Preview: Nicholls at Sam Houston

Bobby Autin • September 14, 2026

Nicholls Heads to Huntsville for Renewed Matchup With Sam Houston

Colonels look to build on Southland-opening win while trying to snap a long drought in Huntsville

Nicholls steps back out of Southland Conference play this weekend, but the opponent will be very familiar.

The Colonels travel to Huntsville, Texas, Saturday to face former Southland rival Sam Houston at Bowers Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

Nicholls enters the matchup 2-1 after bouncing back from a difficult loss at Kansas State with a 31-28 win over UTRGV in its Southland opener. Sam Houston comes in at 0-2, but the Bearkats have been competitive in both losses, falling 24-21 at Troy and 23-17 against Tulsa.

The records suggest two teams heading in different directions, but Sam Houston has shown enough offensively to make this another significant test for the Colonels.

And for longtime Nicholls fans, this one carries some history.

Nicholls Finding Its Identity

The first three games have looked completely different for Nicholls.

The Colonels opened the season with a convincing 44-10 win over Mississippi Valley State, followed by a 71-3 loss at Kansas State, then responded with a 31-28 victory over UTRGV.

That response against UTRGV may have been the most important part of the young season.

Nicholls built a 31-14 lead before UTRGV made a late push, but the Colonels were able to make enough plays down the stretch to hold on and start Southland play 1-0.

The offense also looked much more comfortable.

Quarterback Ean Rodrigue completed 21 of 36 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns against UTRGV, helping Nicholls consistently create answers against pressure.

A big part of that came from how the Colonels used the RPO game.

Nicholls was able to put defenders in conflict and allow Rodrigue to make quick reads based on what the defense showed before and immediately after the snap. Instead of simply asking the offensive line to hold up against pressure, the Colonels used those looks to get the football out quickly and into space.

That could become even more important this week.

More Weapons Beginning to Emerge

Nicholls is also beginning to show that the passing game is not dependent on one receiver.

Jordan Smith has been one of the Colonels' most consistent targets, while Greg Donaldson has provided a legitimate vertical threat.

But against UTRGV, Jackson Dufrene became a major part of the offense.

Dufrene finished with 100 receiving yards and three touchdown catches, giving Rodrigue another reliable option in the passing game.

That kind of production matters because Sam Houston will likely try to pressure Nicholls and make Rodrigue uncomfortable.

If the Bearkats commit extra defenders to the box or become overly aggressive trying to stop the RPO game, Nicholls has shown it has players capable of making them pay downfield.

The running game, however, remains an area where the Colonels need more consistency.

Tamaj Hoffman and Shane Lee have both shown flashes, but Nicholls has yet to consistently control games on the ground. Against an FBS opponent, the Colonels do not necessarily need a huge rushing performance, but they do need enough production to keep Sam Houston from sitting on the passing game.

Turnovers Have Become Part of the Identity

If there has been one consistent strength for Nicholls, it has been the ability to create turnovers.

The Colonels have repeatedly found ways to generate takeaways through the first three games, and that trend continued against UTRGV.

Nicholls forced three turnovers in the win and also recorded four sacks.

The Colonels did not create that pressure by simply lining up and asking the defensive front to win one-on-one matchups. Nicholls mixed in blitzes, changed where the pressure came from, and forced UTRGV to make quick decisions.

That aggressive style could play an important role again Saturday.

Sam Houston has struggled to protect its quarterback through the first two games, creating an opportunity for Nicholls to continue bringing pressure from different levels.

Sam Houston Can Throw the Football

The Bearkats may be 0-2, but their passing game has been productive.

Quarterback Landyn Locke has completed 54 of 80 passes for 651 yards, five touchdowns and just one interception through two games.

That is an average of more than 325 passing yards per game.

Locke threw for 335 yards in the loss to Troy and followed that with 316 yards against Tulsa.

Grady O'Neill leads Sam Houston with 12 catches for 148 yards and a touchdown, while Chris Reed has seven receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns.

Jerrian Parker Jr. has also provided explosiveness in the passing game, turning two receptions into 101 yards and a touchdown.

So while the Bearkats have not won yet, Nicholls cannot afford to look at the 0-2 record and assume this offense is struggling.

The passing game is capable of producing explosive plays.

The Opportunity for Nicholls' Pass Rush

The biggest weakness for Sam Houston offensively has been protection.

The Bearkats have allowed nine sacks through two games.

Locke has still been able to produce despite that pressure, but it creates a clear opportunity for Nicholls.

The Colonels just recorded four sacks against UTRGV and showed a willingness to bring pressure from different areas of the defense.

That does not mean Nicholls can simply blitz every down.

Locke has been too productive for that.

If Nicholls becomes predictable with its pressure, Sam Houston has enough weapons to take advantage of one-on-one coverage downfield.

