• The Nicholls State University football team returns home for Southland play on Saturday, Sept. 26, hosting nationally-ranked Lamar University for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff. The Colonels are coming off a loss to FBS Sam Houston in their final nonconference matchup while No. 15/15 Lamar heads to Thibodaux after a bye week. The teams are two of the four squads in the Southland without a league loss as Nicholls won its opener two weeks ago while LU has yet to play a SLC game. 

• The Colonels and Cardinals were tied at 7-7 in the all-time series before Lamar reeled off two wins in a row at home, capped by a 24-17 victory last year in Beaumont. Most of the scoring came in the first half as Nicholls had two rushing touchdowns, highlighted by a 75-yard touchdown run by Shane Lee. LU kicked a field goal before halftime for a 17-14 lead, but Nicholls tied the game in the third with its own field goal. The game looked to be heading for overtime until Lamar scored the winning TD on a punt return with four minutes remaining. 

• Although Nicholls struggled in its two games against FBS programs, the Colonels are 2-0 this season versus FCS competition. Nicholls opened up the year with a 44-10 win over Mississippi Valley State and then took its Southland opener against UTRGV, 31-28. Lamar is also 2-0 against the FCS this year by knocking off Abilene Christian at home before traveling to Idaho for a win two weeks ago. Lamar is one of two teams from the Southland to be nationally ranked.

• With the victory over UTRGV, Nicholls continued its winning ways at home and has won its last five games in Thibodaux. The Colonels opened the 2025 season with a victory over defending champion UIW, then after a loss to West Georgia, ended the season with wins over McNeese, HCU and Northwestern State. Nicholls continued it strong play at home this year with a 44-10 triumph over Mississippi Valley State and a 31-28 win against UTRGV. Since Rybacki joined the coaching staff in 2015, the Colonels have had only two losing records at home -- his inaugural season and 2022.

A WIN OVER LAMAR WOULD...

... push the Colonels' home winning streak to six games.
... improve the Colonels' home record to 7-1 under Tommy Rybacki.
... bring the all-time record against Lamar to 8-9.
... give Rybacki a winning record against Texas Southland schools at 4-3 (1-0 vs UIW, HCU; 1-1 vs UTRGV; 0-1 vs Lamar, SFA).
... be the fifth straight victory at home in the series against Lamar.
... put Nicholls at 2-0 in Southland play for just the fifth time (2023, 2020, 2019, 2007).
...  improve Rybacki's record vs. Top 25 to 2-3.

BY THE NUMBERS

4 -- Punter Pharrell Harewood had four punts inside the 20 at Sam Houston, setting a new career best. The sophomore had three once last season and earlier this year against Kansas State.

20 -- Safety Skylar Husband has 20 solo tackles this season, ranking 28th in the FCS with 5.0 per game. Husband is the Colonels' second leading tackler at 23 tackles. 

37.5 -- Although Nicholls scored a combined three points in its two FBS losses, the Colonels are averaging 37.5 points in their two FCS games. The team is also averaging 419 yards while allowing 277.5.  

92 -- For the second straight year, the Nicholls roster features 92 Louisiana natives which is the most of any Division I roster this season. The Colonels have held the distinction for most of Tommy Rybacki's tenure on staff. 

LAST MEETING
Oct. 4, 2025
Lamar -- 24
Nicholls -- 17

BEAUMONT, Texas - With the game tied at 17-all and less than four minutes remaining, No. 20/25 Lamar University got its second big play of the day with an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown as the Nicholls State University football team dropped a 24-17 decision Saturday evening at Provost Umphrey Stadium. (FULL RECAP)

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