Louisiana Football Preview: at Eastern Michigan

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Football team makes its final non-conference tuneup before opening Sun Belt Conference play next week when it travels north to Ypsilanti, Michigan, to face Mid-American Conference member Eastern Michigan on Saturday at Rynearson Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on ESPN+ with Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play) and Tyoka Jackson (analyst) on the call. Fans can also tune in on the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network, with Jay Walker (pxp), Cody Junot (analyst) and Dawson Eiserloh (sideline) providing commentary.

Louisiana (1-2) looks to get back into the win column after dropping a disappointing 52-10 decision at nationally-ranked Missouri last weekend. The trip to face EMU (0-3) marks the third game in the state of Michigan for Louisiana in school history.

The meeting is the fourth between the schools with Louisiana holding a 2-1 lead. The Ragin' Cajuns have won the last two contests, including a come-from-behind 49-21 victory at Cajun Field in 2022.

Zylan Perry (226 yards), Bill Davis (191 yards) and Steven Blanco (100 yards) have spearheaded Louisiana's rushing attack that averages nearly 6.0 yards per attempt. Caden Jensen and Shelton Sampson Jr. have caught five passes each in a passing game which looks to get untracked while Jaden Dugger (25 tackles) and Terrence Williams (21 tackles) have been the leaders on defense.

Eastern Michigan opened the season with a 52-27 loss at Texas State before dropping a stunning 28-23 contest in its home opener to FCS opponent Long Island (LIU). The Eagles went on the road last weekend and faced SEC opponent Kentucky, dropping a 48-23 contest despite a career-high 330 yards in passing from quarterback Noah Kim – a Coastal Carolina transfer.

Kim has thrown for 767 yards and four touchdowns for EMU with Terry Lockett his top target with 16 receptions. Dontae McMillan has rushed for a team-high 219 yards with a 7.3 yards per carry average for the Eagles with Marco Patierno and Bryce Llewellyn leading the team with 19 tackles each.

Single-game tickets are available for as low as $25 and can be purchased through RaginCajuns.com and its social media platforms (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram).

Season tickets for the 2025 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Football season are available now at RaginCajuns.com/tickets or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 482-GoUL (4685).

New this season, fans can park on the athletic footprint on a single-game basis for just $20 per game by clicking here. Fans will also be able to purchase single-game tailgate spots beginning at $100 by clicking here.

Fans are encouraged to stay connected with Louisiana Football by downloading the official #GeauxCajuns App — click here for iOS and here for Android — and by following the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@RaginCajunsFB).

GAME 4 PREVIEW – Louisiana (1-2) at Eastern Michigan (0-3)
Location: Rynearson Stadium (30,200); Ypsilanti, Mich.
Date/Time: Saturday, September 20 at 2:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. ET

TV/RADIO
TV: ESPN +
Talent: Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play), Tyoka Jackson (analyst)

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 (analyst), Dawson Eiserloh (sideline)

LIVE STATS
Available at CajunStats.StatBroadcast.com

SERIES RECORD
Overall: Louisiana leads, 2-1
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 2-0
In Ypsilanti: Eastern Michigan leads, 1-0
Last 10: Louisiana, 2-1
Streak: Louisiana +2

KICKING OFF
Louisiana heads to Ypsilanti, Michigan for its final tuneup before opening Sun Belt Conference play when it faces Mid-American Conference member Eastern Michigan. The meeting will be the fourth between the schools in the all-time history and second meeting at Rynearson Stadium.

LOUISIANA STORYLINES
• Louisiana closes out its non-conference schedule against EMU looking to build momentum heading into Sun Belt Conference play.
• The Ragin' Cajuns are 17-10 all-time against schools from the Mid-American Conference.
• The game is Louisiana's third overall in the state of Michigan and first since facing Eastern Michigan in 2005.
• Louisiana trailed 14-0 at halftime in its previous meeting against Eastern Michigan before scoring all 49 points in the second half, including 35 in a span of less than 20 minutes.
• The Ragin' Cajuns are 0-2 in the Great Lakes State having dropped a 1991 contest at Central Michigan.
• The visit to Ypsilanti is Louisiana's first to a MAC school since a 45-25 win at Ohio in 2019.
• Louisiana is coming off its fourth 10-plus win season in the past six years and its seventh straight bowl appearance.
• Louisiana looks to get its first road win after having a six-game road win streak snapped last week at Mizzou.
• The Ragin' Cajuns made their fifth appearance in the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Championship Game in the seven-year history of the event.
• Louisiana looks to a passing attack which has been uncharacteristically down through the first three games, ranking 134th nationally in completion percentage, passing offense, yards per completion and passing efficiency.
• The Ragin' Cajuns look to avoid their first 1-3 start since 2018 under then first-year coach Billy Napier.
• Louisiana ranks fifth in the Sun Belt Conference and 42nd nationally in rushing offense (194.3).
• Zylan Perry's rushing average of 7.53 yards per carry is 11th among FBS players and leads all SBC running backs.
• Defensively, the Ragin' Cajuns are second in the SBC and 23rd nationally in passing yards allowed (138.3).
• In Louisiana's fourth game of the season during the past 10 seasons, the Ragin' Cajuns are 4-6 overall and 2-1 under head coach Michael Desormeaux.

