For the first time since 2018, and just the second time in program history, Lamar University has advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs, which was announced Sunday morning on ESPNU. The Cardinals will face 10th-seeded Abilene Christian – the co-conference champions representing the United Athletic Conference.
Riding the strength of two top 25 wins – including an early-season upset of No. 4 South Dakota – and one of only five teams with two top-15 wins this season – the Cardinals managed to be one of 24 teams still alive for the 2025 FCS National Championship.
“We are excited about another opportunity to play football,” said LU head coach Pete Rossomando. “This is a great opportunity to play a really good Abilene Christian squad who we have a tremendous amount of respect for.
“After the game last night, we told the team that we didn’t know what was going to happen, but I wanted them to know that I was very proud of them. Obviously, we’re in this business to win games but the relationships we form in the locker room are important to me and this entire team. Then we come back today and find out we have another opportunity play football. We had a strong season. Obviously, the regular season didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but this is now a new season and another opportunity.
The opening-round contest against ACU will take place Saturday, Nov. 29th from Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium. The game is set for a noon kick off.
The Cardinals set a single-season school record for wins in 2025 (as a four-year institution) with eight – all FCS – with one of the four losses coming at FBS-ranked North Texas. Big Red entered the last week of the regular season ranked 19th nationally, which is the second-straight season Lamar has landed in the nation’s top 25. The Cards climbed as high as 14th.
The Cardinals recorded their third consecutive winning season under head coach Rossomando which is the best run of success for the Red and White since the 1965-67 seasons. The Cardinals have improved each season under Rossomando culminating in this season’s eight-win campaign. After three seasons, Rossomando already has more wins than any other LU head coach after four seasons with the program.
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