​ACU ruling back Rovaughn Banks Jr dives for extra inches as Lamar defensive back Paul Omoda (0) and defensive back Edward Gilds tackle him during Saturday’s first round of FCS playoff football at Wildcat Stadium Nov. 29, 2025. Final score was 38-20, ACU. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co Date: Saturday, November 7Time: 4:00 PM (ET)TV: ESPN+The Quick HitsThe Southland’s most anticipated game this season is finally here. Stephen F. Austin (9-0, 6-0 Southland) puts its undefeated record on the line as it heads to Lamar (7-2, 5-1 Southland). The #2 Lumberjacks have looked convincing in almost every win of theirs this year and, like they always seem to do as of late, have quietly yet forcefully risen to the top once again. A win on Saturday afternoon would give SFA at least a share of the conference title for the second straight season and nab an auto bid into the playoffs. The Cardinals, though, have had this game circled on their calendars for a while.#13 Lamar is also hoping to return to the postseason after getting a taste last year and if they can find a way to hand the Lumberjacks their first loss of 2026 this weekend, they get a heck of a lot closer to that being a reality. No one has been able to roll into Beaumont and leave with a win yet this fall. SFA, however, will surely be the highest-profile opponent to give it a go. The CoachesIt wasn’t that long ago that Lamar was an afterthought in the FCS but thanks to Pete Rossomando the Cardinals have completely turned it around. Rossomando was hired out of Charlotte prior to the 2023 season and since he came aboard the team has improved by one win in each of his first three seasons. Two more and they’ll continue the trend this year. Rossomando made his second ever playoff appearance last season and first with the Cardinals. His other came in 2017 when he guided Central Connecticut to an NEC championship. He’s in line to be the Southland Coach of the Year for what he’s accomplished with Lamar in 2026. The only guy that might beat him out for that honor will be the one standing on the other sideline on Saturday. Colby Carthel is in his eighth season heading up Stephen F. Austin and it also might be his best one yet. That’s saying something for a guy who has led SFA to a pair of other conference titles and took them as far as the quarterfinals last year. Carthel is 112-56 all time as a collegiate head coach counting his decorated time at Texas A&M-Commerce (now East Texas A&M) where he went to the postseason six times and won the 2017 Division II national championship. The Lumberjacks have been terrific under Carthel over the last two seasons, winning 20 games since the start of 2025. He has them on pace for an all-time season this time around. Stephen F. Austin Offense vs. Lamar DefenseGavin Rutherford took over as SFA’s signal caller this year, following in the footsteps of Sam Vidlak who exhausted his eligibility after last season. Rutherford has done exceptionally well,