University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, October 24
Hattiesburg, Miss.
4:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
at
Southern Miss
10/22/2026 12:41:00 PM | Football
Cajuns look to spoil USM homecoming; win second straight at The Rock
LAFAYETTE – Louisiana renews one of its oldest gridiron rivalries on Saturday (Oct. 24) when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., to face Sun Belt Conference West Division rival Southern Miss at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at Renasant Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. The game will be available on ESPN+ with Jason Baker (pxp) and Larry Boyd (color) providing commentary. Fans can also listen on the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network and Varsity Sports Network, with Jay Walker (pxp), Cody Junot (color) and Dawson Eiserloh (sideline) on the call.
Louisiana (5-2, 2-1 SBC), playing for the eighth consecutive weekend before taking an open date next week, turned in one of its best all-around performances in a 33-6 win last Saturday over reigning SBC West Division champion Troy at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.
The running back tandem of JJ Garner, Steven Blanco and Anthony Reagan Jr., all rushed for touchdowns for the Ragin' Cajuns while Lunch Winfield connected with KeDarius Wade on a first-quarter touchdown pass.
Jake St. Andre's team-high nine tackles led a stingy Louisiana defense that held one of the top ball-control offenses in the country to 126 yards on the ground – nearly half its average (220.4) entering the contest – while forcing two turnovers.
The meeting with Southern Miss (1-5, 0-2 SBC) marks the 56th meeting between the schools in a series that dates back to 1923. The Ragin' Cajuns claimed a 23-13 win in the last meeting in Hattiesburg in 2024 – their second in 26 all-time games played on the USM campus and first since 1989.
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 8 PREVIEW – Louisiana (5-2, 2-1 SBC) at Southern Miss (1-5, 0-2 SBC)
Location: Carlisle-Faulkner Field at Renasant Stadium (36,000) | Hattiesburg, Miss.
Date/Time: Saturday, October 24 | 4:00 p.m.
TV/RADIO
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Jason Baker (play-by-play), Larry Boyd (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 – Southern Miss leads, 43-12-1
In Lafayette – Southern Miss leads, 17-10-1
In Hattiesburg – Southern Miss leads, 24-2
Neutral Sites – Southern Miss leads, 2-0
Last 10 Meetings – Southern Miss, 9-1
Streak – Southern Miss +1
KICKING OFF
• Louisiana renews one of its oldest rivalries in program history when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., to face Southern Miss in a Sun Belt Conference West Division showdown.
LOUISIANA STORYLINES
• The 56-game series with Southern Miss is the fourth-longest for Louisiana and the longest behind Louisiana Tech (88), Northwestern State (73) and ULM (61).
• The Cajuns' 23-13 win in Hattiesburg in 2024 was its first at The Rock since 1989 and its second in 26 all-time meetings.
• With his next victory, head coach Michael Desormeaux will move into sole possession of sixth place on the school's all-time list - and five wins behind his predecessor, Billy Napier, who won 40 games from 2018-21..
• Desormeaux is currently tied with Clement J. McNaspy (34 wins - 1908-11, 1913, 1917-18) on the program's all-time list.
• Current Southern Miss coach Blake Anderson served as offensive coordinator at Louisiana during the 2007 season where his quarterback was current UL coach Michael Desormeaux.
• Current USM General Manager Reed Stringer served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Louisiana from 2011-17 before returning as General Manager for the Cajuns in 2025.
• The Ragin' Cajuns return 41 letterwinners and 15 starters from the 2025 season.
• With a win, Louisiana will extend an eight-year active streak of competing in a bowl game, currently the ninth-longest streak in the FBS.
• Redshirt freshman JJ Garner (Timpson, Texas) has scored a rushing touchdown in four consecutive games (Charlotte, Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Troy).
• Four players - Lunch Winfield, JJ Garner, Anthony Reagan Jr. and Steven Blanco - have accounted for 1,149 (82%) of Louisiana's 1,401 yards rushing and 19 of 22 rushing TDs (86%) on the season.
• Seven different receivers have recorded 11 or more catches on the season with Russell Babineaux leading the team with 15.
• Louisiana ranks in the top 10 among FBS programs in four categories: fumbles recovered (2nd, 8), red zone offense (5th, .963), fourth down conversion defense (7th, .200) and time of possession (33:27).
• Sixty-eight players on the current Ragin' Cajuns roster hail from the state of Louisiana.
• Ninety-three of Louisiana's 108 players on the 2026 roster were recruited as high school products, with the remaining 15 coming through the transfer portal or junior college.
