan Preseason Award Watch List earlier this month, becoming the first Cardinal since 2016 to be named to the one of the STATS Perform National Awards watch lists. The Buck Buchanan Award is given annually to FCS football's top defensive player.
 
The Cardinals also have the benefit of returning a starting quarterback this season – Aiden McCown (6-2, 205, Jr.). McCown was thrust into a starting role last season due to injuries to then-starter Robert Coleman. McCown completed nearly 58 percent of his passes for 1,436 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also rushed for 225 yards.
 
The Cardinals will hit the practice field Friday for the second official workout. The team will hold 21 practices before entering official game-week preparation. Lamar kicks off the season Saturday, Aug. 29^th against Abilene Christian in a rematch of the 2025 NCAA FCS Playoff game.