University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, September 5
Lafayette, La.
7:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs
Lamar
2026 Louisiana Football Preview - The Lamar Game
9/3/2026 2:17:00 PM | Football
Ragin' Cajuns open historic 125th season of football against Cardinals
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns opens its historic 125th season of intercollegiate football on Saturday when it plays host to FCS opponent Lamar in the annual Herbert Heymann Classic at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be available live on ESPN+ with Dan McDonald (pxp) and Eric Mouton (color) providing commentary. Fans can also listen to the broadcast on the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network and Varsity Sports Network with Jay Walker (pxp), Cody Junot (color) and Dawson Eiserloh (sideline) on the call.
The game between Louisiana (0-0), which first fielded a team in 1901, and Lamar (1-0) marks the first meeting between the schools since 2012 and 35th meeting overall dating back to the 1923 season. The Ragin' Cajuns own a 22-12 advantage in the series and have won nine of the last 11 meetings dating back to 1975.
Louisiana is coming off its school-record eighth consecutive bowl appearance as it opens its fifth season under head coach Michael Desormeaux. Lunch Winfield will direct the Ragin' Cajuns offense after throwing for 1,551 yards and 11 touchdowns, while rushing for 667 yards and nine TDs.
An offensive line that was decimated by injuries in 2025, will see a return of veterans George Jackson and Cooper Fordham, while returning starters Kaden Moreau and Matt Broussard will be joined by Zay Alexander.
Steven Blanco, Darrell Smith, JJ Garner and FCS transfer Anthony Reagan Jr., will provide key depth at running back while the receiving corps returns its top two targets in Shelton Sampson Jr., and Caden Jensen.
Defensively, Louisiana lost seven starters but returns a solid group of experienced players while adding key depth. Brent Gordon Jr., thrived in his inaugural season at corner for Louisiana and helped lead a secondary that returns Maurion Eleam, Kody Jackson and Collin Jacob.
Fitzgerald West Jr., paces a defensive line while linebackers Jake St. Andre, Conor McPherson and Ashley Williams Jr., are expected to lead the unit.
Lamar, ranked No. 16 in the AFCA Division I FCS rankings, opened its 2026 season last week at home with a 21-14 win over Abilene Christian. Aiden McCown tossed three touchdown passes and connected with eight different receivers to lead the Cardinals to the win.
Single-game tickets are available for as low as $30 and can be purchased through RaginCajuns.com/Tickets.
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 1 PREVIEW – Louisiana (0-0) vs. Lamar (1-0)
Location: Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium (30,932) | Lafayette, La.
Date/Time: Saturday, September 5 | 7 p.m.
TICKETS
Single-game tickets are available and can be purchased through RaginCajuns.com/Tickets
TV/RADIO
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Dan McDonald (play-by-play), Eric Mouton (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, 22-12
In Lafayette – Louisiana leads, 14-6
In Beaumont – Louisiana leads, 8-6
Last 10 – Louisiana, 8-2
Streak – Louisiana +4
KICKING OFF
• Louisiana opens its historic 125th season of intercollegiate football when the Ragin' Cajuns host FCS member Lamar in the annual Herbert Heymann Classic at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.
LOUISIANA STORYLINES
• Louisiana opens the season with Lamar for the first time since the 2012 campaign after posting a 40-0 victory at Cajun Field.
• The meeting with Lamar marks the 35th between the schools in a series which dates back to 1923.
• The Ragin' Cajuns open the season against Lamar for the seventh time in program history, which included five straight seasons from 1952-56.
• The Lamar series is currently the ninth-longest for Louisiana in program history.
• Louisiana is 57-59-3 in season openers in all-time season openers dating back to 1901 and 40-19-3 when opening the season in Lafayette.
• The Ragin' Cajuns are 34-21 in openers at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium (formerly Cajun Field) dating back to 1971.
• Since the beginning of the 2020 season, the Ragin' Cajuns are 26-10 overall on its home turf.
• Louisiana has won 16 of its last 18 openers at home, including eight straight from 2017-25.
• Louisiana is 3-1 in openers under head coach Michael Desormeaux.
• A win by Louisiana would give Desormeaux his 30th career victory and tying him with Augie Tammariello (1974-79) for eighth place in program history.
• Quarterback Lunch Winfield becomes the fourth quarterback to start in an opener for the Ragin' Cajuns in Desormeaux's tenure (2022 - Chandler Fields, 2023-24 - Ben Wooldridge, 2025 - Walker Howard).
• Louisiana comes into the season with an eight-year streak of competing in a bowl game.
• Louisiana is 1-5 all-time in games played on September 5 with all five losses coming on the road.