THE CAJUNS ARE "BORN IN THE BOOT"
• Louisiana has always prided itself on taking an "inside-out" approach when it comes to recruiting in-state products.
• When the 2026 season officially kicks off against Lamar, the Ragin' Cajuns will have 68 of their 108 players (.630 percent) currently on the roster hail from the Bayou State.
• In 2025, Louisiana led all in-state FBS programs in the total number (59) and percentage (55.1) of in-state players on the roster.
TEAM NOTES
• The Cajuns have converted on 26 of 27 trips (.963) to the red zone with 20 resulting in TDs.
Louisiana quarterbacks are completing 70 percent of their passes to lead the Sun Belt Conference and rank 11th among FBS programs.
• Louisiana (.750) trails James Madison (.800) for in the SBC in fourth-down conversions and rank eighth nationally.
• The Ragin' Cajuns lead the SBC in total defense, allowing 298.3 yards per game to rank 25th nationally.
• The Ragin' Cajuns allow 19.3 points per game to rank 36th nationally and second in the SBC behind James Madison (16.0).
• Louisiana's 137 yards allowed against Charlotte on Sept. 26 currently ranks among the 10 fewest total yards allowed by an FBS team in a single game during the 2026 season.
• UL leads the Sun Belt Conference and is 10th nationally average time of possession (33:27).
• The Cajuns' 14 turnovers gained lead the SBC and ranks seventh among FBS programs.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Lunch Winfield leads the Sun Belt Conference and is 14th nationally in completion percentage (.701).
• Winfield's 15.43 completions per game are ninth in the SBC.
• Winfield's eight rushing touchdowns on the season are 11th among all FBS players and tied with Jaquari Lewis of App State for the SBC lead.
• Winfield enters the Southern Miss game second in the SBC in rushing yards (463)
• Winfield (72) and Tony Sterner (54) are fourth and 11th in the Sun Belt Conference in points responsible for.
• Sterner (54) and Winfield (48) are second and fourth in the SBC in points scored.
• Brent Gordon Jr. is second nationally in passes defended per game (1.57)
• Micah Johnson's two fumble recoveries on the season are tied for first in the league and tied for third among FBS players.
"SHOW ME MY OPPONENT ..."
• Southern Miss currently is playing in its fifth season of Sun Belt Conference play, returning home this week for the second of two straight home games against league foes.
• The Golden Eagles have posted a 11-23 record in conference play since joining this league. Southern Miss is 3-1 against the Ragin' Cajuns since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2022.
• Since the start of the 1976 season, following the renovation of Renasant Stadium, the Golden Eagles have posted a 168-93 (.644) record at The Rock.
• Landry Lyddy has started the last three games at quarterback for Southern Miss - he now has four career starts in his two-year Golden Eagle career - and is averaging 255.7 yards per contest over his three starts this season with multiple TDs in two of them.
• He has thrown seven touchdown passes and just four interceptions in appearing in all six games this fall. He has completed 60.6 percent of his passes (80-of-132).
THE UL-SOUTHERN MISS SERIES
• The series between Louisiana and Southern Miss dates back to the 1923 season when then-SLI picked up a 66-0 win over then-Mississippi Normal College in Lafayette on November 17.
• The Ragin' Cajuns won the first seven meetings in the all-time series before going through the "Great Depression."
• Since a 14-0 win by Louisiana in the 1930 contest, Southern Miss has won 43 of the last 49 meetings with the teams battling to a scoreless tie in 1941.
• The 55-game series is Louisiana's longest against an out-of-state team and the fourth-longest series in program history
• Louisiana's 23-13 win in Hattiesburg in 2024 was its first at The Rock since 1989 and its first-ever conference win over the Golden Eagles in 16 meetings.
"O" SCORES EARLY; "D" SAYS NO
• Part of Louisiana's early success during the first half of the season has been scoring early while keeping opponents off the board.
• In the first quarter through seven games, Louisiana has outscored its opponents, 34-7, with the lone score allowed coming at USC in Week 2.
CAJUNS "IN THE ZONE"
• Louisiana has been near perfect when entering the red zone, converting on 26 of 27 chances to rank among the top teams in FBS.
• The Cajuns have converted 20 of the 27 opportunities into touchdowns with the lone non-score coming on the opening possession (fumble) at Louisiana Tech in Week 6.
EIGHT STRAIGHT BOWL GAMES
• Since the 2018 season, Louisiana has appeared in a bowl game, setting a school-record for most consecutive bowl appearances.