The challenge will be disguising pressure, changing the picture before the snap and forcing Locke to hold the football just a little longer.

That chess match may be one of the biggest factors in the game.

Sam Houston Has Struggled to Run It

Another area to watch is the Bearkats' rushing attack.

Alton McCaskill leads Sam Houston with 99 yards on 27 carries, but the Bearkats have only 93 net rushing yards as a team after accounting for sacks.

That lack of balance could help Nicholls.

If the Colonels can slow the running game without consistently bringing extra defenders into the box, it gives the secondary more help against Sam Houston's passing attack.

The goal should be simple: force the Bearkats into obvious passing situations and then make Locke uncomfortable.

A Familiar Opponent From Nicholls' Past

While Sam Houston is now an FBS program and a member of Conference USA, this is far from an unfamiliar opponent for Nicholls.

The two programs have met 35 times dating back to Sept. 15, 1979, when Nicholls defeated Sam Houston 29-10 in Thibodaux.

Sam Houston leads the all-time series 23-11-1 and has controlled much of the recent history between the programs.

Nicholls is just 1-9 in the last 10 meetings.

The lone victory during that stretch came in 2018 when the Colonels defeated Sam Houston 27-7 in Thibodaux.

Huntsville has been an especially difficult place for Nicholls.

The Colonels are 3-14 all-time on the road against Sam Houston and have not won in Huntsville since a 34-16 victory in 2002.

Before that, Nicholls' previous road victory came in 1994 when the Colonels shut out Sam Houston 24-0.

The most recent meeting came during the spring 2021 season, and it was one Nicholls would rather forget.

Sam Houston defeated the Colonels 71-17 in Huntsville on its way to eventually winning the FCS national championship.

That loss was the second consecutive defeat for Nicholls in the series after Sam Houston won 17-0 in Huntsville in 2019.

A Series Once Dominated by the Bearkats

There have been long stretches where Sam Houston completely controlled this matchup.

Nicholls lost 11 straight games to the Bearkats from 2006 through 2017 before finally ending the streak with that 27-7 victory in 2018.

The Colonels' longest winning streak in the series is two games.

Nicholls defeated Sam Houston 20-19 in Thibodaux in 1993 before following it with a 24-0 shutout in Huntsville in 1994.

Overall, Nicholls is 8-9-1 at home and 3-14 on the road against Sam Houston.

The Colonels were 8-22 against the Bearkats in games played as conference opponents.

That makes Saturday more than just another FCS-versus-FBS matchup.

It is the renewal of a series that was once a regular part of the Southland schedule.

What Nicholls Has to Do

For Nicholls to give itself a chance Saturday night, several things stand out.

Pressure Locke without giving up explosive plays. Sam Houston has allowed nine sacks, but Locke has also thrown for 651 yards. Nicholls has to make him uncomfortable without becoming so aggressive that it leaves the secondary exposed.

Keep winning the turnover battle. Takeaways have helped define this defense through three games. Nicholls cannot afford to give Sam Houston extra possessions while playing on the road against an FBS opponent.

Find enough of a running game. The Colonels do not need to dominate on the ground, but they need to make Sam Houston respect it. If the Bearkats can ignore the run, the RPO game becomes much easier to defend.

Continue using the RPO game. Nicholls looked comfortable against UTRGV when Rodrigue was able to read defenders and get the ball out quickly. That should remain a major part of the plan.

Finish the game. Nicholls led UTRGV 31-14 before allowing the Vaqueros back into it. Against Sam Houston, those late mistakes could be much more costly.

A Different Kind of FBS Opportunity

Kansas State was a completely different challenge.

That game got away from Nicholls early, and the Colonels were never able to settle into what they wanted to do.

Sam Houston feels different.

The Bearkats are an FBS program, but they have lost their first two games by a combined nine points.

Troy beat them by three.

Tulsa beat them by six.

Nicholls should go into Huntsville expecting to compete.

The Colonels are 2-1, already own a conference win, and appear to be finding more pieces offensively.

The defense continues to create turnovers.

The pressure packages used against UTRGV give Nicholls something to build on.

And the Colonels now have another opportunity to measure themselves against an FBS opponent.

This one also comes with some history attached.

Nicholls has not won in Huntsville since 2002.

That gives Saturday night's game a little more meaning.

If the Colonels can pressure Locke, protect the football, avoid explosive plays, and force Sam Houston into a fourth-quarter game, they should give themselves an opportunity.

And if Nicholls can do that, the Colonels may have a chance to leave Huntsville with a win for the first time in more than two decades.