• The Ragin' Cajuns return 41 letterwinners and 15 starters from the 2025 season.
• Louisiana's first two opponents (Lamar and USC) both played during Week 0. The Cajuns join Miami as playing Week 0 teams in their first two games.
• Sixteen players on Louisiana's 2026 roster hail from the Lone Star State.
• Lamar has 10 players on its roster from the Bayou State, including freshmen defensive backs Taveian Landry (Acadiana) and Trandin Benjamin (Westgate).
"SHOW ME MY OPPONENT ..."
• Lamar, ranked No. 16 in the AFCA Division I FCS rankings, opened its 2026 season in Week 0 with a 21-14 victory over FCS No. 15-ranked Abilene Christian in a rematch of last season's FCS Playoff contest that was won by ACU.
• The game, which was one of two top 25 matchups at the NCAA FCS level in the opening week, marked the fourth Lamar win over a top-25 program in the past three seasons.
• Aiden McCown got the start and completed 17-of-32 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns. McCown connected with eight different receivers, led by newcomer Davin Driskell, who hauled in five receptions for 34 yards and two touchdowns.
• As a team, the Cardinals rushed 34 times for 95 yards, led by Parker Jenkins' 14 carries for 56 yards.
• Lamar's defense was led by Bryce McDonald's seven tackles (two solo stops), while junior Mar Mar Evans had five tackles (four solos) to go along with two breakups and a quarterback hurry.
• Freshman Mason Wuenschel ended the night with three tackles and his first interception as a Cardinal. Lamar's other interception was made by sophomore Zaylon Stoker.
THE LOUISIANA-LAMAR SERIES
• Louisiana leads the all-time series against Lamar, 22-12, with Saturday's meeting just the second between the schools since 1989.
• The meeting is the 20th in Lafayette with the Cajuns holding a 14-6 lead.
• The series dates back to 1923 when then-SLI claimed a 19-16 victory in Beaumont on October 27, 1923.
• Louisiana won seven of the first nine meetings in the series.
THE HERBERT HEYMANN CLASSIC
• The home opener for the Ragin' Cajuns each season serves as the Herbert Heymann Classic with Saturday's game against Lamar being the 26th edition dating back to 2001.
• It serves to honor the prominent Acadiana businessman, community pillar and Cajuns fan who passed away in 2001.
• Heymann is credited with having the largest impact on Louisiana athletics of any non-university employee. He served on the committee that was responsible for building the original Cajun Field.
• His fund-raiser tournament helped bankroll Louisiana's golf team for many years while his behind-the-scenes philanthropy helped the program grow in countless ways.
• The Cajuns are 20-5 overall in Heymann Classic games and have won 16 of their last 18 going back to 2008.
• The most common opponents for Louisiana have been in-state foes Nicholls (2001, 2011, 2013, 2021) and Northwestern State (2004, 2005, 2015, 2023).
FOUR CAJUNS NAB PRESEASON HONORS
• Four Louisiana players, including first-team selections Shelton Sampson Jr. (WR) and cornerback Brent Gordon Jr., were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team.
• Named to the second team were offensive linemen Kaden Moreau and defensive tackle Fitzgerald West Jr.
CAJUNS 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 66 of their 107 players (.616 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.
CUE UP THE OLYMPIC ANTHEM
• Louisiana's 2026 road schedule features an opening game at USC on Sept. 12 before the eventual road finale on Nov. 28 at Georgia Tech.
• What's so noteworthy about that?
• The games will be played at the last two U.S. venues to host the opening games of the Summer Olympics - Los Angeles (1984) and Atlanta (1996)
• With the two games, Louisiana will become the first NCAA football team to play in two Olympic stadiums in the same season and joins fellow SBC member Georgia Southern in playing in both venues.
THE UL-LATECH RIVALRY RESUMES IN 2026
• With Texas State officially moved on to the PAC-12 Conference, Louisiana will renew an in-state rivalry as Louisiana Tech officially joined the Sun Belt Conference on July 1
• The schools will meet for the 86th time on October 10 in Ruston - the first conference meeting on the gridiron since competing in the Big West Conference in 1995.
"TITO" GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
• Tito Chikere has only been on campus a short time, but the senior is already making an impact beyond the field and giving back to the Acadiana community.
• Ahead of the school year, Chikere donated school-supply boxes to students at Ossun Elementary School and Paul Breaux Middle School. He purchased the supplies with his own money as a way to show his appreciation for the community that has welcomed him to Lafayette.
CAJUNS PICKED SECOND IN THE SBC WEST
• Louisiana was picked to finish second overall in the SBC West Division in voting conducted by the league's head coaches.
• The Ragin' Cajuns garnered 75 points and a first-place vote to finish behind reigning SBC West champ Troy in the preseason poll.