• The list of Louisiana bowl game appearances since 2018 is listed below:
2018 – AutoNation Cure Bowl (Tulane)
2019 – LendingTree Bowl (Miami [Ohio])
2020 – SERVPRO First Responder Bowl (UTSA)
2021 – R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (Marshall)
2022 – Radiance Independence Bowl (Houston)
2023 – R+L Carrriers New Orleans Bowl (Jax State)
2024 – Isleta New Mexico Bowl (TCU)
2025 – 68 Ventures Bowl (Delaware)
THE LONGEST ACTIVE BOWL STREAKS
• Louisiana's eighth consecutive bowl appearance places the Ragin' Cajuns in some illustrious FBS company for active postseason streaks.
• Below are the schools with the longest active streaks in reaching the postseason.
School Year Started (Bowl)
Georgia – 1997 (Outback Bowl)
Oklahoma – 1999 (Independence Bowl)
Alabama – 2004 (Music City Bowl)
Clemson – 2005 (Champs Sports Bowl)
Iowa – 2013 (Outback Bowl)
Ohio State – 2013 (Orange Bowl)
Memphis – 2014 (Miami Beach Bowl)
Oregon – 2017 (Las Vegas Bowl)
LOUISIANA – 2018 (Cure Bowl)
THE MOST UNIQUE NICKNAME IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
• Referred to as the Ragin' Cajuns, the University of Louisiana has perhaps the most unique and fitting nickname in all of collegiate athletics.
• In 1921, the University adopted the nickname and mascot Bulldogs.
• Beginning in 1963, Louisiana's (then Southwestern Louisiana) football team were dubbed the "Raging Cajuns" by then-Sports Information Director Bob Henderson and head football coach Russ Faulkinberry.
• In addition, the team switched from gold helmets to white helmets with an Acadian flag. At the time, more than 90 percent of Faulkinberry's teams were composed of Louisiana high school players, many with French-speaking Acadian backgrounds.
• The nickname stuck, and in 1967 the second 'g' was dropped to make Ragin'.
• In the early 70's other sports teams began to adopt the Ragin' Cajuns nickname.
• The University's full switch to Ragin' Cajuns was part of "Operation Turnaround" during the 1974-75 school year.
• In fact, the Ragin' Cajuns were voted as the best collegiate team nickname by Sporting News in 1998 and by an ESPN SportsNation survey in 2006.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. The game will be available on ESPN+ with Jason Baker (pxp) and Larry Boyd (color) providing commentary. Fans can also listen on the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network and Varsity Sports Network, with Jay Walker (pxp), Cody Junot (color) and Dawson Eiserloh (sideline) on the call.
Louisiana (5-2, 2-1 SBC), playing for the eighth consecutive weekend before taking an open date next week, turned in one of its best all-around performances in a 33-6 win last Saturday over reigning SBC West Division champion Troy at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.
The running back tandem of JJ Garner, Steven Blanco and Anthony Reagan Jr., all rushed for touchdowns for the Ragin' Cajuns while Lunch Winfield connected with KeDarius Wade on a first-quarter touchdown pass.
Jake St. Andre's team-high nine tackles led a stingy Louisiana defense that held one of the top ball-control offenses in the country to 126 yards on the ground – nearly half its average (220.4) entering the contest – while forcing two turnovers.
The meeting with Southern Miss (1-5, 0-2 SBC) marks the 56th meeting between the schools in a series that dates back to 1923. The Ragin' Cajuns claimed a 23-13 win in the last meeting in Hattiesburg in 2024 – their second in 26 all-time games played on the USM campus and first since 1989.
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 8 PREVIEW – Louisiana (5-2, 2-1 SBC) at Southern Miss (1-5, 0-2 SBC)
Location: Carlisle-Faulkner Field at Renasant Stadium (36,000) | Hattiesburg, Miss.
Date/Time: Saturday, October 24 | 4:00 p.m.
TV/RADIO
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Jason Baker (play-by-play), Larry Boyd (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 – Southern Miss leads, 43-12-1
In Lafayette – Southern Miss leads, 17-10-1
In Hattiesburg – Southern Miss leads, 24-2
Neutral Sites – Southern Miss leads, 2-0
Last 10 Meetings – Southern Miss, 9-1
Streak – Southern Miss +1
KICKING OFF
• Louisiana renews one of its oldest rivalries in program history when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., to face Southern Miss in a Sun Belt Conference West Division showdown.
