After last season’s strong start and 3-1 record in September, ULM fizzled out, failed to earn another victory and only won one Sun Belt game.
It was similar to what happened to the Warhawks in 2024 when they started 5-1 but couldn’t secure another victory.
Now in Bryant Vincent’s third season as head coach, ULM will try to reach its first bowl game since 2012 – its only bowl appearance in program history. Vincent was also serving as the interim athletic director for most of last season, but the school has since hired SJ Tuohy as the AD, who is doing what he can to build ULM’s brand despite the program having one of the lowest budgets in the FBS.
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ULM Season Preview
During the Warhawks’ eight-game losing skid last season, they only averaged 13.8 points per game. They averaged 29.3 PPG in their three victories, two of which came against UTEP and Arkansas State.
If ULM is going to eclipse last year’s win total, the offense can’t be as stagnant as it was in 2025.
QB Armenta Set To Lead ULM’s Offense
The Warhawks’ offense wasn’t prolific last season, but bringing back last year’s starting quarterback in Aidan Armenta will help it find its footing. The redshirt junior started 11 games last season and finished with 1,629 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 58.5% of his passes.
Armenta will have some returning production at wide receiver with two of the top three wideouts from last year coming back in Nic Trujillo and JP Coulter. Trujillo, a junior, had 23 receptions for 368 yards and four TDs last season. Coulter, a senior, had 21 receptions for 234 yards.
Unlike the returning WR corps, there will be no returning production in the backfield. The only players on this year’s roster who logged a rushing attempt last year are Armenta, WR Brandon Buckhaulter and QB Landon Graves. Every other RB or WR that earned a carry is no longer on the roster.
The good news is that there’s some promise with Don Chaney transferring in from Charlotte. He did not play last year but earned starts for both Miami and Louisville in the past. Sophomore Bryson Roland also transfers in from Division II Arkansas Tech where he rushed for 1,148 yards and nine scores.
ULM is trying to find that same success on the ground it had when Ahmed Hardy was running through the Sun Belt three years ago, and a strong offensive line will be the foundation for that. This year, two starters are back on the offensive front with Kaliem Croswell at guard and AJ Vinson at tackle. There is a lot of experience up front which could help spark a successful season for the offense.
ULM Defense Brings Back Important Pieces
If there’s a player the Warhawks can anchor its defense around, Noah Flemmings is that guy. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound senior linebacker led ULM with 80 tackles and 11 tackles for loss last season. He added 3.5 sacks and earned third-team All-Sun Belt honors.
Flemmings should be in for another big season and will likely be joined by senior Marcus Ross as the other starting backer. Ross registered 35 tackles and six TFLs in 2025. Sophomore Jaeden Calender appeared in all 12 games and had 25 tackles last season. He could be the leading candidate to start at the JACK spot.
Flemmings and Ross were among the top five tacklers for the team last year, and ULM returns two more from the top five in seniors Jabari Tiller and Carl Fauntroy. Tiller plays a hybrid HAWK role and logged 46 tackles and 7.5 TFLs while Fauntroy will return as a starting safety after finishing with 35 tackles in nine games.
Junior DJ Jester could carve his way into the other starting safety spot after transferring in from Hutchinson Community College where he had 95 total tackles, nine pass breakups and three interceptions over the past two seasons.
There should be some competition for reps at cornerback. Jay Harper is a returner who should compete for a starting spot and saw action in eight contests last year while transfers Jayden Lewis (Trinity Valley Junior College) and Amoni Rue (UTSA) look like they could also earn reps.
The three-front defensive line also features some question marks with not a ton of returning production. Fifth-year defensive tackle James Smith played in 11 games last season and Derek Omoregie could see some time after sitting 2025 out with an injury. Transfers CJ Wilson and Marvin Hall should also be in the mix.
2026 ULM Schedule
| Date | Opponent |
| 9/5 | at Mississippi State |
| 9/12 | at UAB |
| 9/19 | vs. Southeastern Louisiana |
| 9/26 | vs. Florida Atlantic |
| 10/3 | at South Alabama |
| 10/17 | vs. Louisiana Tech |
| 10/24 | at Troy |
| 10/31 | vs. Southern Miss |
| 11/7 | at Arkansas State |
| 11/12 | vs. Louisiana |
| 11/21 | at App State |
| 11/28 | vs. Marshall |
ULM’s Sun Belt Championship Betting Odds
ULM is currently listed at +10000 to win the Sun Belt. The Warhawks have the second-longest odds. Georgia State has the longest.
ULM’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- ULM’s win total Over/Under is at 3.5
- The Over is at -125
- The Under is at -105
ULM Season Prediction
I predict ULM wins more than 3.5 games, but I don’t think the Warhawks will compete for a conference title.
I think ULM’s defense will be solid this year and will keep the Warhawks in a lot of contests, giving them the opportunity to grind out at least a couple of league wins. I also have a lot of faith in Vincent being able to get the most out of his group. Having a returning signal caller in Armenta should also be a boost.
