No. 25 Southeastern Louisiana University (3-2, 1-1 SLC) travels to face UTRGV (2-3, 1-2 SLC) on October 10, 2026, at 7 p.m. at Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg, Texas. Coming off a bye week and a three-game winning streak, the Lions aim to maintain momentum during their first-ever trip to face a UTRGV team undefeated at home.
Dkhai Joseph Ranks as Elite Scoring Asset
- Special Teams Disruption: Dkhai Joseph ranks second in the FCS with two punt return touchdowns, making him an elite scoring asset in formats that reward return yardage and touchdowns.
How Do the Lions Arrive in Edinburg?
Southeastern enters Saturday’s matchup riding a three-game winning streak after dismantling Northwestern State 52-21 on September 26. In that outing, Chad Elzy Jr. rushed for 101 yards and three touchdowns, earning Southland Offensive Player of the Week honors. He and teammate Deantre Jackson, who churned out 104 yards on the ground, became the first Lion duo to cross the century mark in a single game since 2017.
What Does the UTRGV Resistance Look Like?
UTRGV enters the contest at 2-3 overall and 1-2 in Southland Conference play, though their resilience at home remains a defining trait. The Vaqueros have not dropped a game in Edinburg since launching their football program in 2025. Both of their losses to FCS opponents this season were decided by a razor-thin three-point margin. Last week, East Texas A&M slipped past UTRGV 20-17 courtesy of an Ozio Rigby 51-yard field goal as time expired. Quarterback Aidan Jakobsohn orchestrates the offense with 738 passing yards, while Kyran Lee leads the receiving corps with 26 catches for 410 yards and four scores.
| Stat Category | Southeastern Louisiana (SLU) | UTRGV |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 3-2 (1-1 SLC) | 2-3 (1-2 SLC) |
| Passing Yards Leader | Kyle Lowe (883 yds) | Aidan Jakobsohn (738 yds) |
| Leading Rusher / Yardage | Chad Elzy Jr. (225 yds) | Brennan Carroll (261 yds) |
| Top Receiver (Rec/Yds/TD) | Dkhai Joseph (21 / 248 / 2) | Kyran Lee (26 / 410 / 4) |
Who Controls the Defensive Front?
Defensively, Southeastern travels with a plus-three turnover margin secured against Northwestern State, bolstered by Kenneth Ford Jr.’s team-high 12 tackles in that victory. Carter Byrd continues to be a disruptive secondary presence with an interception and a forced fumble, while Carter Hanberry leads the overall tackle count with 43 stops. For UTRGV, Rich Spencer anchors the defense with 51 tackles, supported by Jaiden Haygood’s 5.5 tackles for loss and Marcus Heard Jr.’s two interceptions.
What Lies Ahead on the Schedule?
Following Saturday’s conclusion in Edinburg, the Lions return to Hammond to host No. 10/11 Lamar for Homecoming next Saturday at 4 p.m. The annual Homecoming parade kicks off at noon, with the game broadcast on ESPN+ and the Southeastern Sports Radio Network.