"SHOW ME MY OPPONENT ..."
• Eastern Michigan celebrates its earliest homecoming in school history this weekend, where it looks to extend a four-game win streak while looking to earn its first overall victory of the season.
• EMU opened the season at Texas State and dropped a 52-27 decision before a tough 28-23 loss to FCS Long Island in its home opener in Week 2.
• The Eagles went on the road last weekend and fell to SEC member Kentucky, 48-23.
• Noah Kim, who spent the 2024 season at Coastal Carolina, has completed nearly 63 percent of his passes for 767 yards and four TDs with Terry Lockett (16 catches, 230 yards) his top target.
• Dontae McMillan has rushed for 219 yards through three games, averaging 7.3 yards per rush and 73.0 yards per game.
• Defensively, the Eagles allow 291.7 yards per game on the ground and 525.7 yards in total offense.
• Getting off to a quick start in either half has been key for opponents through the first three games, outscoring the Eagles, 35-9, in the first quarter and 24-0 in the third.

THE LOUISIANA-EASTERN MICHIGAN SERIES
• Saturday's matchup will be the fourth all-time between Louisiana and Eastern Michigan dating back to 2005.
• The game will be the second between the schools in Ypsilanti and the first on the Eagles' Gray FieldTurf.

CAJUNS HAVE GOTTEN SOME "SATIS ... MAC-TION"
• The meeting with Eastern Michigan will be Louisiana's 28th all-time against a school from the MAC with the Ragin' Cajuns holding a 17-10 record.
• Louisiana has faced nine of the 13 members in the current configuration, including nine contests against Northern Illinois (6-3) dating back to 1988.
• Ohio (2-2) is second on the list for most games played with Eastern Michigan (2-1), Miami (1-2), Kent State (20-0), Akron (1-1) and Central Michigan (1-1) competing in multiple contests.
• The lone MAC schools that Louisiana has not faced are Ball State, Bowling Green, UMass and Toledo.

WHAT'S ON TAP
• Louisiana will open Sun Belt Conference play on September 27 when it faces Marshall in a rematch of the 2024 SBC Championship Game.
• Kickoff is slated for a 7 p.m. start with the game being televised on ESPN+.

CAJUNS AND FIRST-TIME STARTERS
• Looking to replace a total of 17 starters from the 10-4 team in 2024, Louisiana has had a total of 11 new players earn a start in a Ragin' Cajuns uniform through the first three weeks of the 2025 season.
• Two of the 11 players - Trae Tomlinson and Brock Chappell - have each started at the FCS level.

vs. Rice (8/30)
QB - Walker Howard
WR - Jaydon Johnson
WR - Shelton Sampson Jr.
DL - Chase Edwards
LB - Jake St. Andre

vs. McNeese (9/6)
QB - Daniel Beale
CB - Trae Tomlinson*
TE - Brock Chappell*

at Missouri (9/13)
LG - Matt Broussard
LB - Drenon Fite III
CB - Brent Gordon Jr.

* - started at FCS level

AND SPEAKING OF FIRST-TIME STARTERS
• Not counting newcomers who have started elsewhere (FBS, FCS, DII, DIII, etc.), Louisiana is one of 11 FBS schools with at least nine first-time starters.
• The schools with the most first-time starters are listed (courtesy of Navy SID Scott Strasemeier) below

2025 Most First-Time Starters
14 - Eastern Michigan, Navy, Louisiana Tech
13 - Old Dominion, UTSA, Bowling Green
12 - Oregon
11 - Bowling Green, Syracuse
10 - Fresno State
9 - Louisiana

BLUE AND TEAL ... AND NOW GRAY
• With Louisiana's visit to Ypsilanti for its first appearance this weekend on Eastern Michigan's Gray turf, the Ragin' Cajuns will have now played on all three non-green surfaces in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
• The Ragin' Cajuns made a 2014 appearance on Boise State's famous "Blue" surface and have played twice - including last season - on Coastal Carolina's Teal #SurfTurf.
• Below are the current FBS schools with non-green home fields

School (Stadium/Field) - Color
Boise State (Albertsons Stadium) - Blue
Coastal Carolina (Brooks Stadium) - Teal
Eastern Michigan (Rynearson Stadium) - Gray

Louisiana Football Preview: at Eastern Michigan

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Players Mentioned

Daniel Beale

Steven Blanco

Brock Chappell

Bill Davis

Jaden Dugger

Chase Edwards

Drenon Fite III

Brent Gordon Jr.

Walker Howard

Caden Jensen

Jaydon Johnson

Zylan Perry

Shelton Sampson Jr.

Jake St. Andre

Trae Tomlinson

Terrence Williams

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