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Nicholls plays in the Southland Conference — a prominent conference in the Football Championship Subdivision, which is the second-largest division of college football’s hierarchy.
Kansas plays in the Big 12 — one of the best leagues in America, firmly at the top of the sport’s food chain.
On paper, Big 12 beats Southland 99 times out of 100 when they cross paths.
But on Sept. 1, 2018, Nicholls was that 1 in 100 that they were looking for.
The Colonels beat Kansas 26-23 in overtime, opening up an expectation-filled season with a huge victory over a Power 5 program.
The teams played 60 minutes and were tied 20-20 after a last-second 43-yard field goal from kicker Lorran Fonseca tied the game.
In OT, Kansas got the ball first and blinked, stalling their drive with just a field goal to go up 23-20.
But quarterback Chase Fourcade didn’t blink back.
He navigated the Colonels 25 yards into the end zone, engineering two key runs, including the game-winner — a 4-yard scamper which sealed the victory.
It’s the second-straight year the Colonels win in thrilling fashion after opening last season with a home win against McNeese State, which was also decided in the last seconds.
“I am so proud of our team,” Nicholls coach Tim Rebowe said after the win. “We made mistakes, but we always came back. We competed and fought and found a way to get a win.”
Truth is, if you took the logos off the helmets and put both teams in generic jerseys, one never would have been able to tell which team was “supposed” to win and which wasn’t.
The Colonels were every bit of Kansas’ equal from start-to-finish, forcing a three-and-out defensively in the first possession of the game, then driving the ball straight down Kansas’ throat 78 yards in nine plays to take a 7-0 lead.
Halfback Dontrell Taylor delivered the biggest play with a 14-yard touchdown run, but new addition transfer Kendall Bussey also had an impact, making plays both as a ball carrier and as a receiver on the drive.
Bussey was huge in the Nicholls win, carrying 28 times for 123 yards and a score.
Taylor had 9 carries for 51 yards and a score.
After falling behind 7-0, Kansas fought back with 10 unanswered points to take a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter, first with a Steven Sims touchdown grab and next with a 54-yard field goal from kicker Gabriel Rui.
But the Colonels stiffened after that, tying the game at 10-all at halftime with a short field goal from Fonseca before half.
In the second half, Nicholls’ defense stiffened. The Colonels retook the lead late in the third quarter on a long run from Bussey, going ahead 17-10.
That lead looked for a while like it would be enough, as the Colonels dominated the line of scrimmage, limiting Kansas to just 56 yards rushing on 32 carries on the night.
But special teams gaffes let Kansas back in it.
The Jayhawks got a safety early in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 17-12. The negative play came on a punt snap, which sailed wide and into the end zone.
After the safety kick, Nicholls’ defense and steadied the ship again until special teams woes struck again.
This time, with just more than 5 minutes left in regulation, Nicholls muffed a punt return, giving the Jayhawks the ball at the Colonels’ 10-yard-line.
With the short field, Kansas pounced, scoring a touchdown, then converting the 2-point conversion to go up 20-17 with 4:26 to play.
But then Nicholls showed its grit.
The Colonels got the ball down 3 and drove down the field, using 10 plays to mark 49 yards.
The drive stalled out, but it was deep enough into Kansas territory for Fonseca to do his magic, burying the game-tying kick, which sent the game to overtime.
Kansas had one last chance in regulation, but didn’t get close to pay dirt.
In OT, the Jayhawks ran the ball on first down for a short loss, then threw incomplete on second down.
On third down, a quarterback draw attempt was swallowed by defensive tackle Sully Laiche, which forced the field goal try.
That gave possession back to Fourcade who willed the Colonels in for the win.
He gained 13 yards to get the Colonels from the 25-yard-line to the 12-yard-line.
After that, drove in the dagger, scoring from 4 yards out to win the game — a play set up by a pass interference penalty two plays earlier.
With the win, Nicholls now has its first FBS win under Rebowe, though they’ve had several close calls in recent years.
They’ll have a chance to get No. 2 next Saturday when they travel to take on Tulane.
The Green Wave lost on Thursday at home against Wake Forest.
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