Cajuns, Golden Eagles Set For Thursday Night SBC Battle

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team prepares for its third nationally-televised contest of the season when it renews a century-old rivalry on Thursday (Nov. 9) against Sun Belt Conference West Division rival Southern Miss at Cajun Field.

Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPNU with Courtney Lyle (pxp) and Hutson Mason (analyst) providing the commentary.

Fans in the Lafayette area can listen to the call of Jay Walker (pxp), Gerald Broussard (analyst) and Cody Junot (sideline) on Hot 107.9 FM, 103.3 The Goat, KPEL 1420 AM or worldwide on the Varsity Network app.

Louisiana (5-4, 2-3 SBC) and Southern Miss (2-7, 1-5 SBC) meet for the 53rd time in a series which dates back to a 66-0 Ragin' Cajuns victory on Nov. 17, 1923. The meeting between the schools will be the sixth since 2001 with USM holding a 10-game win streak in the series dating back to 1994.

In last year's contest in Hattiesburg, USM built a 20-5 lead after the first quarter and earned a 39-24 victory over the Ragin' Cajuns in the first conference battle between the schools since 1951 when both were members of the old Gulf States Conference.

The Ragin' Cajuns, who looks to become bowl eligible for a school-record sixth consecutive season, make their third appearance on ESPNU in 2013 – all at home – after splitting games against Texas State (W, 34-30) and Georgia State (L, 20-17).

Louisiana, ranked 15^th nationally in team sacks (3.00/g) and 20^th in rushing offense (197.3), are led on offense by running back Jacob Kibodi (611 yards rushing, 6 TDs) with K.C. Ossai (54 tackles), Jasper Williams (53 tackles) and Kendre' Gant (52 tackles) spearheading the defense.

Jacob Bernard (24 receptions, 1 TD), Robert Williams (24 receptions, 3 TDs), Peter LeBlanc (23 receptions, 4 TDs) and Neal Johnson (20 receptions, 2 TDs) have been the top receivers for the Ragin' Cajuns with Kenneth Almendares (63 points) converting on 33 of 34 extra point attempts and 10 of 11 field goals in 2023.

Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.

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GAME 10 PREVIEW – Louisiana (5-4, 2-3 SBC) vs. Southern Miss (2-7, 1-5 SBC)
Stadium/Location: Cajun Field (41,426) / Lafayette, La.
Date/Time: Thursday, November 9 at 6:30 p.m.

TV/RADIO
TV: ESPNU
Talent: Courtney Lyle (PXP), Hutson Mason (Analyst)

Radio: Hot 107.9-FM, The GOAT 103.3, KPEL 1420 AM, Varsity Network
Talent: Jay Walker (PXP), Gerald Broussard (Analyst), Cody Junot (Sideline)

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Southern Miss leads, 40-11-1
In Lafayette: USM leads, 15-10-1
In Hattiesburg: USM leads, 23-1
Neutral Sites: USM leads, 2-0
Streak: USM +10
First Meeting: Louisiana, 66-0 – 11/17/1923 in Lafayette
Last Meeting: Southern Miss, 39-24 – 10/22/2022 in Hattiesburg

LOUISIANA RETURNS HOME TO FACE SOUTHERN MISS
• The Ragin' Cajuns look to get back into the win column as it returns home to Cajun Field to face the Southern Miss Golden Eagles on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
• Louisiana is looking to register its sixth win of the year to become bowl eligible for the sixth consecutive season.
• Thursday's meeting is the 53rd meeting all-time with Southern Miss holding a 40-11-1 advantage over the Cajuns. Louisiana is looking for its win over the Golden Eagles since Oct. 2, 1993.

A LOOK AT THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
• Louisiana's defensive has been a force on opposing quarterbacks, as the Cajuns have recorded 27 sacks. The Ragin' Cajuns are averaging 3.00 sacks per game, which ranks tied for 15^th nationally and first in the Sun Belt.
• Louisiana's offense has been equally as impressive as the Ragin' Cajuns average 31.1 points per game.
• The Ragin' Cajuns rushing attack ranks 20th in the country and second in the Sun Belt at 197.3 yards per game.
• Jacob Kibodi was put on scholarship following the win at UAB and has rushed for 508 yards on 74 carries (6.8 YPC) with six touchdowns since the win against the Blazers.
• Cameron Whitfield has made an impact defensively as he is the team's leader in sacks with seven to go along with eight tackles for loss, which ranks second on the team. Whitfield was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week following his performance at South Alabama in which he had 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.
• Kendre' Gant has stepped up for the Louisiana defense has he ranks first on the team with 8.5 tackles for loss, second in sacks at 5.5 and third in tackles with 52. He has also forced three fumbles while recovering three, including one for a touchdown at South Alabama.
• Kenneth Almendares has continued his stellar play from a year ago as he enters Thursday's contest 10-for-11 on his field goal attempts and tied the school record for most consecutive field goals made at 18.

LOOKING BACK AT ARKANSAS SATE
• Peter LeBlanc had a career game as the New Iberia, Louisiana, native set a season-high in receptions (6) and a career-best in yards (129) to go along with a touchdown.
• LeBlanc put the Cajuns on the board as he hauled in an 87-yard pass from Zeon Chriss, the fourth-longest reception in program history.
• Chandler Fields, who came into the game in the fourth quarter, completed 10 passes for 92 yards.
• Defensively, Kailep Edwards and Tyree Skipper led the team in tackles with a career-high nine apiece as Edwards tallied a QB hurry while Skipper added a half tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
• Kendre' Gant added four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a half sack.

AGAINST THE GOLDEN EAGLES
• Thursday's meeting is the 53rd meeting all-time with Southern Miss holding a 40-11-1 advantage over the Cajuns.
• Louisiana is looking for its win over the Golden Eagles since Oct. 2, 1993.
• One of UL's most common opponents, the two teams faced off for the first time since 2008 last season with Southern Miss topping Louisiana, 39-24 in Hattiesburg.
• In Lafayette, the Ragin' Cajuns hold a 10-15-1 record against the Golden Eagles.

GRADUATES
• Twelve Ragin' Cajuns proudly don the Sun Belt graduate patch on their jersey after graduating with their Bachelor's degree.
• The list includes Kenneth Almendares, Jacob Bernard, Glenn Brown, Kaleb Carter, Alan Guerrieri, Jacob Kibodi, Thomas Leo, Patrick Mensah, Pearse Migl, James Ohonba, Nathan Thomas and Ben Wooldridge.

125TH ANNIVERSARY
• Throughout the 2023-24 athletics season, all Louisiana sports teams will celebrate the University's 125th anniversary.
• The 125 logo will be displayed on Louisiana's helmets and throughout Cajun Field.
• On July 14, 1898, Louisiana Governor Murphy J. Foster signed Act 162 to establish Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
• The University has been a staple in the Lafayette community and was designated as a Carnegie R1 university in 2022.

Cajuns, Golden Eagles Set For Thursday Night SBC Battle

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Players Mentioned

Kenneth Almendares

Jacob Bernard

Kaleb Carter

Zeon Chriss

Kailep Edwards

Chandler Fields

Kendre' Gant

Alan Guerrieri

Neal Johnson

Jacob Kibodi

Peter LeBlanc

Thomas Leo

Patrick Mensah

Pearse Migl

James Ohonba

K.C. Ossai

Tyree Skipper

Nathan Thomas

Cameron Whitfield

Jasper Williams

Robert Williams

Ben Wooldridge

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