1996 Nicholls State Colonels football team

The 1996 Nicholls State Colonels football team represented Nicholls State University as a member of the Southland Football League during the 1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by second-year head coach Darren Barbier, the Colonels compiled an overall record of 8–4 with mark of 4–2 in conference play, placing second in the Southland. Nicholls State advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, losing in the first round to eventual national runner-up, Montana. The team played home games at John L. Guidry Stadium in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

1996 Nicholls State Colonels football
NCAA Division I-AA First Round, L 3–48 vs. Montana
Conference	Southland Football League
Record	8–4 (4–2 Southland)
Head coach	Darren Barbier (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Manny Michel (2nd season)
Home stadium	John L. Guidry Stadium
Seasons ← 1995 1997 →

1996 Southland Football League standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 5 Troy State $^		5	–	1					12	–	2
No. 19 Nicholls State ^		4	–	2					8	–	4
No. 22 Stephen F. Austin		3	–	3					7	–	4
Northwestern State		3	–	3					6	–	5
Sam Houston State		3	–	3					4	–	7
Southwest Texas State		2	–	4					5	–	6
McNeese State		1	–	5					3	–	8
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Source
August 29	at Northeast Louisiana*		Malone Stadium Monroe, LA	L 12–14
September 14	Jacksonville State*		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	W 21–8
September 21	at No. 4 Troy State		Veterans Memorial Stadium Troy, AL	L 7–37
October 5	at Samford*		Seibert Stadium Homewood, AL	W 10–3
October 12	No. 19 Northwestern State		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA (NSU Challenge)	W 19–7
October 19	No. 12 Stephen F. Austin		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	L 11–27
October 26	at Southwest Texas State		Bobcat Stadium San Marcos, TX (rivalry)	W 49–36 ^5OT	^[1]
November 2	No. 25 Southern*		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	W 14–0	^[2]
November 9	Sam Houston State		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	W 20–10	^[3]
November 16	Harding*	No. 22	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	W 29–19
November 23	at McNeese State	No. 22	Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA	W 17–16	^[4]
November 30	at No. 2 Montana	No. 19	Washington–Grizzly Stadium Missoula, MT (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)	L 3–48
*Non-conference game Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game

^[5]

References

1. "Nicholls State captivates win in five OTs". The Daily Advertiser. October 27, 1996. Retrieved March 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Nicholls St. 14, Southern 0". The Alexandria Daily Town Talk. November 3, 1996. Retrieved August 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Nicholls State 20, Sam Houston State 10". Austin American-Statesman. November 10, 1996. Retrieved December 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Nicholls St. 17, McNeese St. 16". Daily World. November 24, 1996. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Nicholls State University Athletics - 1996 Football Schedule" (PDF). Nicholls State University Department of Athletics. p. 64. Retrieved September 5, 2017.