The Southland Conference football race looks like it will be a photo finish.

Stephen F. Austin's 28-7 loss to Texas State Saturday threw the league race into a four-team scramble of one-loss squads that includes SFA, Southeastern Louisiana, Texas State and McNeese.

With three weekends still left, it's probably too early to dissect the this and thats of each teams' remaining schedule, although it's hard not to take a quick sneak peek.

OK. I can't resist.

SFA and Southeastern Louisiana are in great shape. They have a head-to-head game upcoming and other games with non-contenders Northwestern State and Nicholls State.

McNeese and Texas State play each other next week and each have games left with Sam Houston and Central Arkansas, both two loss teams.

Wow.

This week's schedule includes none of the one-loss teams playing one another.

Maybe we'll have to wait until next week to get a clearer view of how this will all settle out.

Maybe they'll be some surprises again Saturday.

To the games of the week:

Nicholls State (1-7, 0-4) at SFA (6-2, 3-1): Option-oriented Nicholls State seems to come along to Nacogdoches, just at the right time.

After scoring 7 points in a 416-yard game against Texas State, SFA has to eager to get back on the field, especially on offense. The Lumberjacks floundered away scoring chances like Halloween candy, with turnovers, missed field goals and stalled drives inside scoring position.

"We just didn't score when we needed to," SFA coach J.C. Harper said. "We needed to put some points on the board, but we didn't."

Harper said junior quarterback Jeremy Moses, who took some big hits against Texas State, is expected to be ready for the Colonels, who have played better lately.

Nicholls lost by 6 points three weeks ago to Texas State and put up a game fight in a 38-17 loss to McNeese last weekend.

"That was probably one of the best efforts we've had this year," Colonel coach Jay Thomas said. "Our guys got better. We played from the beginning to the bitter end."

Even in SFA's four-season losing streak before this year, SFA had success against the Colonels, winning three of the last four.

With Southeastern Louisiana on the schedule next week, SFA's offense needs to be ultra-sharp and mistake free in a game that could boost the confidence of the Lumberjacks' offense.

Southeastern Louisiana (5-3, 3-1) at Northwestern State (0-8, 0-4): If SLU's 25-21 win against Central Arkansas didn't surprise you, who the Lions played without in claiming the win should have.

SLU defeated UCA without quarterback Brian Babin and wide receiver Simmie Yarborough, who were both injured. Back up quarterback Tyler Beatty, a former Baylor signee, threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns and hurt UCA with scrambles out of the pocket.

"He gave them the element of escapability," UCA coach Clint Conque said.

Babin, who suffered a shoulder injury in SLU's loss to McNeese on Oct. 24, was a game-time scratch.

"We looked at him in pre-game and decided to go with Tyler Beatty," SLU coach Mike Lucas said. "Not much of a drop-off there."

While NSU is winless, this is a big spot for the Lions, who playe their final two games at home, where they are 4-0 this season. The Demons rushed for 172 yards and compiled 435 yards in a 34-30 loss to Sam Houston last week.

But the alarming statistic was NSU allowing Sam Houston 520 yards offense. Considering SLU's athletic talent on offense and the significance of the game for the Lions, it's hard not to see SLU moving the ball, scoring and getting to 4-1 in the league.

Texas State (5-3, 3-1) at Central Arkansas (5-3, 2-2): Texas State follows its victory against SFA with games against Central Arkansas and McNeese the next two Saturdays.

The last time Texas State played at UCA, the Bobcats suffered a 63-21 loss. That said, the Bobcats proved in their win against SFA that it's big plays — not big statistics — that matter. The Bobcats stopped SFA at the 1-yard line and forced three turnovers last week while being outgained by the Lumberjacks.

Pulling off an upset of the Bears in Conway, Ark., will be a totally different challenge, though. Already with two league losses, UCA features the league's top defense. Having junior kicker Eddie Carmona, who has hit 11-of-11 attempts this season, gives the Bears a leg up on Texas State. The Bobcats lost freshman kicker Justin Garelick to a knee injury during practice last week.

Sam Houston (4-4, 2-2) at McNeese (6-2, 3-1): With senior quarterback Blake Joseph back from an ankle injury, Sam Houston found its offense (520) yards. Joseph, who threw for 332 yards, connected with Jason Madkins (7-147, 2 TDs) and Chris Lucas (6-87), while tailback Chris Poullard gained 89 yards rushing.

But McNeese has won eight of the last nine in the series and its 37 touchdowns scored is second to SFA (39).

Plus, McNeese's offense isn't going against Sam Houston's offense. The Cowboys should have plenty of scoring chances against a Bearkat defense that has given up 24 touchdown passes this season.

Kevin Gore's e-mail address

is kgore@dailysentinel.com.

Southland Conference

Football Standings

Team SLC All

SFA 3-1 6-2

McNeese 3-1 6-2

SLU 3-1 5-3

Texas St. 3-1 5-3

C. Ark. 2-2 5-3

Sam Hous. 2-2 4-4

Nicholls 0-4 1-7

NSU 0-4 0-8

Saturday's results

Texas State 28, SFA 7

McNeese 38, Nicholls 17

SLU 25, UCA 21

Sam Houston 34, NSU 30

This week's schedule

Nicholls at SFA, 6 p.m.

Texas State at UCA, 6 p.m.

SLU at NSU, 2 p.m.

Sam Houston at McNeese, 7 p.m.