1986 Nicholls State Colonels football team

American college football season

1986 Nicholls State Colonels football
ConferenceGulf Star Conference
Record10–3 (2–2 Gulf Star)
Head coach
  • Sonny Jackson (6th season)
Home stadiumJohn L. Guidry Stadium
Seasons
← 1985
1987 →
1986 Gulf Star Conference football standings
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 11 Sam Houston State $^ 3 – 1 – 0 8 – 3 – 0
No. 12 Nicholls State ^ 2 – 2 – 0 10 – 3 – 0
Northwestern State 2 – 2 – 0 5 – 5 – 1
Southwest Texas State 2 – 2 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Stephen F. Austin 1 – 3 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

The 1986 Nicholls State Colonels football team represented Nicholls State University as a member of the Gulf Star Conference during the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Sonny Jackson, the Colonels compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 2–2 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for second in the Gulf State. Nicholls State advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, beating Appalachian State in the first round before losing to the eventual national champion, Georgia Southern in the quarterfinals.[1] The team played home games at John L. Guidry Stadium in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 6at Youngstown State*W 34–17
September 13at No. 13 (D-II) Troy State*
W 26–257,500[2]
September 20McNeese State*W 34–10[3]
September 27Northeast Louisiana*No. 17
  • John L. Guidry Stadium
  • Thibodaux, LA
W 17–13[4]
October 4at Southwest Missouri State*No. 12W 31–0
October 11No. T–16 Southern*No. T–9
  • John L. Guidry Stadium
  • Thibodaux, LA
W 17–10[5]
October 18at No. 19 Stephen F. AustinNo. T–9W 14–10
October 25at Southwest Texas StateNo. 10
W 35–21[6]
November 1Sam Houston StateNo. 4
  • John L. Guidry Stadium
  • Thibodaux, LA
L 38–41[7]
November 8at Northwestern StateNo. 10L 13–28
November 22Weber State*No. 16
  • John L. Guidry Stadium
  • Thibodaux, LA
W 34–30
November 29at No. 6 Appalachian State*No. 12W 28–267,767[8]
December 6at No. 4 Georgia Southern*No. 12
L 31–559,121

[9]

References

  1. ^ Legendre, Raymond (December 29, 2006). "Unbreakable: A look back at the 1986 Nicholls State Colonels football team". The Houma Courier. Houma, Louisiana. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  2. ^ "Final 1986 Division II Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "Nicholls routs McNeese". The Daily Advertiser. September 21, 1986. Retrieved March 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Nicholls State stands tall against Northeast by 17–13 score". The Daily Advertiser. September 28, 1986. p. 41. Retrieved January 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Nicholls still unbeaten". Daily World. October 12, 1986. Retrieved August 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Hudson's passing moves NSU to 8–0". The Daily Advertiser. October 26, 1986. Retrieved March 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Nicholls drops 41–38 decision to Sam Houston for first loss of year". The Eunice News. November 2, 1986. Retrieved December 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Hodson leads Nicholls over Appalachian St". The Daily Advertiser. November 30, 1986. Retrieved November 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Nicholls State University Athletics - 1986 Football Schedule" (PDF). Nicholls State University Department of Athletics. p. 63. Retrieved September 17, 2017.