Cards Set to Begin a Three-Game Road Swing
After an impressive opening week victory over No. 15 Abilene Christian, the 14th-ranked (STATS Perform FCS Top 25 poll) Lamar University Cardinals (1-0) will now leave the friendly confines of Provost Umphrey Stadium to hit the road for three games. That trek begins Saturday when they travel to Lafayette, La., to face UL Lafayette. Saturday’s contest will serve as the 2026 season opener for the Ragin’ Cajuns who are coming off a 6-7 (.462) 2025 campaign where they advanced to the 68 Ventures Bowl. The Ragin’ Cajuns have high expectations entering the year picked second in the Sun Belt West Division Preseason Poll, with a first-place vote. UL Lafayette’s 2026 roster boasts of four preseason all-conference selections. Saturday’s game will kick off at 7 p.m. from Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium in Lafayette. It will be broadcast on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.
LU vs. the Ragin’ Cajuns
The Cardinals are 10-17 (.370) all-time against UL Lafayette, but Saturday will be the first meeting since 2012. The series between the two schools dates back to the 1952 season. The Cardinals are 3-12 (.200) all-time against the Ragin’ Cajuns in Lafayette. Lamar has dropped four straight to UL Lafayette and heads east looking for their first win in the series since the 1981 season.
Historic Start
Lamar defended is preseason ranking by knocking off No. 15 Abilene Christian Saturday and exacting a small piece of revenge for the playoff setback to end 2025. Saturday’s victory marked the first time LU has opened the year with a top 25 win since 1981 when Lamar booted a late field goal to knock off then No. 20, and defending Southwest Conference Champion, Baylor in Waco.
The Rossomando Effect
Prior to head coach Pete Rossomando’s arrival, Lamar University had not defeated a nationally ranked team since 2019. Since the start of the 2024 season, the Cardinals have recorded four wins over top 25 teams, including one win over a top-five program (South Dakota). Over the course of the two-plus seasons, Lamar is perfect 4-0 at home against nationally ranked teams.
Have Yourself a Day(vin)
Senior transfer Davin Driskell got his Lamar career off to a quick start Saturday. A native of Milledgeville, Ga., Driskell scored the first LU touchdown of the season and then came back later to haul in the touchdown pass that secured the victory over the nationally ranked Wildcats. Driskell ended the day with five catches for 34 yards and two scores.
Beaumont’s Air Defense System
Lamar picked off 10 passes last season and is out to a quick start in 2026. The Cardinals recorded two interceptions Saturday against ACU – both picks were the first career interceptions for both players. Freshman Mason Wuenschel got the first pick of the day followed by sophomore Zaylon Stoker with a pick in the second half.
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