Louisiana Football Game 8 Preview: The Texas State Game

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns return from a 10-day layoff on Tuesday when it travels to San Marcos, Texas to face Sun Belt Conference West Division rival Texas State in a nationally-televised contest at UFCU Stadium.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with the game being televised live on ESPN2. Jay Alter (play-by-play) and Rocky Boiman (analyst) will provide the commentary. Fans can also listen to the game on the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network with Jay Walker (play-by-play), Cody Junot (analyst) and Dawson Eiserloh (sideline) on the call.

Louisiana (6-1, 3-0 SBC) will cap a five-game stretch where it has won its last four contests including three on the road. The Ragin' Cajuns earned wins at Wake Forest and Southern Miss before posting a 34-24 victory against App State on Oct. 12 at Cajun Field.

The Ragin' Cajuns claimed their fourth straight victory with a 34-24 win at Coastal Carolina on Oct. 19 and will face a Texas State (4-3, 2-1 SBC) squad which comes off a 24-14 setback at Old Dominion on Oct. 19.

Louisiana has claimed all 11 games against the Bobcats in the all-time series dating back to 2013, including a thrilling 34-30 come-from-behind victory in last year's meeting at Cajun Field. The Ragin' Cajuns trailed 20-7 in the second quarter and 30-21 in the fourth before scoring twice in the final 5:54 to earn the win.

Single-game tickets for Louisiana's six home games – which include remaining games against Arkansas State (Nov. 9), South Alabama (Nov. 16) and Troy (Nov. 23) – are currently on sale now. Tickets start as low as $15 and can be purchased through RaginCajuns.com and its social media platforms (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram).

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.

Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@RaginCajunsFB) to stay up-to-date on Louisiana Football.

GAME 8 PREVIEW – Louisiana (6-1, 3-0 SBC) at Texas State (4-3, 2-1 SBC)
Location: UFCU Stadium (28,000) | San Marcos, Texas
Date | Time: Tuesday, October 29 | 6:30 p.m.

TV/RADIO
TV: ESPN2
Talent: Jay Alter (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (color)

Radio: Lafayette – Hot 107.9 FM; 103.3 The Goat, 1420 AM; New Orleans/Slidell – WGSO 990 AM; Worldwide – Varsity Network powered by Learfield
Talent: Jay Walker (play-by-play), Cody Junot (color), Dawson Eiserloh (sideline)

Live Stats: CajunStats.com

THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Overall: Louisiana leads, 11-0
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 6-0
In San Marcos: Louisiana leads, 5-0
Streak: Louisiana +11
First meeting: Louisiana, 48-24 – 10/5/2013 in Lafayette
Last Meeting: Louisiana, 34-30 – 10/7/2023 in Lafayette

LOUISIANA, TEXAS STATE SET FOR NATIONALLY-TELEVISED CLASH
• The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns looks to cap off a perfect month of October when it visits Sun Belt Conference West Division rival Texas State in a nationally-televised contest at UFCU Stadium.
• Louisiana will cap off a stretch of playing four of its last five games on the road as it visits the Bobcats in a game between the top teams in the SBC West Division.
• The teams will meet for the 12th time dating back to 2013 with Louisiana winning the previous 11 contests.
• Last season's battle at Cajun Field saw the Ragin' Cajuns rally from a 13-point deficit to claim a 34-30 victory over the revitalized Bobcats.

A LOUISIANA WIN WOULD ...
• Be its fifth straight victory and would cap a perfect record in the month of October (4-0).
• Give the Ragin' Cajuns a 7-1 overall record and 4-0 mark in Sun Belt Conference play.
• Improve Louisiana's road record to 5-0 on the season.
• Eclipse the season-win total (6-7) from both 2022 and 2023.
• Give Louisiana its first five-game win streak since 2021 when it reeled off 13 straight wins.
• Be head coach Michael Desormeaux's 20th career win.
• Be its 12th straight win over Texas State dating back to 2013.
• Improve Desormeaux's record in SBC games to 11-9.
• Be Louisiana's 91st overall win in Sun Belt Conference play.

