MONROE, La. – The ULM football team (3-3, 1-1 Sun Belt) will return to Malone Stadium for another Sun Belt matchup, hosting Troy (4-2, 2-0 Sun Belt) on Saturday (Oct. 18) at Malone Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. CT. The game is the annual breast cancer awareness game, with fans encouraged to wear pink.
 
Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Sean Fox (play-by-play) and Desmund Lighten (analyst) on the call. The game will also air on KLIP 105.3 FM with the Voice of the Warhawks, Mike Hammett, analyst Mike McGee and sideline reporter Chase Regian.
 
OPENING DRIVE –
• The ULM football team (3-2, 1-0 SBC) will return to Malone Stadium to continue Sun Belt play, hosting Troy (4-2, 2-0 SBC) on Saturday (Oct. 18) at 2 p.m. CT. The Warhawks are looking to build off the success of a strong home record, winning against Arkansas State for the first time since 2009 and defeating Saint Francis in a 29-0 shutout.
• Most recently, ULM fell on the road to Coastal Carolina in a downpour. With the 23-8 score, ULM led in time of possession and held the Chanticleers to 92 passing yards. Jabari Tiller posted 3 tackles for loss, with David Godsey Jr.forcing and recovering a fumble. Jonathan Bibbs scored the lone touchdown, with Dorian Lewis tacking on the two-point conversion.
• The Warhawks defeated Arkansas State in their first conference game of the season, a 28-16 homecoming victory. This is the first win over the Red Wolves since 2009 to get to an early 1-0 start in Sun Belt play. After a 10-0 deficit early, the Warhawks scored 21 unanswered points to capture the lead. ULM's defense held Arkansas State to 12 rushing yards, posting six sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery in the win.
• Saturday's game marks the 23rd meeting between the Warhawks and the Trojans, a series dating back to 1970. Troy leads the series 12-9-1, the lone tie coming in a 15-15 draw in 1973. ULM holds the edge with a one-win streak, defeating Troy 13-9 in 2024. The last Warhawk win at Malone Stadium against the Trojans was in 2021, a 29-16 victory. 
• On the road against UTEP, the Warhawks defeated their first nonconference opponent on the road since 2018. The victory also marks the team's third road win since 2020, also finding victory in 2024 at Troy and in 2022 against Georgia State.
• Defensive lineman Dylan Howell leads the Sun Belt with 0.67 sacks per game, ranking 40th in FBS. D'Arco Perkins-McAllister sit at third with 0.50 sacks per game. Running back Braylon McReynolds sits at fourth in the Sun Belt and 29th in FBS with 6.23 yards per carry. 
• ULM defensive back D'Arco Perkins-McAllister was voted Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week after a media member panel vote on August 31. Perkins-McAllister played lights out for the Warhawks in week one, leading the defense in the team's first shutout in a decade. His two sacks are second in the Sun Belt Conference. The Nashville, Tenn., native claimed five solo tackles on the evening and three assists in a game where the opponent only crossed the 50-yard line once. 
• The Warhawks saw multiple ULM debuts on October 4 at Northwestern, as several ULM players logged their first snaps. Zy Jackson made his defensive debut, collecting three tackles. Receiver Nic Trujillo also caught a few passes in his debut. 
• Aidan Armenta remains the starting quarterback for the Warhawks, completing 69 of 124 passes for 749 yards and seven touchdowns. The redshirt sophomore tied his career high with 17 completions against Arkansas State (Sept. 27). 
• Monroe native Landon Graves has also seen action at quarterback this season, throwing five-for-nine across four games and collecting a touchdown in his first career drive. Graves also posted a 16-yard quarterback keeper against Northwestern (Oct. 4), a career high. Hunter Herring has also seen action in a unique position, appearing in multiple positions on the field to push the Warhawks ahead. Herring scored the first touchdown of the season for the Warhawks and posted another against UTEP.
• The running back room in Monroe has proven to be deep, as five RBs have seen action so far this season. Braylon McReynolds has claimed five starts thus far, leading the team with 436 yards from 70 attempts and two touchdowns. McReynolds notched his first touchdown as a Warhawk against Saint Francis, a 13-yard reception into the end zone. 
