The expectation is that at least one of the four Southland Conference football teams from Louisiana — Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese State, Nicholls State and Northwestern State — will reach the FCS playoffs.
Last season, however, all four missed out. Incarnate Word went undefeated in Southland play and reached the quarterfinals of the 24-team FCS playoffs.
Here is what to expect from the four Louisiana teams heading into the 2025 season.
SOUTHEASTERN
Last season: 7-5 overall, 6-1 Southland
Coach: Frank Scelfo (44-36, eighth season at Southeastern)
Top returners
KK Reno, LB, Sr., 6-0, 220
A leader at linebacker, Reno recorded a team-high 94 tackles last season.
Kaleb Proctor, DL, Sr., 6-3, 280
An anchor at defensive tackle, Proctor had four sacks last season along with 49 tackles.
Holden Kareokowsky, C, R-Sr., 6-3, 305
Kareokowsky started all 12 games at center and is one of five Louisiana-born offensive line starters on the team.
Newcomers
Ian Conerly-Goodly, S, Sr., 6-0, 175
Conerly-Goodly returns at safety after starting at Troy last season and was a first team All-Southland selection in 2023 with a team-high 109 tackles.
Kyle Lowe, QB, R-So., 5-10, 195
A Georgia State transfer, Lowe is competing with Sacramento State transfer Carson Camp for the starting quarterback job.
Calvin Smith, RB, Fr., 5-11, 225
A true freshman from Hahnville, Smith is one of several running backs vying for touches after last season’s leading rusher, Antonio Martin, transferred to Kansas State.
What to expect
It’s clear that a playoff berth is the goal for Southeastern. The Lions nearly won the Southland last season but came up three points short against eventual conference champion Incarnate Word.
The schedule begins with a trip to Louisiana Tech in Week 1 along with LSU in Week 4. The four-week nonconference slate is followed by eight straight conference games to close out the regular season.
“The key is we’ve got to stay healthy,” Scelfo said. “Those early games against FBS teams will be physical. We need to come out of those games healthy.”
MCNEESE STATE
Last season: 6-6 overall, 3-4 Southland
Coach: Matt Viator (78-33, first season back at McNeese since 2015)
Top returners
Bryce Strong, RB, Sr., 5-10, 177
Strong recorded 388 yards rushing and five touchdowns last season.
Jonathan Harris, WR, Sr., 6-0, 175
Harris was second on the team with 325 yards receiving on 21 receptions.
AJ Thomas, DL, So., 6-2, 230
Thomas played in all 12 games as a freshman last season, recording 31 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Newcomers
Jake Strong, QB, So., 6-2, 215
A Texas Tech transfer, Strong is competing for the starting quarterback job with returnee Alex Flores.
Keenan Landry, DL, Sr., 6-1, 285
Landry transferred from Kent State and is expected to be a key contributor at defensive tackle.
Ryan Robinson, CB, So., 5-11, 185
Robinson transferred from Iowa State after originally signing with LSU out of Edna Karr High School.
What to expect
McNeese decided to move on from Gary Goff after three seasons as head coach and reunite with Viator, who led the Cowboys to the playoffs five times from 2006-15.
The first four weeks of the schedule includes a pair of FBS opponents in UL and Utah State before an eight-game Southland slate begins.
“The expectation is to compete for the conference championship,” Viator said. “We know what the standard is here, and we have to get back to that.”
NICHOLLS STATE
Last season: 4-8 overall, 2-5 Southland
Coach: Tommy Rybacki (first season)
Top returners
Miequle Brock, RB, So., 5-9, 200
Brock was named Southland Freshman of the Year after recording 1,017 all-purpose yards.
Rasheed Lovelace, DL, R-Jr., 6-3, 310
Lovelace was a first-team All-Southland selection after recording 46 tackles.
Jake Dalmado, LB, Jr., 6-0, 215
Dalmado led the Southland with nine sacks and was a first-team All-Southland selection after recording 41 tackles.
Newcomers
Deuce Hogan, QB, graduate, 6-4, 215
Hogan, who also has had stints at Kentucky and Iowa, transfers from New Mexico State and is set to take over as the starting quarterback.
Jordan Smith, WR, Sr., 6-0, 195
Smith transfers with Hogan from New Mexico State and is set to play a key role alongside returning wideout Scrappy Osby.
Everett Hunter, TE, Jr., 6-4, 245
Hunter transfers from New Mexico and had a great spring, according to Rybacki.
What to expect
Nicholls promoted Rybacki to head coach after Tim Rebowe retired. Rybacki is a familiar face in Thibodaux, serving as Rebowe’s defensive coordinator since 2015.
Nicholls begins conference play on Saturday at home against reigning Southland champion Incarnate Word. A four-game nonconference slate follows before seven straight Southland games.
“(Week 0) is going to be a great opportunity for us in front of our home crowd,” Rybacki said. “We’ve got a challenging front end of our schedule, so we’ve got to be good early.”
NORTHWESTERN STATE
Last season: 0-12 overall, 0-8 Southland
Coach: Blaine McCorkle (0-12, second season at Northwestern State)
Top returners
Zay Davis, RB, Sr., 5-11, 195
Davis recorded 261 yards rushing last season and is expected to lead the backfield.
Landry Huddleston, LB, Jr., 5-10, 210
Huddleston recorded 63 tackles last season.
Caesar Magee, CB, graduate, 6-2, 192
Magee had a team-high three interceptions last season while also recording 63 tackles.
Newcomers
Eli Anderson, QB, Sr., 6-6, 200
Anderson transferred from Mississippi College and is likely to serve as the backup to returning starter Abram Johnston.
Garrett Morphis, OT, So., 6-6, 305
Morphis transfers from Texas Tech and is expected to start at left tackle.
Fernando Washington, LB, Jr., 6-1, 220
Washington is a junior-college transfer and recorded 50 tackles for Copiah-Lincoln Community College last season.
What to expect
Northwestern State is coming off a winless season in what’s been a rebuilding process under second-year coach Blaine McCorkle, who took over a program that saw its 2023 season come to an end after six games.
A four-game nonconference slate that includes two FBS opponents will kick off the season before eight straight conference games as the Demons look to get back in the win column for the first time since 2022.
“Any game we win will be an upset,” McCorkle said. “We took over a program going through an unheard-of situation. We just want to continue working and close the talent gap. We’re building this thing for the long haul.”