The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 22, 2024. The Colonels were picked to finish first in the conference and received nine first-place votes.[ 1]
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Nicholls
119 (9)
2
Incarnate Word
113 (8)
3
Southeastern Louisiana
94
4
Lamar
88 (1)
5
Stephen F. Austin
72
6
McNeese
64
7
Houston Christian
41
8
Texas A&M–Commerce
37
9
Northwestern State
25
Preseason All–Southland Teams
edit
The Southland Conference announced the 2024 preseason all-conference football team selections on July 22, 2024. Nicholls had a total of 15 players selected.[ 2]
Offense
1st Team
Jaylon Spears – Running back, RS-SO
Collin Guggenheim – Running back, JR
Lee Negrotto – Tight end/halfback, JR
Quincy Brown – Wide receiver, JR
Evan Roussel – Offensive lineman, JR
Kylan Dupre – Punter, SO
2nd Team
Pat McQuaide – Quarterback, JR
Reed Lambert – Offensive lineman, JR
Defense
1st Team
Rasheed Lovelace – Defensive lineman, RS-FR
Kershawn Fisher – Defensive lineman, SR
Joe Mason – Defensive lineman, SR
Hayden Shaheen – Linebacker, RS-SO
Tyler Mouton – Defensive back, JR
Kendarius Smith – Defensive back, SR
2nd Team
Eli Ennis – Linebacker, SO
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance August 31 7:00 pm at Louisiana Tech * No. 23 ESPN+ L 17–2516,570
September 7 6:30 pm at No. 18 (FBS ) LSU * No. 22 SECN+ /ESPN+L 21–44100,242
September 14 8:00 pm at No. 11 Sacramento State * No. 24 ESPN+ L 7–3412,494
September 21 3:00 pm Mississippi Valley State * ESPN+ W 66–04,828
October 5 6:00 pm at Southern * W 51–717,179
October 12 6:00 pm at No. 15 Incarnate Word ESPN+ L 10–551,801
October 19 11:00 am Northwestern State Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA (NSU Challenge ) ESPN+ W 20–05,494
October 26 3:00 pm McNeese Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA ESPN+ W 24–196,593
November 2 3:00 pm Stephen F. Austin Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA ESPN+ –
November 9 2:00 pm at Houston Christian ESPN+ –
November 16 3:00 pm at Lamar ESPN+ –
6:00 pm Southeastern Louisiana ESPN+ –
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
[ 3] [ 4] [ 5]
@ Louisiana Tech (FBS)
edit
Game One – No. 23 Nicholls Colonels at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 23 Nicholls
7
3
0 7 17
Louisiana Tech
9
6
0 10 25
at Joe Aillet Stadium , Ruston, Louisiana
Date : August 31Game time : 7:00 pmGame weather : Wind: • Weather: Cloudy • Temp: 79 °F (26 °C)Game attendance : 16,570Referee : Scott HardinTV announcers (ESPN+ ) : Chris Mycoskie (play-by-play), Shea Walker (analyst), and Madison Kaufman (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
LT – Jaylon Spears tackled in own end zone, 12:55. Bulldogs 2–0.
NICH – Rasheed Lovelace 25-yard interception return (Ray Vallee kick), 11:22. Colonels 7–2.
LT – Solo Lewis 28-yard pass from Jack Turner (Buck Buchanan kick), 10:14. Bulldogs 9–7. Drive: 3 plays, 59 yards, 1:02.
Second Quarter
LT – Marlion Jackson 14-yard pass from Blake Baker (kick blocked), 8:27. Bulldogs 15–7. Drive: 2 plays, 16 yards, 0:44.
NICH – Gabe Showalter 38-yard field goal, 0:56. Bulldogs 15–10. Drive: 4 plays, 0 yards, 0:25.
Third Quarter
No scoring
Fourth Quarter
LT – Buck Buchanan 24-yard field goal, 12:41. Bulldogs 18–10. Drive: 9 plays, 79 yards, 3:56.
LT – Jimmy Holiday 6-yard run (Buck Buchanan kick), 7:12. Bulldogs 25–10. Drive: 8 plays, 71 yards, 4:15.
NICH – Quincy Brown 27-yard pass from Pat McQuaide (Ray Vallee kick), 2:17. Bulldogs 25–17. Drive: 5 plays, 65 yards, 1:47.
