University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Football Ranked No. 23 in Preseason USA Today/AFCA Coaches Poll
8/10/2021 11:35:00 AM | Football
Ragin’ Cajuns ranked in a major preseason poll for the first time in program history
LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Football will enter the 2021 season ranked No. 23 in the Preseason USA Today/AFCA Coaches Poll, it was announced on Tuesday.
The ranking marks the first time in program history that the team has been ranked in a major preseason poll. Louisiana is the highest ranked Sun Belt Conference school and the second-highest ranked Group of 5 school in the poll behind Cincinnati, who checked in at No. 10. Â
After receiving three votes in last year's preseason poll, the Ragin' Cajuns went on to finish the 2020 campaign ranked No. 16 in the nation after compiling a 10-1 overall record and a 7-1 mark in Sun Belt play.
The team broke into the national rankings following a huge Week 1 victory, upsetting then No. 23 Iowa State, 31-14, in Ames on Sept. 12.
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Under head coach Billy Napier's leadership, Louisiana was able to navigate a season impacted by COVID-19 to claim a Sun Belt Conference Championship, its third-straight Sun Belt West Division title and its second-straight bowl victory, a 31-24 win over UTSA in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.
Napier's team finished the campaign ranked No. 15 in the AP Top 25, No. 16 in the USA Today/AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 19 in the College Football Playoff, the team's highest ranking in all three polls.
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