LOUISIANA STORYLINES
• The 56-game series with Southern Miss is the fourth-longest for Louisiana and the longest behind Louisiana Tech (88), Northwestern State (73) and ULM (61).
• The Cajuns' 23-13 win in Hattiesburg in 2024 was its first at The Rock since 1989 and its second in 26 all-time meetings.
• With his next victory, head coach Michael Desormeaux will move into sole possession of sixth place on the school's all-time list - and five wins behind his predecessor, Billy Napier, who won 40 games from 2018-21..
• Desormeaux is currently tied with Clement J. McNaspy (34 wins - 1908-11, 1913, 1917-18) on the program's all-time list.
• Current Southern Miss coach Blake Anderson served as offensive coordinator at Louisiana during the 2007 season where his quarterback was current UL coach Michael Desormeaux.
• Current USM General Manager Reed Stringer served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Louisiana from 2011-17 before returning as General Manager for the Cajuns in 2025.
• The Ragin' Cajuns return 41 letterwinners and 15 starters from the 2025 season.
• With a win, Louisiana will extend an eight-year active streak of competing in a bowl game, currently the ninth-longest streak in the FBS.
• Redshirt freshman JJ Garner (Timpson, Texas) has scored a rushing touchdown in four consecutive games (Charlotte, Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Troy).
• Four players - Lunch Winfield, JJ Garner, Anthony Reagan Jr. and Steven Blanco - have accounted for 1,149 (82%) of Louisiana's 1,401 yards rushing and 19 of 22 rushing TDs (86%) on the season.
• Seven different receivers have recorded 11 or more catches on the season with Russell Babineaux leading the team with 15.
• Louisiana ranks in the top 10 among FBS programs in four categories: fumbles recovered (2nd, 8), red zone offense (5th, .963), fourth down conversion defense (7th, .200) and time of possession (33:27).
• Sixty-eight players on the current Ragin' Cajuns roster hail from the state of Louisiana.
• Ninety-three of Louisiana's 108 players on the 2026 roster were recruited as high school products, with the remaining 15 coming through the transfer portal or junior college.
THE CAJUNS ARE "BORN IN THE BOOT"
• Louisiana has always prided itself on taking an "inside-out" approach when it comes to recruiting in-state products.
• When the 2026 season officially kicks off against Lamar, the Ragin' Cajuns will have 68 of their 108 players (.630 percent) currently on the roster hail from the Bayou State.
• In 2025, Louisiana led all in-state FBS programs in the total number (59) and percentage (55.1) of in-state players on the roster.
TEAM NOTES
• The Cajuns have converted on 26 of 27 trips (.963) to the red zone with 20 resulting in TDs.
Louisiana quarterbacks are completing 70 percent of their passes to lead the Sun Belt Conference and rank 11th among FBS programs.
• Louisiana (.750) trails James Madison (.800) for in the SBC in fourth-down conversions and rank eighth nationally.
• The Ragin' Cajuns lead the SBC in total defense, allowing 298.3 yards per game to rank 25th nationally.
• The Ragin' Cajuns allow 19.3 points per game to rank 36th nationally and second in the SBC behind James Madison (16.0).
• Louisiana's 137 yards allowed against Charlotte on Sept. 26 currently ranks among the 10 fewest total yards allowed by an FBS team in a single game during the 2026 season.
• UL leads the Sun Belt Conference and is 10th nationally average time of possession (33:27).
• The Cajuns' 14 turnovers gained lead the SBC and ranks seventh among FBS programs.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Lunch Winfield leads the Sun Belt Conference and is 14th nationally in completion percentage (.701).
• Winfield's 15.43 completions per game are ninth in the SBC.
• Winfield's eight rushing touchdowns on the season are 11th among all FBS players and tied with Jaquari Lewis of App State for the SBC lead.
• Winfield enters the Southern Miss game second in the SBC in rushing yards (463)
• Winfield (72) and Tony Sterner (54) are fourth and 11th in the Sun Belt Conference in points responsible for.
• Sterner (54) and Winfield (48) are second and fourth in the SBC in points scored.
• Brent Gordon Jr. is second nationally in passes defended per game (1.57)
• Micah Johnson's two fumble recoveries on the season are tied for first in the league and tied for third among FBS players.
"SHOW ME MY OPPONENT ..."
• Southern Miss currently is playing in its fifth season of Sun Belt Conference play, returning home this week for the second of two straight home games against league foes.