Statistics
Nicholls
Louisiana Tech
First downs
13
16
Plays–yards
63–200
73–386
Rushes–yards
37–62
41–109
Passing yards
138
277
Passing: comp –att –int
10–26–0
16–32–3
Time of possession
28:18
31:42
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Nicholls
Passing
Pat McQuaide
10/26, 138 yards, TD
Rushing
Collin Guggenheim
18 carries, 79 yards
Receiving
Quincy Brown
4 receptions, 70 yards, TD
Louisiana Tech
Passing
Blake Baker
12/24, 207 yards, TD
Rushing
Marquis Crosby
9 carries, 44 yards
Receiving
Marlion Jackson
3 receptions, 76 yards, TD
Game Two – No. 22 Nicholls Colonels at No. 18 (FBS) LSU Tigers
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 22 Nicholls
7
7
7 0 21
No. 18 (FBS) LSU
9
14
21 0 44
at Tiger Stadium , Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Date : September 7Game time : 6:30 pmGame weather : Wind: NE 7 mph • Weather: Sunny • Temp: 79 °F (26 °C)Game attendance : 100,242Referee : Jeff HeaserTV announcers (SECN /ESPN+) : Matt Schumacker (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst), and Alex Chappell (sideline reporter)
Game information
First quarter
(11:15) LSU – 0-yard safety (LSU 2–0 )
(7:51) LSU – Trey'Dez Green 1-yard pass from Garrett Nussmeier , Damian Ramos kick (Drive: 7 plays, 27 yards, 3:13; LSU 9–0 )
(0:30) NSU – Collin Guggenheim 2-yard run, Gabe Showalter kick (Drive: 13 plays, 84 yards, 7:17; LSU 9–7 )
Second quarter
(12:17) LSU – Kyren Lacy 32-yard pass from Garrett Nussmeier, Damian Ramos kick (Drive: 8 plays, 73 yards, 3:06; LSU 16–7 )
(4:18) NSU – Lee Negrotto 18-yard pass from Quincy Brown, Gabe Showalter kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 7:59; LSU 16–14 )
(1:53) LSU – Ju'Juan Johnson 4-yard pass from Garrett Nussmeier, Damian Ramos kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:25; LSU 23–14 )
Third quarter
(13:52) NSU – Collin Guggenheim 67-yard run, Gave Showalter kick (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 1:08; LSU 23–21 )
(9:03) LSU – Kyren Lacy 6-yard pass from Garrett Nussmeier, Damian Ramos kick (Drive: 11 plays, 72 yards, 4:44; LSU 30–21 )
(6:43) LSU – Kyren Lacy 7-yard pass from Garrett Nussmeier, Damian Ramos kick (Drive: 5 plays, 41 yards, 2:10; LSU 37–21 )
(1:09) LSU – Zavion Thomas 4-yard pass from Garrett Nussmeier, Damian Ramos kick (Drive: 7 plays, 45 yards, 3:56; LSU 44–21 )
Fourth quarter
No scoring
Statistics
Nicholls
LSU
First downs
16
24
Plays–yards
60–295
59–382
Rushes–yards
38–150
21–68
Passing yards
145
314
Passing: comp –att –int
16–22–0
28–38–0
Time of possession
31:09
28:51
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Nicholls
Passing
Pat McQuaide
12/16, 113 yards
Rushing
Collin Guggenheim
25 carries, 145 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Quincy Brown
5 receptions, 48 yards
LSU
Passing
Garrett Nussmeier
27/37, 302 yards, 6 TD
Rushing
Kaleb Johnson
8 carries, 28 yards
Receiving
CJ Daniels
4 receptions, 71 yards
@ No. 11 Sacramento State
edit
Game Three – No. 24 Nicholls Colonels at No. 11 Sacramento State Hornets
Quarter
1
2
Total
No. 24 Nicholls
0
No. 11 Sacramento State
0
at Hornet Stadium , Sacramento, California
Date : September 14Game time : TBAGame weather : Wind: • Weather: • Temp:TV : ESPN+
Game information
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Statistics
Nicholls
Sacramento St
First downs
Plays–yards
–
–
Rushes–yards
–
–
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
– –
– –
Time of possession
:
:
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Nicholls
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sacramento St
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Mississippi Valley State
edit
Game information
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Statistics
MSVU
Nich
First downs
Plays–yards
–
–
Rushes–yards
–
–
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
– –
– –
Time of possession
:
:
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
MSVU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Nich
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Game information
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Statistics
Nich
Southern
First downs
Plays–yards
–
–
Rushes–yards
–
–
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
– –
– –
Time of possession
:
:
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Nich
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southern
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
@ No. 15 Incarnate Word
edit
Game Six – Nicholls Colonels at No. 15 Incarnate Word Cardinals
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Nicholls
3
7
0 0 10
No. 15 Incarnate Word
14
14
14 13 55
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium , San Antonio, Texas
