For the first time since 2014, Louisiana-Monroe is 3-1 to start the season.
The strong start includes a 13-9 victory on the road against Troy last week, where the Warhawks scored in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard Ahmad Hardy run to take the lead for good. The Trojans had two more possessions to respond, but ULM held them to just five total yards on those drives. It was the second victory for the Warhawks as an underdog this season.
College football betting odds had ULM as a 6.5-point underdog against Troy. It was an 11.5-point underdog in a 32-6 win over UAB two weeks ago. The Warhawks’ only loss was against Texas.
It was almost fitting for head coach Bryant Vincent that ULM had its way with UAB.
Vincent served as the interim coach for the Blazers in 2022 when Bill Clark resigned prior to the season. The Blazers went 7-6 that year and picked up a win in the Bahamas Bowl. However, Vincent was passed on for the permanent position and UAB instead rolled with Trent Dilfer, who has since lost the trust of some UAB faithful.
ULM isn’t an easy place to win. Coaches have struggled to have consistent success with a program that doesn’t have a ton of resources or funding. The early success in the Vincent era has to be refreshing for the program and the school. The Warhawks have already surpassed their Over/Under preseason win total of 2.5 games and have already won more games than they did last season.
A lot of the early success for the Warhawks can be attributed to their defense. It ranks second in the Sun Belt, allowing 20 points and 325.5 yards per game. The Warhawks have been dominant in the turnover department, already securing six turnovers on the season.
Defensive back Wydett Williams Jr. has been making plays all over the field and is tied with a team-high 34 total tackles. He’s added one sack, two interceptions, and one pass breakup. Defensive end Billy Pullen has been living in opposing backfields and already has 3.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss to go with a forced fumble.
Things will only get more difficult for the Warhawks, and especially this defense, as they meet a red-hot James Madison team this weekend. JMU has scored 133 combined points in its past two games. To say this defense will be tested is an understatement.
ULM has only been to a bowl game once in program history, which was in 2012 when it went 8-5. That was the best mark during its time as a Division I program. It would be a long shot to say that the Warhawks could get close to eight wins this season, especially considering their difficult conference slate, but perhaps an eight-win season is in the near future if this program can find its footing under Vincent.
Could the Warhawks reach a bowl game, though? As it looks right now, I think there are two more games that they have a shot at winning — against Southern Miss next week and at Arkansas State on Nov. 23. If they manage to squeak out wins in those two contests, then they’d need a big time upset to reach bowl eligibility.
It’s not impossible. Stranger things have happened.