• The Golden Eagles have posted a 11-23 record in conference play since joining this league. Southern Miss is 3-1 against the Ragin' Cajuns since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2022.
• Since the start of the 1976 season, following the renovation of Renasant Stadium, the Golden Eagles have posted a 168-93 (.644) record at The Rock.
• Landry Lyddy has started the last three games at quarterback for Southern Miss - he now has four career starts in his two-year Golden Eagle career - and is averaging 255.7 yards per contest over his three starts this season with multiple TDs in two of them.
• He has thrown seven touchdown passes and just four interceptions in appearing in all six games this fall. He has completed 60.6 percent of his passes (80-of-132).
THE UL-SOUTHERN MISS SERIES
• The series between Louisiana and Southern Miss dates back to the 1923 season when then-SLI picked up a 66-0 win over then-Mississippi Normal College in Lafayette on November 17.
• The Ragin' Cajuns won the first seven meetings in the all-time series before going through the "Great Depression."
• Since a 14-0 win by Louisiana in the 1930 contest, Southern Miss has won 43 of the last 49 meetings with the teams battling to a scoreless tie in 1941.
• The 55-game series is Louisiana's longest against an out-of-state team and the fourth-longest series in program history
• Louisiana's 23-13 win in Hattiesburg in 2024 was its first at The Rock since 1989 and its first-ever conference win over the Golden Eagles in 16 meetings.
"O" SCORES EARLY; "D" SAYS NO
• Part of Louisiana's early success during the first half of the season has been scoring early while keeping opponents off the board.
• In the first quarter through seven games, Louisiana has outscored its opponents, 34-7, with the lone score allowed coming at USC in Week 2.
CAJUNS "IN THE ZONE"
• Louisiana has been near perfect when entering the red zone, converting on 26 of 27 chances to rank among the top teams in FBS.
• The Cajuns have converted 20 of the 27 opportunities into touchdowns with the lone non-score coming on the opening possession (fumble) at Louisiana Tech in Week 6.
EIGHT STRAIGHT BOWL GAMES
• Since the 2018 season, Louisiana has appeared in a bowl game, setting a school-record for most consecutive bowl appearances.
• The list of Louisiana bowl game appearances since 2018 is listed below:
2018 – AutoNation Cure Bowl (Tulane)
2019 – LendingTree Bowl (Miami [Ohio])
2020 – SERVPRO First Responder Bowl (UTSA)
2021 – R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (Marshall)
2022 – Radiance Independence Bowl (Houston)
2023 – R+L Carrriers New Orleans Bowl (Jax State)
2024 – Isleta New Mexico Bowl (TCU)
2025 – 68 Ventures Bowl (Delaware)
THE LONGEST ACTIVE BOWL STREAKS
• Louisiana's eighth consecutive bowl appearance places the Ragin' Cajuns in some illustrious FBS company for active postseason streaks.
• Below are the schools with the longest active streaks in reaching the postseason.
School Year Started (Bowl)
Georgia – 1997 (Outback Bowl)
Oklahoma – 1999 (Independence Bowl)
Alabama – 2004 (Music City Bowl)
Clemson – 2005 (Champs Sports Bowl)
Iowa – 2013 (Outback Bowl)
Ohio State – 2013 (Orange Bowl)
Memphis – 2014 (Miami Beach Bowl)
Oregon – 2017 (Las Vegas Bowl)
LOUISIANA – 2018 (Cure Bowl)
THE MOST UNIQUE NICKNAME IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
• Referred to as the Ragin' Cajuns, the University of Louisiana has perhaps the most unique and fitting nickname in all of collegiate athletics.
• In 1921, the University adopted the nickname and mascot Bulldogs.
• Beginning in 1963, Louisiana's (then Southwestern Louisiana) football team were dubbed the "Raging Cajuns" by then-Sports Information Director Bob Henderson and head football coach Russ Faulkinberry.
• In addition, the team switched from gold helmets to white helmets with an Acadian flag. At the time, more than 90 percent of Faulkinberry's teams were composed of Louisiana high school players, many with French-speaking Acadian backgrounds.
• The nickname stuck, and in 1967 the second 'g' was dropped to make Ragin'.
• In the early 70's other sports teams began to adopt the Ragin' Cajuns nickname.
• The University's full switch to Ragin' Cajuns was part of "Operation Turnaround" during the 1974-75 school year.
• In fact, the Ragin' Cajuns were voted as the best collegiate team nickname by Sporting News in 1998 and by an ESPN SportsNation survey in 2006.
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Sunday, October 18
