FRISCO, Texas — SFA and Lamar separated themselves from the rest of the Southland Football pack last week. For Lamar that came in the fashion of a 35-10 bounce-back win at HCU while the 'Jacks reached the 8-0 mark for the first time in program history after a 45-24 triumph over Southeastern. SFA has distinguished itself nationally as a consensus top-five team though the Cardinals remain only a game back in the Conference chase.
Each team's accomplishments have already generated buzz for a forthcoming matchup on the first Saturday of November. However, each much pass a test on Halloween, hoping to avoid any tricks along the way.
SLC Commissioner's Game of the Week: No. 15/13 Lamar at UTRGV, Oct. 31 - 7 p.m.
While Lamar handled business against HCU in Week 8, the Vaqueros were finishing off their non-conference slate with a 30-27 overtime victory over Central Arkansas, securing the SLC's fourth victory over the UAC in 2026. Offensive stars Jojo Uga and Davin Driskell each found the end zone twice against the Huskies and the Lamar defense suffocated the Huskies' attack to only three points in 60 minutes. But the task intensifies when Big Red heads down to The Valley Saturday night. The Vaqueros have enjoyed the comforts of home during their first two years of existence, having not lost a home game since the program's inception.
HCU at No. 2 SFA, Oct. 31 - 2 p.m.
Despite another dominant performance on their home turf, the 'Jacks are strangely still proving themselves to national audiences amid the celebration of a landmark season in Nacogdoches. The win over Southeastern marked the Lumberjacks first-ever 8-0 start and extended the nation’s best active regular season win streak to 18 games, more than any team in both FCS and FBS. The ‘Jacks now turn the page to another SLC foe in the top-half of the standings in HCU. Despite the Huskies’ loss last week at Lamar, head coach Jason Bachtel’s team has proven to be one of the positive surprises from the season thus far and will be upset hungry as they try to claw back into the SLC title picture. A win for SFA would set up an opportunity to clinch a share of the Conference title next week in Beaumont.
Northwestern State at RV/NR UIW, Oct. 31 - 1 p.m.
Following a three-game skid to the gauntlet of Texas State, SFA and Lamar, UIW has found its juice since returning to Gayle Benson Stadium, posting wins in back-to-back games against UTRGV and McNeese. The Cardinals offense has soared in both performances, totaling 79 points in both contests in large part due to the play of quarterback Emmett Brown who has thrown for 467 yards and five touchdowns in the Cardinals in this span. A third straight win for UIW could set up a playoff eliminator in Hammond next week.
Southeastern at East Texas A&M, Oct. 31 - 2 p.m.
While Southeastern has one of the more interesting résumé case studies of any potential at-large selections for the FCS Playoffs, Frank Scelfo's team would certainly like to get back on the winning track Saturday in Commerce. The Lions hung with SFA through the first half in Week 8, but could not sustain the firepower to match the blows the 'Jacks dealt as the game progressed. Though even in the Conference table, it will be the Lions of East Texas A&M looking to play spoiler on their home field.
Nicholls at McNeese, Oct. 31 - 2 p.m.
Two teams battling for position in the middle of the SLC standings meet at Navarre Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Colonels finally snapped a recent losing skid with a 31-27 win at Northwestern State in Week 8 while the Cowboys fell behind early in a one-sided loss at UIW. Whomever wins this contest will improve to a .500 mark in Southland play with chances on the schedule to continue a move up and perhaps spoil the postseason dreams of other Conference foes.
Week 9 Schedule