2017 Nicholls State Colonels football team

2017 Nicholls State Colonels football
NCAA Division I First Round, L 31–38 vs. South Dakota
Conference	Southland Conference
Ranking
STATS	No. 25
FCS Coaches	No. 23
Record	8–4 (7–2 Southland)
Head coach	Tim Rebowe (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator	Rob Christophel (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple spread
Defensive coordinator	Tommy Rybacki (3rd season)
Base defense	Multiple
Home stadium	John L. Guidry Stadium

2017 Southland Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 10 Central Arkansas $^		9	–	0					10	–	2
No. 4 Sam Houston State ^		8	–	1					12	–	2
No. 25 Nicholls State ^		7	–	2					8	–	4
No. 22 McNeese State		7	–	2					9	–	2
Southeastern Louisiana		6	–	3					6	–	5
Northwestern State		4	–	5					4	–	7
Stephen F. Austin		4	–	5					4	–	7
Abilene Christian		2	–	7					2	–	9
Incarnate Word		1	–	7					1	–	10
Lamar		1	–	8					2	–	9
Houston Baptist		0	–	9					1	–	10
$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant Rankings from STATS poll

The 2017 Nicholls State Colonels football team represented Nicholls State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by third-year head coach Tim Rebowe, the Colonels compiled an overall record of 8–4 with a mark of 7–2 in conference play, tying for third place in the Southland. Nicholls State received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship, losing to South Dakota in the first round. The team played home games at John L. Guidry Stadium in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	7:00 p.m.	McNeese State		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	ESPN3	W 37–35	9,024
September 9	6:00 p.m.	at Texas A&M*		Kyle Field College Station, TX	ESPNU	L 14–24	100,276
September 16	6:00 p.m.	Prairie View A&M*		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	SLDN	W 44–13	8,212
September 23	6:00 p.m.	at No. 3 Sam Houston State		Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	ESPN3	L 17–66	12,863
September 30	7:00 p.m.	at Lamar		Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX	ESPN3	W 41–14	6,167
October 7	6:30 p.m.	Northwestern State		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA (NSU Challenge)	CST	W 14–10	5,011
October 14	3:00 p.m.	Abilene Christian		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	CST	W 29–20	7,233
October 28	2:00 p.m.	at Incarnate Word		Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium San Antonio, TX		W 38–31	4,999
November 4	3:00 p.m.	Houston Baptist		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	SLDN	W 23–17	8,203
November 11	3:00 p.m.	at Stephen F. Austin		Homer Bryce Stadium Nacogdoches, TX	ESPN3	W 34–13	8,348
November 16	6:30 p.m.	at Southeastern Louisiana	No. 25	Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA (River Bell Classic)	CST	L 17–21	6,866
November 25	3:00 p.m.	No. 16 South Dakota*		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA (NCAA Division I First Round)	ESPN3	L 31–38	9,612
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Final
STATS FCS	—	—	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	25	RV	25
Coaches	RV	RV	RV	23	RV	25	23	20	23	17	17	17	22	23