• Louisiana was picked ahead of Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, South Alabama and ULM among the West schools.
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 Carriers 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)
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be available live on ESPN+ with Dan McDonald (pxp) and Eric Mouton (color) providing commentary. Fans can also listen to the broadcast on the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network and Varsity Sports Network with Jay Walker (pxp), Cody Junot (color) and Dawson Eiserloh (sideline) on the call.
The game between Louisiana (0-0), which first fielded a team in 1901, and Lamar (1-0) marks the first meeting between the schools since 2012 and 35th meeting overall dating back to the 1923 season. The Ragin' Cajuns own a 22-12 advantage in the series and have won nine of the last 11 meetings dating back to 1975.
Louisiana is coming off its school-record eighth consecutive bowl appearance as it opens its fifth season under head coach Michael Desormeaux. Lunch Winfield will direct the Ragin' Cajuns offense after throwing for 1,551 yards and 11 touchdowns, while rushing for 667 yards and nine TDs.
An offensive line that was decimated by injuries in 2025, will see a return of veterans George Jackson and Cooper Fordham, while returning starters Kaden Moreau and Matt Broussard will be joined by Zay Alexander.
Steven Blanco, Darrell Smith, JJ Garner and FCS transfer Anthony Reagan Jr., will provide key depth at running back while the receiving corps returns its top two targets in Shelton Sampson Jr., and Caden Jensen.
Defensively, Louisiana lost seven starters but returns a solid group of experienced players while adding key depth. Brent Gordon Jr., thrived in his inaugural season at corner for Louisiana and helped lead a secondary that returns Maurion Eleam, Kody Jackson and Collin Jacob.
Fitzgerald West Jr., paces a defensive line while linebackers Jake St. Andre, Conor McPherson and Ashley Williams Jr., are expected to lead the unit.
Lamar, ranked No. 16 in the AFCA Division I FCS rankings, opened its 2026 season last week at home with a 21-14 win over Abilene Christian. Aiden McCown tossed three touchdown passes and connected with eight different receivers to lead the Cardinals to the win.
Single-game tickets are available for as low as $30 and can be purchased through RaginCajuns.com/Tickets.
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 1 PREVIEW – Louisiana (0-0) vs. Lamar (1-0)
Location: Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium (30,932) | Lafayette, La.
Date/Time: Saturday, September 5 | 7 p.m.
TICKETS
Single-game tickets are available and can be purchased through RaginCajuns.com/Tickets
TV/RADIO
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Dan McDonald (play-by-play), Eric Mouton (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, 22-12
In Lafayette – Louisiana leads, 14-6
In Beaumont – Louisiana leads, 8-6
Last 10 – Louisiana, 8-2
Streak – Louisiana +4
KICKING OFF
• Louisiana opens its historic 125th season of intercollegiate football when the Ragin' Cajuns host FCS member Lamar in the annual Herbert Heymann Classic at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.
LOUISIANA STORYLINES
• Louisiana opens the season with Lamar for the first time since the 2012 campaign after posting a 40-0 victory at Cajun Field.
• The meeting with Lamar marks the 35th between the schools in a series which dates back to 1923.
• The Ragin' Cajuns open the season against Lamar for the seventh time in program history, which included five straight seasons from 1952-56.
• The Lamar series is currently the ninth-longest for Louisiana in program history.
• Louisiana is 57-59-3 in season openers in all-time season openers dating back to 1901 and 40-19-3 when opening the season in Lafayette.
• The Ragin' Cajuns are 34-21 in openers at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium (formerly Cajun Field) dating back to 1971.
• Since the beginning of the 2020 season, the Ragin' Cajuns are 26-10 overall on its home turf.
• Louisiana has won 16 of its last 18 openers at home, including eight straight from 2017-25.
• Louisiana is 3-1 in openers under head coach Michael Desormeaux.
• A win by Louisiana would give Desormeaux his 30th career victory and tying him with Augie Tammariello (1974-79) for eighth place in program history.
• Quarterback Lunch Winfield becomes the fourth quarterback to start in an opener for the Ragin' Cajuns in Desormeaux's tenure (2022 - Chandler Fields, 2023-24 - Ben Wooldridge, 2025 - Walker Howard).
• Louisiana comes into the season with an eight-year streak of competing in a bowl game.
• Louisiana is 1-5 all-time in games played on September 5 with all five losses coming on the road.
• The Ragin' Cajuns return 41 letterwinners and 15 starters from the 2025 season.
• Louisiana's first two opponents (Lamar and USC) both played during Week 0. The Cajuns join Miami as playing Week 0 teams in their first two games.
• Sixteen players on Louisiana's 2026 roster hail from the Lone Star State.