Date : October 12Game time : 6:00 pmGame weather : Temperature: 92 • Wind: S 8 mph • Weather: SunnyGame attendance : 1,801Referee : Craig HelserTV announcers (ESPN+) : Karl Schoening (play-by-play), Sam Kaman (analyst), and Blair Villarreal (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
NSU – 5:42 Gabe Showalter 19 yard field goalNSU 3–0 Drive: 17 plays, 63 yards, 9:18
UIW – 2:05 Lontrell Turner 30 yard pass from Zach Calzada , Brack Peacock kickUIW 7–3 Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:37
UIW – 1:45 Lloyd Johnson 30 yard fumble recovery, Brack Peacock kickUIW 14–3
Second Quarter
NSU – 10:30 Scrapy Osby 8 yard pass from Pat McQuade, Gabe Showalter kickUIW 14–10 Drive: 8 plays, 24 yards, 1:24
UIW – 7:51 Jackson Lowe 16 yard pass from Zach Calzada, Brack Peacock kickUIW 21–10 Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:39
UIW – 0:35 Jackson Lowe 5 yard pass from Zach Calzada, Brack Peacock kickUIW 28–10 Drive: 67 plays, 28 yards, 2:23
Third Quarter
UIW – 11:35 Logan Compton 4 yard pass from Josh Lorick, Brack Peacock kickUIW 35–10 Drive: 2 plays, 17 yards, 0:45
UIW – 0:00 Jalen Walthall 71 yard pass from Zach Calzada, Brack Peacock kickUIW 42–10 Drive: 8 plays, 733 yards, 3:30
Fourth Quarter
UIW – 8:15 Jalen Walthall 7 yard pass from Zach Calzada, Brack Peacock kickUIW 49–10 Drive: 8 plays, 63 yards, 3:49
UIW – 3:22 Dune Smith 55 yard interception return, Brack Peacock kick missedUIW 55–10
Statistics
Nich
UIW
First downs
18
16
Plays–yards
72-260
57-363
Rushes–yards
40-123
23-89
Passing yards
137
274
Passing: comp –att –int
19-32-2
26-34-1
Time of possession
36:24
23:36
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Nich
Passing
Pat McQuaide
17/28, 90 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Jaylon Spears
12 carries, 44 yards
Receiving
Dany'e Brooks
3 receptions, 41 yards
UIW
Passing
Zach Calzada
25/33, 270 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Dekalon Taylor
6 carries, 31 yards
Receiving
Jalen Walthall
4 receptions, 80 yards, 2 TD
Game information
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Statistics
NWST
Nicholls
First downs
Plays–yards
–
–
Rushes–yards
–
–
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
– –
– –
Time of possession
:
:
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
NWST
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Nicholls
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Game Eight – McNeese Cowboys vs Nicholls Colonels – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
McNeese
0
0
0 0 0
Nicholls
0
0
0 0 0
at Guidry Stadium , Thibodaux, Louisiana
Date : Saturday October 26, 2024Game time : 3:00 PMTV announcers (ESPN+) : TBD
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics
MCN
NICH
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
McNeese
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Nicholls
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Game information
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Statistics
SFA
Nich
First downs
Plays–yards
–
–
Rushes–yards
–
–
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
– –
– –
Time of possession
:
:
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
SFA
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Nich
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Game Ten – Nicholls Colonels at Houston Christian Huskies
Quarter
1
2
Total
Nicholls
0
Houston Christian
0
at Husky Stadium , Houston, Texas
Date : November 9Game time : 2:00 pmGame weather : Wind: • Weather: • Temp:TV : ESPN+
Game information
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Statistics
Nicholls
HCU
First downs
Plays–yards
–
–
Rushes–yards
–
–
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
– –
– –
Time of possession
:
:
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Nicholls
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
HCU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Game Eleven – Nicholls Colonels at Lamar Cardinals
Quarter
1
2
Total
Nicholls
0
Lamar
0
at Provost Umphrey Stadium , Beaumont, Texas
Date : November 16Game time : 3:00 pmGame weather : Wind: • Weather: • Temp:TV : ESPN+
Game information
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Statistics
Nicholls
Lamar
First downs
Plays–yards
–
–
Rushes–yards
–
–
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
– –
– –
Time of possession
:
:
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Nicholls
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Lamar
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southeastern Louisiana
edit
Game information
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Statistics
SLU
Nicholls
First downs
Plays–yards
–
–
Rushes–yards
–
–
Passing yards
Passing: comp –att –int
– –
– –
Time of possession
:
:
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
SLU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Nicholls
Passing
Rushing
Receiving