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 19, 6 p.m.
Location: Bowers Stadium — Huntsville, Texas
TV: ESPN+
Records: Nicholls 2-1, Sam Houston 0-2
All-time series: Sam Houston leads 23-11-1
Last Nicholls win in Huntsville: 2002, 34-16

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Postgame: LSU defeats LA Tech 45-14

By David Billiot Jr • September 14, 2026

It was a tale of two halves and a story of two sides of the football. While the defense picked up where they left off against Clemson a week ago and put on another dominant performance, things did not go as smoothly for the offense. The first half was littered with mistakes, sloppiness, and overall poor play. While the LSU offense faltered, turning the ball over four times in the first half, the defense picked them up. Louisiana Tech had 0 total yards at halftime, along with -20 rushing yards. That marks the second week in a row in which they’ve held their opponent to negative rushing yards in a half. Sam Leavitt made quite a few mistakes, but he owned up to them. He said after the game that he was trying to do too much and was attempting to put the team on his back following some red zone inefficiency. To his credit, he cleaned it up in the second half and went back to work. All in all, it may seem strange to nitpick a 31-point win. We watched almost the same exact game a year ago when the Bulldogs came to Tiger Stadium in week 2 of the 2025 season. Brian Kelly’s team stumbled to a 23-7 victory, but was also very ugly. The positive news is that while the Tigers played equally ugly in this one, they’re improved enough where an ugly win leads to a 45-14 score. Game Flow For the second straight week, LSU got the ball first and failed to get anything going. A quick 3-and-out forced a Grant Chadwick punt for LA Tech’s first possession. As they did a week ago, Blake Baker’s defense forced a 3-and-out of their own, capped off with Deuce Geralds’s first sack of his career. Sam Leavitt used both his arm and legs on the ensuing drive with multiple gains of 17 yards, including a strike to Winnie Watkins and a scramble down in to the red zone. The drive stalled, though, leading to a Scott Starzyk 29-yard field goal to give LSU a 3-0 lead. A quick 3-and-out would get the ball right back to the Tigers and that’s where they found their first explosive play of the night. Leavitt hit Jackson Harris for a huge gain of 42 yards to get the ball down to the LA Tech 2 yard line. Two plays later, he used his legs and LSU jumped out to a 10-0 lead. TJ Dottery initiated what would be the first of two forced fumbles, giving his team great field position at the Bulldogs 41 yard line, but it did not amount to anything. Every offensive possession in the 2 nd quarter resulted in a 3-and-out for LA Tech with the exception of time expiring going in to halftime. LSU gave them plenty of opportunities, though, because it was a nightmare of a quarter for Lane Kiffin’s offense. First, it was a Eugene Wilson III fumble after a nice catch and run, followed by Leavitt’s first interception on an overthrow to Trey’Dez Green. The offensive production had halted for the Tigers, but that was starting to turn around after the back-to-back turnovers. Leavitt had completions of 15, 24, and 15 yards to Green as LSU drove right down the field to set up a 1 st and goal from the 2 yard line. Consecutive plays of -2 yards set up a 3 rd and goal from the 6 and that’s when the entire first half got flipped on it’s head. Leavitt threw a quick slant to Harris, but Jordan McRae picked it off and took it back 100 yards for a return touchdown and what looked to be a 17-0 lead for LSU, quickly turned in to a 10-7 head scratcher. Once again, Kiffin’s offense came right back out and started marching down the field with big completions to Harris and Green. Coming out of a timeout with 39 seconds left in the half and facing a 3 rd and 8 at LA Tech’s 14 yard line, Leavitt threw his third interception of the quarter and Tiger Stadium had become frustrated. Sounds of soft groans and a few boos rained down as the teams went to the locker room. The Bulldogs came out and went 3-and-out for the sixth time, followed by a shanked punt that set LSU up with more great starting field position. Dilin Jones finally broke free after a rough first half of 10 carries for 3 yards. He busted a 46-yard run to get down to the LA Tech 2 yard line. Unfortunately, the redzone issues persisted. The next three plays went for -1, 0, and -8 yards and the Tigers had to settle for a 25-yard Starzyk field goal to make it 13-7. At the 9:34 mark of the 3 rd quarter, LA Tech finally got their 1 st first down thanks to a DJ Pickett pass interference. Two plays later, they got another one on a Princewill Umanmielen roughing the passer. LSU would eventually force a 4 th and 5 conversion attempt that was a deep shot over Dashawn Spears’s head, but he recovered and broke it up to get the ball back to the Tigers. Needing to get some rhythm, LSU quickly found themselves behind the chains thanks to a false start and another negative Jones rush. But, as he did all night, Trey’Dez Green stepped up and made a 23-yard reception. Three plays later, Leavitt bounced outside to green grass on a designed QB run for his second rushing touchdown of the night to give the Tigers some breathing room. A two-point conversion made it 21-7. Spears’s good night continued on the next drive as he blasted Blake Baker coming off of the edge, forcing a floated pass right in to the waiting arms of Pickett. LSU, again, had to settle for a Starzyk field goal for a 24-7 lead. Following another Bulldog 3-and-out, Charlie Weis Jr dialed up a new wrinkle that had yet to be seen. On a 3 rd and 1, he lined up Green in the backfield for a direct snap to get the conversion. The very next play showed Leavitt’s improvisation skills on full display, as he scrambled to his right and bought just enough time to point for Wilson III to go deep. The Florida transfer made an incredible over the shoulder catch for a 53-yard gain, which led to Leavitt’s third rushing touchdown of the night on the next play. It was 31-7 and LSU fans were finally feeling better, although it took much longer than anticipated. LA Tech responded with their first self-generated first down of the night, but two players later, freshman Deuce Geralds added to his incredible performance by ripping the ball out of Jalen Mickens’s hands as he was being held up by Ty Benefield. The recovery and return by Jhase Thomas set the Tigers up with an immediate redzone possession at the 20 yard line and just when it looked like they were set to stall out, again, Leavitt hit Green for his first touchdown catch of the season to make it a 38-7 game. With the reserves coming in on defense for Blake Baker, they stumbled, once again. Mickens caught a ball up the seam and shot out of a canon for a 67-yard touchdown. That makes for back-to-back weeks that the 2’s and 3’s caved late in the game. After the teams traded a few punts, Landen Clark entered the game and showed a nice rappoire with Tyree Holoway. The two connected for passes of 21 and 16 yards, followed by a 7-yard touchdown run by Clark to finish off the scoring and make it a 45-14 game and that would be the final score. Conclusion While far from pretty, the ultimate goal is to stay healthy and win the game. LSU did both of those things and now sits at 2-0 with a massive game on the way. The Tigers will hit the road for the first time in 2026 for the game everyone around the country has been waiting for since last November. It’s LSU vs Ole Miss for Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford. The Rebels are off to a 2-0 start of their own, following a last-minute victory in week 1 over Louisville and a thrashing of Charlotte this week. The Tigers are currently -2.5 point favorites, but will have to play much cleaner football as they head to an extremely hostile environment. Full preview for the game will be coming later this week, so stay tuned in here at The Kneaux!