• Lamar has 10 players on its roster from the Bayou State, including freshmen defensive backs Taveian Landry (Acadiana) and Trandin Benjamin (Westgate).
"SHOW ME MY OPPONENT ..."
• Lamar, ranked No. 16 in the AFCA Division I FCS rankings, opened its 2026 season in Week 0 with a 21-14 victory over FCS No. 15-ranked Abilene Christian in a rematch of last season's FCS Playoff contest that was won by ACU.
• The game, which was one of two top 25 matchups at the NCAA FCS level in the opening week, marked the fourth Lamar win over a top-25 program in the past three seasons.
• Aiden McCown got the start and completed 17-of-32 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns. McCown connected with eight different receivers, led by newcomer Davin Driskell, who hauled in five receptions for 34 yards and two touchdowns.
• As a team, the Cardinals rushed 34 times for 95 yards, led by Parker Jenkins' 14 carries for 56 yards.
• Lamar's defense was led by Bryce McDonald's seven tackles (two solo stops), while junior Mar Mar Evans had five tackles (four solos) to go along with two breakups and a quarterback hurry.
• Freshman Mason Wuenschel ended the night with three tackles and his first interception as a Cardinal. Lamar's other interception was made by sophomore Zaylon Stoker.
THE LOUISIANA-LAMAR SERIES
• Louisiana leads the all-time series against Lamar, 22-12, with Saturday's meeting just the second between the schools since 1989.
• The meeting is the 20th in Lafayette with the Cajuns holding a 14-6 lead.
• The series dates back to 1923 when then-SLI claimed a 19-16 victory in Beaumont on October 27, 1923.
• Louisiana won seven of the first nine meetings in the series.
THE HERBERT HEYMANN CLASSIC
• The home opener for the Ragin' Cajuns each season serves as the Herbert Heymann Classic with Saturday's game against Lamar being the 26th edition dating back to 2001.
• It serves to honor the prominent Acadiana businessman, community pillar and Cajuns fan who passed away in 2001.
• Heymann is credited with having the largest impact on Louisiana athletics of any non-university employee. He served on the committee that was responsible for building the original Cajun Field.
• His fund-raiser tournament helped bankroll Louisiana's golf team for many years while his behind-the-scenes philanthropy helped the program grow in countless ways.
• The Cajuns are 20-5 overall in Heymann Classic games and have won 16 of their last 18 going back to 2008.
• The most common opponents for Louisiana have been in-state foes Nicholls (2001, 2011, 2013, 2021) and Northwestern State (2004, 2005, 2015, 2023).
FOUR CAJUNS NAB PRESEASON HONORS
• Four Louisiana players, including first-team selections Shelton Sampson Jr. (WR) and cornerback Brent Gordon Jr., were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team.
• Named to the second team were offensive linemen Kaden Moreau and defensive tackle Fitzgerald West Jr.
CAJUNS 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 66 of their 107 players (.616 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.
CUE UP THE OLYMPIC ANTHEM
• Louisiana's 2026 road schedule features an opening game at USC on Sept. 12 before the eventual road finale on Nov. 28 at Georgia Tech.
• What's so noteworthy about that?
• The games will be played at the last two U.S. venues to host the opening games of the Summer Olympics - Los Angeles (1984) and Atlanta (1996)
• With the two games, Louisiana will become the first NCAA football team to play in two Olympic stadiums in the same season and joins fellow SBC member Georgia Southern in playing in both venues.
THE UL-LATECH RIVALRY RESUMES IN 2026
• With Texas State officially moved on to the PAC-12 Conference, Louisiana will renew an in-state rivalry as Louisiana Tech officially joined the Sun Belt Conference on July 1
• The schools will meet for the 86th time on October 10 in Ruston - the first conference meeting on the gridiron since competing in the Big West Conference in 1995.
"TITO" GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
• Tito Chikere has only been on campus a short time, but the senior is already making an impact beyond the field and giving back to the Acadiana community.
• Ahead of the school year, Chikere donated school-supply boxes to students at Ossun Elementary School and Paul Breaux Middle School. He purchased the supplies with his own money as a way to show his appreciation for the community that has welcomed him to Lafayette.
CAJUNS PICKED SECOND IN THE SBC WEST
• Louisiana was picked to finish second overall in the SBC West Division in voting conducted by the league's head coaches.
• The Ragin' Cajuns garnered 75 points and a first-place vote to finish behind reigning SBC West champ Troy in the preseason poll.
• Louisiana was picked ahead of Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, South Alabama and ULM among the West schools.
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 Carriers 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)
Players Mentioned
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Monday, August 24
Thursday, August 20
Thursday, August 20