UPCOMING LOUISIANA MILESTONES
• With 303 career points, kicker Kenneth Almendares is eight points shy of passing Stevie Artigue (310, 2015-19) for second place in school history.
• Almendares is 15 points shy of tying Elijah McGuire (318, 2013-16) for the school's all-time career mark.
• Almendares, who has converted on a school-record 55 field goals in his career, passed Stevie Artigue (2015-19) for the school record with two field goals in a 34-24 win at Coastal Carolina on Oct. 19.
• His 138 PATs are 13 shy of tying Artigue's school-record (151).
• Redshirt freshman running back Bill Davis is 302 yards shy of reaching the 1,000-yard mark in his career.
• Defensive lineman Jordan Lawson will play his 30th career game against Texas State.
• Ben Wooldridge is 454 yards shy of tying Roy Henry (4,793, 1975-77) for 10th place in total offense in school history.

THE LOUISIANA-TEXAS STATE SERIES
• Louisiana has won all 11 meetings in the series which dates back to 2013 when the Bobcats officially joined the Sun Belt Conference.
• The Ragin' Cajuns are 6-0 in games played in Lafayette, including a come-from-behind 34-30 win in last season's contest.
• Louisiana is 5-0 in games played in San Marcos with a 41-13 victory coming in the last meeting in 2022 which gave the Ragin' Cajuns bowl eligibility for a fifth straight year.
• Tuesday's game will be the third midweek contest between the schools with Louisiana claiming a 24-7 contest in 2017 and and 34-10 win in 2014.

#KENNYTHEKICKER MOVING UP THE SCORING LIST
• Kenneth Almendares continues his assault on the Louisiana career scoring record as he enters Tuesday's game with 303 points.
• Almendares is seven points shy of tying former Ragin' Cajuns kicker Stevie Artigue (310, 2015-19) for second place and is 16 points shy of becoming the school's all-time leader.
• The top five scorers in Ragin' Cajuns history are below:

1. Elijah McGuire (2013-16) – 318
2. Stevie Artigue (2015-19) – 310
3. Kenneth Almendares (2018-) – 303
4. Tyrell Fenroy (2005-08) – 294
5. Brian Mitchell (1986-89) – 286

#BEN10 MOVING UP THE UL PASSING RECORDS
• Ben Wooldridge's 373 yards at Coastal Carolina increased his career total at Louisiana to 3,954 yards, passing current head coach Michael Desormeaux (3,893, 2005-08) for 10th-place in school history.
• The Pleasanton, Calif., native needs 206 yards to pass Blaine Gautier (4,159, 2009-12) for ninth in school history.
• The top quarterbacks in school history are listed below:

PASSING YARDS
1. Jake Delhomme (1993-96) – 9,216
2. Levi Lewis (2017-21) – 9,191
3. Terrance Broadway (2012-14) – 7,556
4. Jerry Babb (2003-06) – 6,241
5. Brian Mitchell (1986-89) – 5,447
6. Jon Van Cleave (2000-02) – 5,267
7. Chris Masson (2008-11) – 4,757
8. Roy Henry (1975-77) – 4,656
9. Blaine Gautier (2009-12) – 4,159
10. Ben Wooldridge (2021-) – 3,954
11. Michael Desormeaux (2005-08) – 3,893

PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
1. Levi Lewis (2017-21) – 74
2. Jake Delhomme (1993-96) – 64
3. Terrance Broadway (2012-14) – 49
4. Roy Henry (1975-77) – 40
5. Ben Wooldridge (2021-) – 35

TEAM NOTES
• Louisiana is one of three FBS teams nationally (Iowa State, Syracuse) which has not lost a fumble through the first nine weeks of the season.
• The Ragin' Cajuns have 84 players on its roster from the state of Louisiana to lead all in-state FBS schools.
• The Ragin' Cajuns have allowed 166.3 yards through the air in their first seven games to lead the Sun Belt Conference and rank 14th nationally in passing yards allowed.
• Louisiana enters the week leading the Sun Belt Conference and ranked 27th nationally among FBS schools in total defense allowing 320.0 yards per game.
• Louisiana ranks eighth among all FBS teams in tackles for loss allowed (3.29 per game).
• The Ragin' Cajuns are third in the SBC and 30th nationally in total offense (443.4).
• Six players - King McGowen (OT), Kaden Moreau (OG), Quinton Williams (OT), Caden Jensen (TE), Zylan Perry (RB) and Carmycah Glass (LB) - have each earned their first career starts during the 2024 season.
• Twelve players - Ben Wooldridge (QB), Lance LeGendre (WR), Terrance Carter (TE), Bill Davis (RB), Dre'lyn Washington (RB), Harvey Broussard (WR), Tavion Smith (WR), Landon Burton (C), Caleb Kibodi (LB), Zylan Perry (RB) and Caden Jensen (TE) - have scored at least one touchdown this season for Louisiana.
• Louisiana's four interceptions against App State equaled its most in a game since October 30, 2010 at Ohio.
• Louisiana had a string of 18 consecutive quarters with a score snapped after going scoreless in the third quarter of its 34-24 win at Coastal Carolina.

