• The Nicholls State University football team will play its final nonconference game with a trip to Texas to take on former Southland member Sam Houston on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Bowers Stadium. While this will be the 36th meeting all-time between the programs, it marks the first since 2021 when the Bearkats were still in the conference and competing at the FCS level. Nicholls will not only be looking for its first road win in Huntsville since 2002, but a victory would give the Colonels their fifth FBS win all-time. The game will kickoff at 6:00 p.m. and will air on ESPN+.

• The Colonels and Bearkats have a history that dates back to 1979. Nicholls took the first two meetings but Sam Houston now holds a 23-11-1 lead in the all-time series, helped by an 11-game winning streak. The Colonels snapped the skid with a 27-7 win in 2018 en route to their first of two back-to-back Southland championships. The Bearkats won the SLC crown in their final year in the SLC, helped by a lopsided 71-17 win at home against the Colonels which served as the program's last meeting as FCS schools. 

• Following its loss to FBS Kansas State, Nicholls bounced back to knock off UTRGV in its Southland opener, 31-28. The Colonels jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the Vaqueros tied it up in the second quarter. A late field goal put Nicholls ahead before adding two more touchdowns in the third. UTRGV rallied with two TDs with the last coming with a minute to go, but Nicholls recovered the onside kick to seal the win. Jackson Dufrene had a career day with 100 yards receiving and three touchdowns on five receptions while Ean Rodrigue also set a career mark with his fourth TD pass of the game going to Shane Lee. The defense picked up three turnovers and was led by Kennon Loftin with 12 tackles and an interception.

• The win over UTRGV, which was receiving votes in both Top 25 polls, put Nicholls on the national radar as they received two points in the AFCA Coaches Poll. Jackson Dufrene and Kennon Loftin were also recognized for their performances by being named Southland Conference Players of the Week. Loftin, in his first season after transferring from Western Kentucky, garnered Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week honorable mention as well.

A WIN OVER SAM HOUSTON WOULD...

... be the first win at Sam Houston since 2002 (Won 34-16... Lost last 10).
... put Nicholls a 3-1, matching its best start in a full season since 2007. The Colonels also had an FBS win that year, taking down Rice, 16-14, in the opener.
... give second-year head coach Tommy Rybacki his first road win, snapping the program's 11-game road losing streak.
... improve Rybacki's record against Texas schools to 4-4 (1-0 vs UIW, HCU; 1-1 vs UTRGV; 0-1 vs Lamar, SFA, and Texas State).
... end a 14-game losing streak against FBS schools, with the last victory coming in 2018 in a 26-23 overtime win at Kansas.
... be the program's fifth FBS win since 2000 -- Arkansas State, 28-22 ('01), Rice, 16-14 ('07), Western Michigan, 27-23, ('13), Kansas, 26-23 OT ('18).

BY THE NUMBERS

3 -- Receiver Jackson Dufrene tied the program's school record of three touchdown catches in one game, finishing with three scores and 100 yards on five receptions in the win over UTRGV. He was named SLC Player of the Week

3.33 -- Through three games, Nicholls ranks first in the FCS in fewest penalties, averaging just 3.33 per contest. In Tommy Rybacki's first season, the Colonels ranked 33rd with 5.33. 

4 -- Cornerback Jhamal Shelby Jr. has four pass breakups and an interception over the first three games, tying him for fourth in the FCS in passes defended. Shelby had a pick against MVSU, two breakups at Kansas State, then followed up with two more in the win over UTRGV. A transfer from Louisiana Tech, it marked the fifth time in his career that he recorded a pair of breakups. He tied for 29th in the FBS last season in passes defended.

4 -- Ean Rodrigue set a new career high for touchdown passes for the second time this season, tossing four in the win over UTRGV. Rodrigue threw three in the opener against MVSU and then matched that number alone with three to Jackson Dufrene against the Vaqueros. He added his fourth on a short pass to running back Shane Lee that put Nicholls up 31-14. 

10 -- The Colonels have created 10 turnovers this season, ranking third in the FCS. Nicholls had six turnovers against MVSU -- three picks, two fumbles and a botched kick return, a fumble recovery at Kansas State, and two more interceptions and another fumble against UTRGV. In 2025, Nicholls finished 17th in the FCS with 21 turnovers gained.

12 -- Linebacker Kennon Loftin racked up a career-high 12 tackles and added an interception against UTRGV, earning SLC Player of the Week. Loftin leads Nicholls with 24 tackles which ranks sixth in the SLC at 8.0 per game. 

LAST MEETING
March 13, 2021
Sam Houston -- 71
Nicholls -- 17

Hunstville, Texas –  Following a 7-7 tie through the first quarter against No. 12 Sam Houston, the No. 7 Nicholls State University football team quickly fell behind by 23 points in the second and the Bearkats never looked back, handing the Colonels a 71-17 loss on Saturday afternoon in Bowers Stadium (FULL RECAP)

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