Expectations have been high at Stephen F. Austin since Colby Carthel arrived after the 2018 season. In addition to the excitement of bringing in a coach and most of his staff who won an NCAA Division II national title in 2017, the Lumberjacks' new coaching staff has signed some of the FCS’ top recruiting classes.
An 8-4 campaign with an overtime loss to UIW in the 2021 FCS playoffs only increased expectations. Some wondered whether winning the program’s first conference championship since 2010, when the Jacks secured the Western Athletic Conference title in 2022, was enough.