| Sport | Football |
|---|---|
| First meeting | October 4, 1980 Nicholls State, 24–21 |
| Latest meeting | September 28, 2019 Texas State, 24–3 |
| Next meeting | September 20, 2025 |
| Trophy | Paddle Trophy |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 31 |
| All-time series | Nicholls leads, 16–15 |
| Largest victory | Nicholls State, 63–37 (1993) |
| Longest win streak | 3 games, three times by Nicholls, and twice by Texas State |
| Current win streak | Texas State, 2 (2011–present) |
The Battle for the Paddle is an American college football rivalry game played between the Texas State Bobcats and the Nicholls Colonels. The rivalry began between the two schools as an in-conference rivalry, first in the Gulf Star Conference and then the Southland Conference. The name for the rivalry originated as a result of a game postponement during the 1998 season. Prior to the game, heavy rains flooded San Marcos, Texas and the field at Texas State.[1] Athletic directors and coaches from both schools decided to postpone the game and coined the annual contest the "Battle for the Paddle," joking that fans and athletes needed to use a boat and paddle to get to the game. The game eventually took place on November 28, 1998, with Texas State prevailing 28–27 to win the Paddle Trophy.[2]
Nicholls head coach and offensive guru Charlie Stubbs brought controversy to the rivalry in 2011, when he refused to bring the Paddle Trophy to San Marcos due to Texas State having a scholarship advantage as an FCS transitional school, stating "we ain't bringing the damn thing."[3] Texas State won the Battle for the Paddle 38–12.[4] Since Texas State's ascension to the FBS, the teams do not meet as frequently. The two teams met in 2019, with Texas State winning 24–3. The next scheduled meeting will be in 2025.[5]
Nicholls leads series 16–15.
- ^ "Texas State Plays Host To Nicholls State In Battle For The Paddle Game on Saturday". txstatebobcats.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ "College football's most unique rivalry trophies". foxsports.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ "Goodbye to the paddle". houmatoday.com. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
- ^ "Texas State paddles Nicholls State". mysanantonio.com. October 2, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ "Texas State adds Nicholls to 2025 football schedule". FBS Schedules. Retrieved April 18, 2018.