For the third straight year, the Nicholls State University football team will be hosting an opening round FCS playoff game as the Colonels welcome North Dakota to Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium for a 3 p.m. matchup Saturday. Tickets are available at https://nichollstickets.universitytickets.com/. Nicholls (8-4) secured the Southland Conference’s automatic berth after defeating Southeastern Louisiana in the River Bell Classic Thursday night. It marked the second straight auto bid for the Colonels, who advanced to the second round last season. North Dakota (7-4) earned an at-large berth after ending the year with back-to-back victories. Competing as an independent, the Fighting ...