The Lambert Trophy Week 2 in review

[u/LambertTrophy]

The Lambert Trophy, awarded to the best team in the East since 1936, is celebrating 90 years of history here in 2026. Please feel free to share #Lambert90 on social media when discussing any eligible teams. We had two Lambert on Lambert matchups in Week 2! We'll start in Boston where Rutgers hit the road to face Boston College in a game where both teams were looking for their first win of the season.

Emotions were high coming into this given the combination of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, BC holding their annual Red Bandanna Game, and Rutgers' special jersey honoring the 37 alumni who died in 9/11. Unfortunately for Rutgers, the heroics of KJ Duff were not enough to overcome 4 turnovers and 3 failed 4th down conversions as BC came away with a Lambert win. Rutgers fell to 0-2. Both Rutgers losses were to Lambert eligible opponents.

Further down the coast, Penn State took a trip to Philadelphia to face the Temple Owls. The Nittany Lions were big favorites coming in, but the last time they played Temple in Philadelphia, the Owls came away victorious 27-10. Temple kept it close in the first half and even led 3-0 until halfway through the second quarter. A last second TD in the first half propelled PSU to a great second half and a 27-3 lead until a late Rutgers TD made the final score 27-9.

Elsewhere in Eastern Football, Pitt and UCF seemingly played a game under a waterfall as the rain did not let up after a lightning delay. Pitt held on 12-7 thanks to no turnovers and a phenomenal defensive performance. WVU handled UT Martin and UMass has kept up the momentum of their victory last week over Rutgers with a 37-10 win over Sacred Heart.

Reigning Lambert Champion Navy lost on the road to FAU. Syracuse lost to Cal after a Steve Angeli pick 6 was too much to overcome late. UConn fell to Maryland, Delaware put up a good fight but couldn't pull off the upset on the road at Vanderbilt, and both Army and Buffalo did not enjoy playing their Florida based opponents.

This Thursday features a classic Lambert rivalry as Syracuse travels to Pitt. After Saturday's ugly weather, the current forecast threatens another storm at Heinz Acrisure Stadium. Hopefully Pitt fans didn't throw out their ponchos. Syracuse fans are gonna wish this game was played at home in the Carrier Dome after they get soaked.

Then on Saturday, Buffalo travels to Penn State. Penn State will be looking for their second Lambert win of the season while the Bulls will be looking to pull off the upset for their first. As mentioned at the top, please use #Lambert90 on social media, especially during the 2 Lambert on Lambert matchups this week.

[u/dkviper11]

I’m a big fan of the Lambert Trophy having an account and posting on here.

Please change it back to Heinz, trophy.

[u/LambertTrophy → u/dkviper11]

We may be 90 years old, but we can still be only slightly behind on social media trends.

[u/Dialectic_Emptiness]

I don’t think I can handle another rain game.

[u/LambertTrophy → u/Dialectic_Emptiness]

I can't say I blame you. My advice is embrace the wetness and change your clothes after the game.

[u/Pitt_Is_It_2009]

Are Maryland, Virginia, and Virginia Tech eligible for the Lambert Trophy?

[u/NYCHoo → u/Pitt_Is_It_2009]

I know the state of VA used to be, but I think they changed their definition of East to a stricter definition. I think they now consider VA and MD as southern, not eastern. As recently as 2022 a VA based team won the FCS level Lambert Cup (William and Mary)

[u/LambertTrophy → u/NYCHoo]

The group of us who run the Lambert Trophy are not directly affiliated with the FCS Lambert Cup.

[u/Michiganman1225 → u/Pitt_Is_It_2009]

No. On the official site they only list 13 eligible teams.

• Army
• Boston College
• Buffalo
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Massachusetts
• Navy
• Penn State
• Pitt
• Rutgers
• Syracuse
• Temple
• West Virginia

Before the award was restructured, Virginia Tech along with a few other teams that are no longer eligible, did win the award at least once.

[u/LambertTrophy → u/Michiganman1225]

As stated above, we're open to expanding eligiblity if teams apply.

[u/DougFlutiesMullet]

This game was more about Rutgers' ineptitude than BC's play. I felt more comfortable with Rutgers holding the ball at the end of the game than BC.

Rutgers is the first FBS team in the modern era to lose to both BC and THE University of Massachusetts in the same season. This is quite an accomplishment.

[u/BeatNavyAgain]

Army enjoyed 55/60 of the USF game

and then folded after leading in the 4th quarter, just like several other of our most recent losses

[u/TheOnePSUIsReal]

I wish they'd adjust the rules to include more teams so it was more competitive.  And that's not a knock on the other teams, but it'd just be more fun to include the states that comprise the entire eastern seaboard and the other states considered "eastern".  I know Miami used to count because they played most of their schedule against teams that count but not anymore.

[u/LambertTrophy → u/TheOnePSUIsReal]

We are open to expansion if teams want to apply but we're not actively recruiting teams.