FCS Week 10 Chaos: Unranked Lamar Stuns No. 2 SFA as Top 25 Contenders Fall in Saturday Mayhem

BEAUMONT, Texas — Week 10 of the 2026 FCS college football season will be remembered as the Saturday the playoff picture was turned completely upside down. From Southland Conference showdowns to high-stakes MVFC encounters, rank-and-file underdogs sent shockwaves across the nation with high-octane offensive displays, suffocating defensive performances, and heart-stopping walk-off finishes.

Here is a look at the major top-25 upsets that defined Saturday’s FCS action and changed the hopes and dreams of some teams.

Lamar 45, No. 2 Stephen F. Austin 28

The biggest shocker of the day came out of Provost Umphrey Stadium, where unranked Lamar delivered a knockout blow to second-ranked, previously undefeated Stephen F. Austin. Handing the Lumberjacks their first loss of the season, Lamar snapped SFA’s formidable 19-game regular-season winning streak in dominant fashion.

Lamar never trailed in the contest. Quarterback Aiden McCown delivered an elite performance, throwing for 307 yards and three touchdowns. Complementing McCown’s aerial assault, running back Parker Jenkins sliced through the SFA defense for 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns of his own. Combined, the duo accounted for all six of Lamar’s touchdowns, keeping the Lumberjacks’ defense on its heels all afternoon and throwing the Southland Conference race wide open.

NOT AN UPSET

— Lamar University Football (@LamarFootball) November 8, 2026

No. 15 North Dakota 49, No. 8 Illinois State 21

In a high-profile Missouri Valley Football Conference battle, No. 15 North Dakota went on the road to Normal, Illinois, and dismantled No. 8 Illinois State by four touchdowns.

After heading into the second quarter locked in a 14-14 tie, North Dakota blew the game open by scoring 28 unanswered points. Fighting Hawks quarterback Jerry Kaminski turned in a career day, completing 18 of 27 passes for 293 yards and matching his career high with five passing touchdowns while adding a 1-yard touchdown run. Dynamic receiver Deng Deng hauled in four passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns, while Hunter Kallstrom broke the game wide open with an 80-yard catch-and-run.

On defense, Braden Mohr picked up another sack to reach double-digit sacks on the regular season. Despite Illinois State quarterback Beckham Pellant throwing for 239 yards and two touchdowns, the Redbirds could not contain North Dakota’s explosive secondary unit and pass rush.

Bryant 31, No. 20 UAlbany 7

At Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, Rhode Island, the Bryant Bulldogs pulled off a defensive masterclass, stunning No. 20 UAlbany 31-7 to blow a hole in the Great Danes’ postseason ambitions.

Bryant raced out to a 28-0 lead behind dual-threat quarterback Brennan Myer, who ran for a touchdown and threw a scoring strike to receiver Shamar Fowles following back-to-back second-quarter turnovers. Defensive end Toby Brown Jr. anchored a furious defensive effort with three sacks. Bryant piled up five total sacks and forced two turnovers while holding UAlbany to just 108 first-half yards. UAlbany quarterback Kai Colón managed an 8-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, but it was far too late to spark a comeback.

Samford 37, No. 21 East Tennessee State 35

The wild afternoon concluded in Johnson City, Tennessee, with one of the most dramatic finishes of the FCS season. Unranked Samford edged out No. 21 East Tennessee State 37-35 on a walk-off touchdown as time expired.

Trailing 35-31 in the final seconds, Samford quarterback Gabarri Johnson took the snap on the ETSU 7-yard line with time for only one play. Johnson rolled out and fired a pass into the end zone to running back Domonique Thomas, who secured the game-winning 7-yard touchdown catch as the clock struck zero. The walk-off victory marked Samford’s third straight win and handed the Buccaneers a costly Southern Conference setback on their home turf.