FRISCO, Texas — A central theme echoes across the Southland Football landscape heading into Week 2: opportunity. This points to the start of the conference season for some and for others it sets the scene for key non-conference matchups Saturday evening. Two conference matchups and three duels against ranked opposition headline the Week 2 slate in the Southland. 

Southland Football Hub | Week 2 Southland Football Report

High Stakes FCS Playoff Rematch in Abilene
No. 13/9 SFA gets its first taste of the non-conference slate this weekend after a 2-0 start in the Southland. The ‘Jacks head West to Abilene, facing No. 23/25 ACU in a rematch of a dramatic FCS Playoffs Second Round contest from a year ago. That tilt went in favor of SFA, 41-34, though the 'Jacks will look to keep the Wildcats' offense bottled up this go around with ACU having only scored 24 points through its first two games. 

The Word Has Sights on Revenge
NR/RV UIW was one of the few teams across the NCAA Division I landscape on a bye in Week 1, but the Cardinals return to action on Saturday against #24/23 Northern Arizona. The Cardinals and the Lumberjacks have split in regular season contests each of the last two seasons though it is UIW eyeing revenge this time around after a 31-23 defeat in Flagstaff a year ago.

A Big Potato Matter for Big Red
No. 14/17 Lamar has made a habit of securing key résumé-building wins in the non-conference schedule under head coach Pete Rossomando, already doing so with a 21-14 win over ACU in Week 0. The Cardinals head to the Kibbie Dome on Saturday with the chance to add another notable win to that collection when they face Idaho. A win would mark the first for a Southland program against a Big Sky foe since 2022. 

McNeese Closes Homestand with Major Matchup
McNeese bounced back in impressive fashion with a 52-0 Week 1 win over Texas Wesleyan. However, the final matchup of a three-game homestand to start the season will pit the Cowboys against one of the top teams in the country. They host No. 4/5 Tarleton who rides into Lake Charles off the momentum of a win at Bowling Green last week - their second FBS win in the last two seasons. 

Southland Action Going Down in Thibodaux and Commerce
Week 2 presents a pair of intraconference matchups with RV/RV UTRGV playing at Nicholls and Northwestern State heading to East Texas A&M. The Vaqueros and Colonels jockey for position in the Southland table after non-conference losses last week while the Demons and Lions each seek their first win of the season.

Week 2 Schedule

Game	Time	Where to Watch
No. 14/17 Lamar at Idaho	3 p.m.
NR/RV UIW at No. 24/23 Northern Arizona	4 p.m.
North Alabama at Southeastern	6 p.m.
No. 4/5 Tarleton at McNeese	6 p.m.
RV/RV UTRGV at Nicholls	6 p.m.
Northwestern State at East Texas A&M	6 p.m.
Arkansas Baptist at RV/NR HCU	6 p.m.
No. 13/9 SFA at No. 23/25 Abilene Christian	7 p.m.