PLAYER NOTES
• Ben Wooldridge recorded his fourth career 300-yard passing game after setting career-highs in both yards (373) and completions (27) in Louisiana's 34-24 win at Coastal Carolina on Oct. 19.
• Wooldridge tied Jon Van Cleave (2000-02) and Jerry Babb (2003-06) for fourth in Ragin' Cajuns history in career 300-yard passing games.
• His next 300-yard passing game will tie him with Jake Delhomme (1993-96) and Blaine Gautier (2009-12) for second with Terrance Broadway (2012-14) holding the school-record with six.
• Wooldridge connected on a career-long 74-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Carter against App State.
• Wooldridge was one of eight quarterbacks to earn the Manning Award "Stars of the Week" on Sept. 30 after completing 20 of 29 passes for 257 yards and three TDs in a win at Wake Forest.
• Chandler Fields, who started multiple games for Louisiana in both 2022 and 2023, has completed 6 of 7 passes for 63 yards in a backup role.
• Louisiana has used four different lineups up front in seven games.
• Left guard AJ Gillie played and started in his 45th career game against Coastal Carolina.
• Thirteen players had at least one reception in the win over Grambling with Caden Jensen (3), Ty Stamey (2), Dale Martin (1), Rahji Dennis (1) and Landon Baptiste (1) each recording their first career grabs.
• Eighteen players (including running backs) have recorded at least one reception this season.
• Four players - Terrance Carter (4), Lance LeGendre (4), Harvey Broussard (2) and Tavion Smith (2) - have at least two TD receptions in 2024.
• Mason Narcisse leads all defensive linemen with 17 tackles on the season.
• Antoine Baylis notched Louisiana's first sack of the season in the Game 5 win at Southern Miss.
• Redshirt freshman Chase Edwards collected his first career sack in Louisiana's win over App State.
• K.C. Ossai, the team leader with 95 stops in 2023, posted 17 tackles in the win at Coastal Carolina.
• Ossai leads Louisiana with 59 tackles on the season.
• Ossai capped off the 2023 campaign with a career-high 18 stops against Jacksonville State in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
• Carmycah Glass and Cameron Whitfield are second and eighth respectively in tackles with 38 and 16.
• Whitfield's 4.0 sacks at Southern Miss tied a school-record that was last set by Chauncey Manac at Liberty in 2021.
• Keyon Martin leads all defensive backs with 33 tackles on the season with Tyrone Lewis (30) and Tyree Skipper (27) next.
• Skipper and Lewis had two interceptions each in Louisiana's win over App State.
• Amir McDaniel was credited with his second career sack against App State.
• Kenneth Almendares' 53-yard field goal in the third quarter against App State was his second from 50-plus yards this season and the longest of his career.
• Almendares' lone misses this season have been from beyond 50 yards - a 60-yarder at the end of the first half against App State and a 53-yard attempt at Coastal Carolina.
• Dalen Cambre's blocked punt against Kennesaw State was the third of his career. The Lafayette native blocked punts against Texas State in 2022 and 2023 and returned a blocked punt for a touchdown against Liberty in 2021.

Louisiana Football Game 8 Preview: The Texas State Game

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Players Mentioned

Kenneth Almendares

Landon Baptiste

Antoine Baylis

Harvey Broussard

Landon Burton

Dalen Cambre

Terrance Carter

Bill Davis

Rahji Dennis

Chase Edwards

Chandler Fields

AJ Gillie

Carmycah Glass

Caden Jensen

Caleb Kibodi

Jordan Lawson

Lance LeGendre

Tyrone Lewis

Dale Martin

Keyon Martin

Amir McDaniel

King McGowen

Kaden Moreau

Mason Narcisse

K.C. Ossai

Zylan Perry

Tyree Skipper

Tavion Smith

Ty Stamey

Dre’lyn Washington

Cameron Whitfield

Quinton Williams

Ben Wooldridge

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