ULM Warhawks 2025 College Football Preview
Posted June 14, 2025
2024 Recap
Record – 5-7
ATS – 6-6
The Warhawks came into the 2024 season on a 10-game (!) losing streak but they flew out of the gates in impressive fashion winning FIVE of their first six games. Those conquests included a blowout win over UAB and a SHOCK the WORLD moment when they took down mighty James Madison as 16-point underdogs. ULM just needed one more win to qualify for their first bowl game since 2012. What could possibly go wrong? Well, the Warhawks decided to check into HEARTBREAK HOTEL for a six-week stay as they finished the campaign on an 0-6 run, and that meant they’d be home for the holidays yet again.
ULM Warhawks 2025 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Warhawks focused on running the football LY (170 YPG, #51 FBS) and winning the time of possession battle (#46) and their THROW GAME was virtually non-existent (#129). QB Aidan Armenta is back after starting the last eight games in 2024 and he’ll need to be more efficient (9-10 TD to INT) if ULM plans on making another run at a bowl bid. Losing backup QB GENERAL BOOTY and the laughs that go along with that name is a tough break, but it’s much worse to lose star RB Ahmad Hardy who was one of the most underrated players in the Group of Five LY (1,351, 5.7, 13 TD). There’s a new top-three in the RB room this season so it’s hard to know what to expect, but keep an eye on true freshman D’Shaun Ford (5-11, 225) and Zach Palmer-Smith who had a 1,000-yard season with Richmond in 2024. Two starters are back at WR/TE but the Warhawks didn’t have a single player record more than 270 (!!) receiving yards LY so they could definitely use an upgrade. New Mexico transfer WR Nic Trujillo could provide a spark but we expect ULM to maintain focus on running the football. The offensive line is coming together nicely as they bring back a pair of starters and have promising depth across the board.
DEFENSE
ULM held up fairly well vs the pass LY (#5 Sun Belt pass efficiency D; 59%, 6.7/A, 15-6 TD to INT) but they were steamrolled by opposing rushing attacks (200 YPG, #121 FBS). They yielded 180+ YPG on the ground in each of their final seven games and that was a main contributor to their brutal slide to end the season. We really like the look of the defensive line as they’ve got one of the premier DE pairings in the conference in Kevontay Wells and Billy Pullen (combined 9 sacks, 18.5 TFL, 10 QBH LY) and some excellent size on the interior. The LB room was gutted after losing two of the team’s top-three tacklers and the Warhawks will try and fill the void with a combination of holdovers and transfers. Two starters return to solidify the back end of the defense in CB David Godsey and safety Carl Fauntroy but they’ll definitely miss safety Wydett Williams who led the Warhawks in tackles LY (100).
SPECIAL TEAMS
There’s good news to report as the Warhawks have continuity in the kicking game. PK Max Larson was very reliable LY (14/17 FG, 27/28 XP) and punter Mackenzie Ryan was consistent (39.2, 36.8 net). They’ll need to find new primary return men.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – It’s gonna be a challenge from start to finish. Sure they get something called St Francis to open up the season but they have the privilege of getting slaughtered the next week at ROLL TIDE. They got a decent draw from the East (at Coastal, ODU) but the last three games are nasty (South Alabama, at Texas St, at Louisiana).
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Northwestern (Oct 4)
This game pops up in the middle of a pair of FUN BELT tilts (Arkansas St, at Coastal) and those games are much more important than this one. FWIW, HC Bryant Vincent didn’t seem to mind getting drilled by Power Four teams LY (L 52-3 at Texas, 48-14 at Auburn).
Season Win Total
Market consensus June 14
Over 4.5 -130
Under 4.5 +100
MEGALOCKS says:
No leanage.
The roster is definitely improved over last season but the schedule doesn’t do them many favors. GUN TO THE HEAD selection would be the ‘over’ but we need to do some more digging.
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The Warhawks almost made the postseason last year despite averaging just 21 PPG and allowing 29 PPG.
ULM has played 38 years at the FBS level and booked just THREE winning seasons and participated in one bowl game. The Ohio Bobcats tore them apart in the 2012 Independence Bowl (L 45-14).
Monroe is the 9th largest city in the GREAT STATE of LOUISIANA and it changed its name from Fort Miro in 1820 to commemorate the first arrival of the steamboat James Monroe. And of course, that James Monroe was the 5th President of the United States. Historical trivia BOMBS, yo.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
Year one of the Bryant Vincent experience went very well and the Warhawks exceeded everyone’s expectations, particularly in the first half of the season. This year’s roster is deeper and it doesn’t have any glaring holes, but it’s fair to say they could use a few more legit playmakers at RB and WR. Our SUN BELT INSIDERS believe this team will be better than the final record indicates due to a tough schedule, especially at the end of the regular season. We think they’ll fall just short of a bowl bid but we’ll be cheering loudly (as always) for them to find their way into the postseason.