Phil Longo called four consecutive passes after Sam Houston reached first-and-goal at Tulsa’s 5 on its final possession. Three fell incomplete. The fourth ended in a strip sack, sealing Sam Houston’s 23-17 loss. Longo said the staff liked the opportunities against Tulsa’s coverage and pressure, but accepted responsibility for not practicing the execution details enough.
Nicholls visits Saturday, September 19, at 6 p.m. Central on ESPN+, and Sam Houston has a 91.7% chance to win. Expect a satisfying home evening. After two close losses, the Bearkats need to finish drives without another squandered chance like the final possession against Tulsa. The interactive guide has the season forecasts, with the explanation in the methodology.
Landyn Locke threw for 335 yards at Troy, then 316 yards and two touchdowns without an interception against Tulsa. He has supplied plenty of passing production to enjoy. His blockers have allowed four sacks and then five, however, while Sam Houston’s net rushing totals have been 38 and 55 yards. Another big passing total would be more reassuring with fewer possessions interrupted by a defender reaching Locke.
Against Tulsa, Alton McCaskill gained 48 rushing yards and Landan Brown added 25. Locke finished at minus-24 after 46 sack yards were charged against him. The 55-yard team total therefore includes both the backs’ limited contribution and the damage from pressure. Watch for McCaskill and Brown to get useful gains before third down, giving Longo a reason to keep handing off and Locke fewer obvious passing situations.
Sam Houston’s offseason transfer additions included four offensive linemen and six defensive linemen. Fans should be able to see that investment in room for the backs, time for Locke and fewer opposing runners escaping into open space. Nicholls will make the protection work. The Colonels recorded four sacks against UTRGV, two by Kasai Jones. Keeping Jones away from Locke would give the quarterback a chance to finish his reads instead of another possession ending behind the line.
Sam Houston has recorded four sacks in each game, but allowed 177 rushing yards at Troy and 241 against Tulsa. Tulsa’s total included a 56-yard fake-punt touchdown and an 81-yard conventional touchdown run. The punt unit needs to recognize and stop the fake; the defense needs to contain the runner after the handoff. More sacks would be welcome, but neither of those touchdowns required Tulsa to throw.
After Nicholls comes a trip to Texas Tech, an open week and an eight-game CUSA stretch beginning at Liberty. The first four conference games fall on Thursday, Wednesday, Wednesday and Tuesday nights. Saturday gives the winless Bearkats a strong chance to avoid heading to Texas Tech at 0-3, before October brings conference play and shifting game nights.
Nicholls is a familiar visitor. The former Southland opponents meet for the first time since 2021, and Sam Houston won nine of their last ten meetings. Saturday is the designated Homecoming game. Last week’s Tulsa game was the return to renovated Bowers Stadium after the displaced 2025 home schedule, drawing 13,781. That crowd made the return tangible even though the Bearkats lost. This time, a win would give the returning fans a reason to linger and celebrate.