Austin Carlisle replaced Aidan Armenta as UL Monroeâs starter at UAB and handled every credited quarterback pass and rush, gaining 93 yards on the ground but throwing for just 56. Bryson Roland added 86 rushing yards on 19 carries. ULM opened the second half with an 11-play drive to take a 20-10 lead, then went scoreless over the final 25:24 of a 26-20 loss.
Now Southeastern Louisiana visits for ULMâs home opener Saturday, September 19, at 3:30 p.m. Central on ESPN+. The Warhawks enter 0-2, but their 87% win probability makes this a game to expect them to win. See ULMâs projections in the interactive guide and how theyâre calculated in the methodology.
The quarterback change puts a specific responsibility on new offensive coordinator and receivers coach Jesse Montalto. Bryant Vincent handed him play-calling duties with an approach built around spreading defenses and using run-pass options to create lighter boxes while retaining a physical running game. For that approach to help Carlisle, completions need to make defenders account for more than the next handoff or quarterback run.
Rolandâs workload gives Montalto a back to build around. The support behind him remains less settled. Derrick Jameson and CJ Phillip combined for 16 yards on five carries at UAB, although Phillip scored ULMâs first touchdown. A productive second back Saturday would give ULM another way to sustain its running game without asking Carlisle to supply so much of it.
Troy Reffett moved up from defensive run-game coordinator and inside linebackers coach to defensive coordinator this season, so stopping the run remains central to his expanded responsibility. After recording neither a sack nor a takeaway in the opener, ULM produced three sacks and Carl Fauntroyâs interception at UAB. Yet the Blazers still rushed for 266 yards. Reffett needs his unit to force passing downs as well as disrupt them.
Southeastern has players who can punish that gap. Against North Alabama, quarterback Kyle Lowe led the Lions with 73 rushing yards, while Dkhai Joseph caught touchdown passes of 53 and 52 yards. Keeping Lowe contained without letting Joseph loose downfield deserves attention even in a game that strongly favors ULM.
This opponent also brings a familiar late-game memory. In ULMâs 34-31 win in 2018, Caleb Evans scored with 37 seconds left and added the two-point conversion before R.J. Turner blocked Southeasternâs field-goal attempt as time expired. Fans can appreciate that escape while wanting Saturday settled with the offense still moving the chains.
Vincentâs debut season went from a 5-1 start to a 5-7 finish, followed by 3-9 in 2025. That history gives sustained production more weight than an encouraging stretch. At UAB, ULM converted only three of 12 third downs and one of three fourth downs. Saturdayâs most encouraging possessions would include Carlisle finding receivers for first downs, Roland keeping the next series manageable, and Montalto calling an offense that can keep scoring after halftime.