The Nicholls Colonels (Southland) will play at the Sam Houston State Bearkats (C-USA) in 2026, according to SHSU’s website and first reported by FBSchedules. The two teams will meet on Saturday, September 19, in Huntsville, Texas.
Sam Houston State holds a 23-11-1 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1979. The two schools were conference rivals when both were members of the Gulf South Conference from 1984 – 1986 and again in the Southland Conference from 1991 – 2021. Sam Houston has won 13 of the 14 games, including a 71-17 thrashing of Nicholls in the 2021 matchup featuring top 15 teams. Nicholls’s last win was in the 2018 matchup, 27-7.
Nicholls has four FBS opponents lined up for the next three years, including a pair for the upcoming season. The Colonels will play at the Sun Belt duo Troy and Texas State in 2025, Sam Houston State (C-USA) in 2026, and Louisiana Tech (C-USA) in 2027. The last time Nicholls defeated an FBS opponent was in 2018 when they shocked Kansas (Big 12) 26-23 in Lawrence.
As for Sam Houston State, Nicholls is the only future FCS opponent on its schedule. The Bearkats have played only one FCS opponent since moving to the FBS when they defeated Kennesaw State 24-21 during the 2023 season. Kennesaw State was an FCS independent that season and joined the FBS in 2024.
The 2026 season has over 100 FCS-FBS matchups scheduled with the inclusion of Nicholls and Sam Houston State. A full list of all future FCS versus FBS games can be found here, including the record 126 on tap for the 2025 season.
Photo Credit to Nicholls State University Athletics
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