# 2021 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team

The 2021 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team represented Stephen F. Austin State University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The Lumberjacks were led by third-year head coach Colby Carthel and played their home games at Homer Bryce Stadium.
The Western Athletic Conference and ASUN Conference announced the formation of the WAC-ASUN Challenge (AQ7) for the 2021 season on February 23, 2021. The Challenge included the four fully qualified Division I (FCS) members of the WAC (Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin) and Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, and Jacksonville State of the ASUN Conference. The winner of the challenge received an auto-bid to the NCAA Division I FCS football playoffs.

## Preseason
### Preseason polls
#### WAC Poll

The Western Athletic Conference coaches released their preseason poll on July 27, 2021. The Lumberjacks were picked to finish second in the conference. In addition, several Lumberjacks were selected to both the preseason WAC Offense and Defense teams.
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Sam Houston | 20 (5) |
| 2 | Stephen F. Austin | 16 (1) |
| 3 | Tarleton State | 11 |
| 4 | Lamar | 8 |
| 5 | Abilene Christian | 5 |
* Note: Dixie State is not included since they are not playing a full WAC schedule due to previous non-conference game contracts. Dixie State players are eligible for individual rewards.

#### AQ7 Poll

The AQ7 coaches also released their preseason poll on July 27, 2021. The Lumberjacks were picked to finish fourth in the ASUN-WAC Challenge.
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Sam Houston | 49 (7) |
| 2 | Central Arkansas | 40 |
| 3 | Jacksonville State | 37 |
| 4 | Stephen F. Austin | 27 |
| 5 | Eastern Kentucky | 20 |
| 6 | Abilene Christian | 15 |
| 7 | Lamar | 8 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 6:00 p.m. | Tarleton State | | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX | ESPN+ | W 20–10 | 8,910 |
| September 11 | 6:00 p.m. | at Texas Tech* | | Jones AT&T StadiumLubbock, TX | ESPN+ | L 22–28 | 55,271 |
| September 18 | 6:00 p.m. | Mississippi Valley State* | | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX | ESPN+ | W 58–13 | 10,035 |
| September 25 | 6:00 p.m. | Lincoln (CA)* | | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX | ESPN+ | W 61–13 | 5,346 |
| October 2 | 4:00 p.m. | vs. No. 1 Sam Houston | | NRG StadiumHouston, TX (Battle of the Piney Woods) | ESPN+ | L 20–21 | 25,007 |
| October 9 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 24 Jacksonville State | No. 23 | Burgess–Snow Field at JSU StadiumJacksonville, AL (WAC/ASUN Challenge) | ESPN+ | L 24–28 | 16,355 |
| October 23 | 8:00 p.m. | at Dixie State | | Greater Zion StadiumSt. George, UT | ESPN+ | W 37–20 | 4,442 |
| October 30 | 4:00 p.m. | Abilene Christian | | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX | ESPN+ | W 41–27 | 9,817 |
| November 6 | 4:00 p.m. | No. 25 Eastern Kentucky | | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX (WAC/ASUN Challenge) | ESPN+ | W 31–17 | 7,637 |
| November 13 | 4:00 p.m. | at Central Arkansas | | Estes StadiumConway, AR (WAC/ASUN Challenge) | ESPN+ | W 27–14 | 4,115 |
| November 20 | 4:00 p.m. | at Lamar | No. 22 | Provost Umphrey StadiumBeaumont, TX | ESPN+ | W 42–6 | 5,411 |
| November 27 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 13 Incarnate Word* | No. 20 | Gayle and Tom Benson StadiumSan Antonio, TX (NCAA Division I First Round) | ESPN+ | L 28–35 $^{OT}$ | 3,448 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||