Week 0 has UIW vs Nicholls and NCCU vs Southern taking the national stage as college football returns. Nicholls will play host to the #4 Team in the FCS Ranking UIW while the Word has had the better of the Colonels of late 1st year Head Coach Tommy Rybacki hopes to show that his defenses which won Nicholls 3 SLC Titles are as strong as ever. Southern enters the MEAC/SWAC challenge hoping to improve on a great 2024 season which saw the Jags make it to the SWAC Championship. While Head coach Terrence Graves has chosen to play both his returning and transfer QB the offence is in position to improve an their slow starting ways in 2024. The Jags show to still be a championship contender and a win against NCCU would have them potentially as Celebration Bowl favorite in the early season.

On Monday morning Sunbelt Leaders would cast a vote extending Louisiana Tech an offer to rejoin the SBC and become the 14th member. The move would take a good amount of work as schools in the eastern division had several points of contention to the motion to extend LA Tech an offer. In the end the Bulldogs will join a conference that facilitates a significant reduction in expenses as colleges are looking for ways to slim down athletic budgets.

As the House Settlement takes affect in the coming weeks how will the 11 athletic programs the represent the Group of 5 and FCS Division 1 levels react. The opportunity to redefine the program exist for schools like Tulane, UL Lafayette and LA Tech with more scholarship opportunities in all sports. But will new funding sources be the solution for FCS schools who are struggling to operate outside of a deficit.

Information on House Bill 639:

https://lailluminator.com/2025/06/08/louisiana-hikes-sports-gambling-tax-to-subsidize-college-athletics/