The Nicholls State Colonels will kick off the 2026 football season at home on Thursday, August 27, at 6 p.m. CT, facing Mississippi Valley State at Manning Field inside John L. Guidry Stadium. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+, giving fans across the country a chance to watch the Colonels' latest push under second‑year head coach Tommy Rybacki.
A second‑year surge
Rybacki enters his second season after guiding the team to a 66‑0 shutout of the Delta Devils a year ago, a performance that featured six interceptions and set a school record for defensive dominance. He is now aiming for his second straight win in season openers, a streak that would lift the program’s all‑time opener record to 25‑30.
The roster returns several key contributors, including quarterback Ean Rodrigue, who averaged 27 points over the final five games of last season, and running back Shane Lee, who burst onto the scene with eight rushing touchdowns, six of them in the last three contests. Wide receivers Karaaz Johnson and Jackson Dufrene also bring experience to the offense.
Nicholls enjoyed a perfect 4‑0 home league slate last year, dropping only a nonconference loss to West Georgia. The Colonels have won eight straight season openers at Guidry Stadium, a streak that began after a 1992 defeat and has become a point of pride for the program.
Beyond the field, the team boasts the largest contingent of Louisiana natives among Division I programs this season, with 92 players hailing from the state. This home‑grown talent, combined with the excitement of an ESPN+ broadcast, sets the stage for a potentially memorable campaign.
Fans can expect a lively atmosphere as the Colonels look to extend their winning streak against the Delta Devils, a matchup that has seen Nicholls improve its all‑time record to 3‑0 with victories in 1998 and 2024. The stage is set for another chapter in the program’s resurgence.