Saints Week 1 Postgame Guide: Lions

By Kaden Arkeder • September 13, 2026

Well what a wild game. The game was certainly there for the taking and I’m sure the team will look back and see all the missed opportunities they failed to capitalize on. The first half was, how would I put it, leaving a lot to be desired on offense. However the defense on the other hand did their job to keep the game close as long as they did. The missed fumble call could have been the difference in this one but that’s easy to say with hindsight. I’ll be curious if the league reviews and comments on that specific call this week. The slow start on offense though looked like the culmination of starters not playing at all during the preseason and still being rusty. Kellen Moore had an even slower start to the season last year with much more sloppy play but this felt very avoidable had the strategy been different in the preseason. Even so the Saints were only down seven at the half which felt like a miracle given the circumstance. The second half was where it all changed for the Saints. But not until the slow start on offense continued into the start of the third quarter where the Lions were finally able to capitalize on the Saints mistakes to take a twenty one point lead. You couldn’t fault the defense at that point because of the spot they were repeatedly put in because of the offense. But with their backs against the wall the offense finally shook off the rust and got to work. Shough and company stormed back to tie the game in the fourth quarter as the offense quickly down the field multiple times finishing drives in the end zone. The defense was the unsung hero in the comeback attempt as they kept the Lions offense off the field and only allowing one field goal in the fourth quarter. The Saints had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation but the 62 yard field goal attempt was missed by Carlson. Onto overtime. In overtime the Lions answered first with a touchdown to St Brown which would force the Saints to respond in turn. The Saints answered with a touchdown of their own before deciding to play for the win instead of a potential tie situation. They failed on the two point conversion to fall to the Lions 31-30 in overtime. The two point conversion was right call by Kellen Moore and company in my eyes. The Saints had the momentum almost the whole second half, were playing on the road in a game where they were down multiple scores while also knowing the rest of the division had already lost. So no harm done if they didn’t convert, they’d have the same record as everyone else if it didn’t work. It was the right type of aggression you like to see as a fan even if the end result wasn’t what you wanted. Overall I thought this game was going to be a good litmus test for the Saints and after the first half I would have said they failed the test. But the second half showed me what the team is capable of moving forward. They hung tough and made plays when they needed to and almost came back against a really good Lions team who have been playoff contenders the past few years. So although they didn’t get the win the Saints passed the litmus test in my eyes. If the Saints can consistently play like they did in the second half moving forward there’s no telling what their ceiling could be this year.