Every year, LSU’s schedule includes one team from the state of Louisiana. The Tigers rotate through their fellow state schools at the FBS and FCS level. In 2022, LSU faced Southern for the first time in program history. Last year, Grambling came to town.
Now it’s Nicholls’ turn as LSU returns to Baton Rouge for the Tigers’ home opener. LSU will again try to use the week two FCS opponent to get right after a season opening loss.
LSU and Nicholls have never met, making this a first for both programs. They were scheduled to play in 2020, but that game was upended by COVID-19.
This is Nicholls’ second consecutive game against an FBS team in Louisiana after Nicholls opened the year with a loss at Louisiana Tech.
Many Tiger fans might be familiar with Nicholls thanks to its proximity to LSU, but for those that aren’t, here are five things to know about the Colonels before kickoff on Saturday night.
How did the Colonels fare against FBS competition in 2023
Nicholls played Louisiana Tech close in Week 1. It was better than its two FBS showings last year, which included blowouts at TCU and Tulane.
TCU notched a 41-6 win and the Tulane showing wasn’t much better with a 36-7 final.
Neither of those scores is considered competitive, but neither was a complete evaporation.
They returned three all-conference players
With the way FCS teams get picked in the portal, it’s a win anytime you return your best players. That’s what Nicholls did this year, bringing back running backs Collin Guggenheim and Jaylon Spears, along with offensive linemen Evan Roussel.
Spears surpassed 1,000 total yards last year with 752 on the ground and 249 through the air. Guggenheim carried it 180 times for 798 yards and 11 scores.
Roussel has been one of the FCS’s top interior offensive linemen for a few years and was a preseason All-American entering 2024.
Coaching stability
Nicholls is stable at the top with Tim Rebowe entering his ninth year as head coach.
Rebowe is a graduate of LSU and got his start in coaching at Destrehan High School. His first collegiate job was an assistant position on Nicholls’ staff in the 90s.
Rebowe had later stints at ULL and ULM before returning to Nicholls as the head coach.
Under Rebowe, Nicholls has made the FCS playoffs four times, including a 2023 campaign that saw the Colonels go 7-0 in conference play.
Rebowe led Nicholls to playoff victories in 2018 and 2019, but both resulted in second-round exits.
What they do well
The strength of the offense is the rushing attack. Nicholls has a two-headed monster at RB with Spears and Guggenheim.
They complement each other well, with Spears working as the elusive and explosive back while Guggenheim is the grinder.
Overall, the defense was the stronger unit last year. Nicholls ranked second in the Southland with just 5.5 yards per play allowed and a turnover-happy secondary led the conference with 16 picks.
The name to watch on that side of the ball is safety Tyler Morton, who has the chance to attract NFL eyeballs with another strong showing in 2024.
A few other notes
- Nicholls LB Eli Ennis was named the Southland’s Defensive Player of the Week. Despite the loss, he racked up 10 tackles, a pick, and recovered a fumble.
- Nicholls’ last FBS victory came in 2018 in the season opener over Kansas. The Colonels have won five FBS games since 2000, but have lost 10 in a row.
- Nicholls sits No. 22 in the FCS poll, rising a spot despite the loss.
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