MOBILE, Ala. – The ULM Warhawks (0-4) hit the road as Sun Belt play begins, facing the South Alabama Jaguars (2-2) on October 3 at 6 p.m. in Hancock Whitney Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, as well as on LA105 with the Voice of the Warhawks Mike Hammett and color analyst Mike McGee.

OPENING DRIVE –
• The ULM football team hits the road to open Sun Belt competition, traveling to face South Alabama in Mobile on October 3. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. in Hancock Whitney Stadium.
• The Jaguars hold the slight 7-5 edge in the series history, dating back to 2012, when South Alabama joined the Sun Belt conference. When playing in Mobile, the parity expands, as the Warhawks have only won once in Mobile, a 38-10 victory in 2018. Since 2022, South Alabama records a four-game streak against ULM.
• The last time the teams faced off was 2025, a 26-14 victory for the Jaguars in Monroe. While ULM got to an early 14-0 lead in the opening quarter, the Jaguar defense held the Warhawks without a score as they scored 26 unanswered points. Noah Flemmings remained with a strong showing, returning a fumble 42 yards to the end zone and logging nine tackles on the day.
• The Warhawks finally enter Sun Belt play, in their 26th football season in the Sun Belt Conference. ULM is 10-15 in Sun Belt openers. In the Bryant Vincent era, the Warhawks are 2-0 when opening conference play, defeating Troy on the road in 2024 and Arkansas State at home in 2025.
• ULM is going on the road to open conference play for the first time since 2024. The last road conference-opening win the Warhawks had was also in 2024, a 13-9 defense-heavy game at Troy. 
• For the second time this season, ULM is headed to compete in Alabama. Earlier in the season, the Warhawks faced UAB (L, 20-26) and later in the season, the team will travel to face Troy (Oct. 24). The last time the Warhawks faced three opponents on the road in the same state–outside of Louisiana–was 2024, when the teams traveled to Troy and South Alabama, along with Auburn. 
• On the 2026 roster, ULM welcomes back 49 returners and brings in 56 newcomers, providing an 48% retention rate from 2025. Out of the newcomers, the Warhawks welcome 10 first-years, 23 NCAA transfers and 23 JUCO transfers to the bayou. Out of those returning to Monroe, 20 have played with ULM for one year, 21 for two years, three for three years and four for four years.
• 17 Warhawks on the roster are competing in the 2026 season having already completed a degree. On the defense, Billy Pullen, Kevontay Wells, Navarion Benson, Cooper Eldridge, Kelbee Holmes, Levontae Jacobs, Marcus Ross and CJ Wilson have already graduated. For the offense, Brandon Buckhaulter, Javon Campbell, Don Chaney, John Curtis Goodman Jr., Quentis Griffin Jr., Drew Hutchinson, Reese Steele and Korian Wilson have collected degrees. Max Larson is the lone member of the special teams room to have received a degree prior to the 2026 season.
• ULM's 12-game football schedule features six home games, four being conference opponents. The last time ULM had six home games was the 2024 season, where the Warhawks went 4-2 at Malone Stadium. Overall, it marks the eighth time that the Warhawks have played a six-game home schedule since joining the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A). 
• ULM's 2026 opponents went a combined 72-81 (.471) in 2025, with five opponents going over .500. In addition, seven foes also participated in postseason bowl games a year ago: Mississippi State (Duke's Mayo Bowl), Louisiana Tech (Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl), Troy (IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl), Southern Miss (New Orleans Bowl), Arkansas State (XBox Bowl), the Ragin' Cajuns (68 Ventures Bowl) and App State (JLab Birmingham Bowl).
• Four ULM football players have been recognized on the Preseason All-Sun Belt teams, the most in the Bryant Vincent era and the most since 2020. Two offensive and two defense players were featured on the teams for the Warhawks. AJ Vinson and Noah Flemmings were recognized on the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team and Nic Trujillo and Jabari Tiller were named to the second team.
• ULM has 26 states featured on its roster in 2026. In announcing its roster, ULM Football posts 19 Louisiana players, 11 coming from Monroe's own Ouachita Parish. Louisiana is the state with the most representatives on the team, with Mississippi following close behind with 18. Texas records the third-most with 15 and Alabama records 10. Iowa, Florida, Pennsylvania and Georgia all record a few, while 19 other states are represented with one or two. 
• ULM's coaching staff features six new faces in 2026, including offensive coordinator and receivers coach Jesse Montalto, special teams coordinator and defensive line coach Tony McClain, pass game coordinator Chris Jones, running backs coach Shawn Simmons and tight ends coach Gavin Blomberg. Montalto arrives after eight seasons at the helm of Iowa Central CC, where he claimed the Region XI title and ICCAC Coach of the Year in 2019. McClain makes his ULM appearance after time at East Texas A&M, where he spent two seasons. Jones arrives from a season in the Belichick era at North Carolina as the senior associate director of player personnel. Simmons also arrives from Iowa Central CC, previously playing at Central Methodist. Blomberg rounds out the new staff from Iowa Central.
• Staff updates came in the offseason as well, with Troy Reffett taking over duties at defensive coordinator. Derek Cronenwett was named the team's general manager as Micheal Atiyeh became the director of football operations. Isaac Lopez is responsible for strength & conditioning efforts for the 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.