Four other running backs contributed to the 1,079 rushing yards this season, the team averaging 5.1 yards per rush. Dorian Lewis has posted 156 yards on 18 carries, including a 72-yard rush to get to the red zone at UTEP (Sept. 20). Lewis also picked up the two-point conversion at Coastal Carolina (Oct. 11). Freshman D'Shaun Ford has seen 12 carries and 41 yards and Zach Palmer-Smith has recorded 166 yards off 35 carries, including his first ULM rushing touchdown against Arkansas State (Sept. 27). Tyrell Reed Jr. has collected 62 yards, averaging 3.9 yards per carry. 
• Jonathan Bibbs leads the receiving room, tallying 156 yards from 12 receptions, averaging 26.0 yards per game. Most recently, Bibbs caught the touchdown reception against Coastal Carolina, a 27-yard reception in the end zone. Tyler Griffin has claimed 150 yards from 10 receptions, including a touchdown reception from quarterback Graves in the season opener. Veteran Jake Godfrey has notched 136 yards off nine receptions, getting a touchdown reception from Armenta into the end zone at UTEP (Sept. 20) and his fourth career touchdown reception vs. Arkansas State (Sept. 27). Junior JP Coulter has also seen action this season, posting 78 yards off nine receptions. 
Receiver Nic Trujillo made the return to the field against Northwestern (Oct. 4), sidelined for the first four games due to injury. In making his first catch as a Warhawk, Trujillo caught a 34-yard pass from Armenta to score an early touchdown against the Wildcats.
• Noah Flemmings leads the team defense with 34 tackles, logging five tackles for loss through six games. A career-high stat line of 2.0 TFLs, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery came for Flemmings against Arkansas State (Sept. 27). Carl Fauntroy follows closely behind with 28 tackles (14 UA, 14 A), along with a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
Former Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week D'Arco Perkins-McAllister continues finding success  with the Warhawks, posting 23 tackles, three tackles for loss and three sacks across six games. Perkins-McAllister also blocked a field goal against Arkansas State, ULM's first blocked field goal since 2023.
David Godsey Jr. and Lynard Harris are credited with two of the four interceptions on the season, both coming in the final two minutes against UTEP to prevent a last-minute comeback from the Miners. Godsey Jr. also forced and recovered a fumble at Coastal Carolina (Oct. 11). Kristopher Robinson also got in on the action, recording an interception against the Red Wolves. Robinson also logged a career-high eight tackles and a tackle for loss in the contest. Cliff Mosley also contributed to the defensive effort, catching his first career interception against the Red Flash to force another turnover. 
A few Warhawks saw career games against the Red Wolves, especially on the defensive side. Jaeden Calender posted his first career sack, one of six against Arkansas State. Godsey Jr. notched a career-high two pass breakups and Kelbee Holmes saw his first career quarterback hurry. Dylan Howell saw two sacks on the day, a career high for the ULM veteran. Newcomer Tae Woody also posted a career game with four tackles, 1.0 TFL and a quarterback hurry.
• Offensive lineman Elijah Fisher was recognized on multiple preseason watch lists, including the All State Wuerffel Trophy Watchlist and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Trophy Watchlist. The Wuerffel Trophy recognizes college football players who exemplify community service, academic excellence and athletic achievement. The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Trophy recognizes the top offensive player who exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity.
• Seven Warhawks were named to the Phil Steele Preseason Sun Belt teams. On the Phil Steele Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team were offensive lineman Elijah Fisher, defensive lineman Kevontay Wells, defensive back D'Arco Perkins-McAllister and placekicker Max Larson. On the fourth team were offensive lineman Jay Mickle, linebacker Billy Pullen and linebacker Seidrion Langston.
• Kevontay Wells was also named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Defense, as voted on by the conference's coaches. In his first season with the Warhawks, Wells led the team with 11.0 tackles for loss, which ranked tied for sixth in the Sun Belt. He added 50 total tackles and three sacks in a breakout junior season. Wells is the first Warhawk to be named to a Preseason All-Sun Belt team since 2020, when ULM placed a trio of players (Josh Johnson, Josh Pederson and Corey Straughter) on the preseason first team.
• Family connections on the ULM football coaching staff include Bryant Vincent's son, Brady Vincent, as the team's Tight Ends Coach. Bret Vincent makes it three Vincents featured in the ULM football program, with Bret playing wide receiver for the Warhawks. The Vincent family is not the only family tie for ULM. Defensive Coordinator Earnest Hill enters his second season on the staff, with his son Bryan Hill working as a defensive assistant coach.