The 2010 Lamar Cardinals football season was their first since 1989 and the first for head coach Ray Woodard and his staff. The Cardinals opened up the season on September 4 against arch-rival, #11 McNeese State in Lake Charles. The crowd of 19,235 that filled Cowboy Stadium marked the highest attendance since 2002 for the Cowboys. Lamar quarterback Andre Bevil set a school record for passing yards with 427 yards through the air. The game featured a late fourth quarter surge by the Cardinals with two touch down passes thrown in the final quarter of the game. McNeese clinched the 30-27 victory when they converted on third and 10 with less than a minute left.