No. 2 Lumberjacks Chase Back-to-Back Titles in High-Stakes Beaumont Showdown Against No. 12 Cardinals
BEAUMONT, Texas All eyes will be on this FCS game of the week, a heavyweight Southland Conference battle is set for Saturday at Provost Umphrey Stadium as the undefeated #2 Stephen F. Austin State Lumberjacks (9-0, 6-0) put their perfect season on the line against the surging #12 Lamar Cardinals (7-2, 5-1). Kickoff is scheduled for November 7, 2026, at 3:00 P.M. with a national broadcast streaming live on ESPN+.
The Matchup: Strength vs. Strength
This top-15 clash features an elite statistical gridlock, pitting the Southland Conference's absolute best against each other across virtually every major category. SFA and Lamar enter the weekend ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in both total offense and rushing offense, while simultaneously boasting the league's top two rushing defenses.
The game will likely be won or lost in the trenches and on critical downs:
- The Run Game: The conference's two leading rushers share the field. SFA's Jaylen Jenkins and Lamar's Jojo Uga will look to find cracks in defenses that traditionally suffocate the run.
- Protection Fronts: Both offensive lines have given up just 11 sacks all year, tying them for first in the conference for pass protection.
- Third Down Warfare: Lamar commands the conference's No. 1 third-down conversion offense (48%), closely trailed by SFA at No. 2 (45%). Defensively, the margins are just as razor-thin, with Lamar holding opponents to a league-best 26.3% conversion rate and SFA right behind at 27.3%.
Historical Context
While Lamar holds a narrow 19-17-2 advantage in the all-time series dating back to 1923, SFA has dominated the modern era. The Lumberjacks have captured the last four meetings and five of the last six overall. Furthermore, SFA boasts a dominant 6-1 record in Beaumont during their recent 12-game stretch against the Cardinals.
Lamar, however, is a program transformed under fourth-year head coach Pete Rossomando.
After taking over a team that bottomed out at 1-10 in 2022, Rossomando engineered an immediate turnaround with three consecutive winning seasons, top-20 wins, and a playoff appearance.
Operating with the conference's No. 3 scoring offense (33 PPG) and No. 2 scoring defense (23 PPG allowed), the Cardinals have proven they can balance an explosive offense with a stingy backend.
Lamar Schedule…
W #15 ACU 21-14
L @Louisiana 7-38
W @Idaho 23-17
W @Nicholls State 49-18
W Northwestern State 42-14
W UIW 38-35
L @Southeastern Louisiana 31-34
W HCU 35-10
W @UTRGV 52-23
A victory for SFA secures at least a share of the Southland Conference Championship and locks down back-to-back league titles for the first time since the 2009-2010 seasons. Beyond regional hardware, a win in Beaumont sends a definitive message to the FCS playoff selection committee as the Lumberjacks eye a coveted top seed in the NCAA Division I Playoffs.
Axe'Em!
