University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, October 3
Lafayette, La.
7:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs
Arkansas State
2026 Louisiana Football Preview - The Arkansas State Game
9/30/2026 7:46:00 PM | Football
Ragin' Cajuns face Red Wolves' in annual Homecoming Game at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team officially opens its Sun Belt Conference slate on Saturday when it hosts Arkansas State in the 82nd annual Homecoming game at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be available on ESPN+ with Dan McDonald (pxp) and Steve Peloquin (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.
Louisiana (3-1) opens its 26th season of Sun Belt Conference play after closing out its non-conference slate last Saturday with a 34-7 win over American Conference member Charlotte. The Ragin' Cajuns forced four turnovers and limited the 49ers to 137 yards of total offense, while pulling away in the second half from a 10-7 lead at the break.
Brent Gordon Jr., accounted for three of Louisiana's takeaways with an interception and two fumble recoveries as the Ragin' Cajuns turned in their best defensive performance since 2001.
Lunch Winfield and Steven Blanco each scored for the fourth straight game as the Louisiana offense controlled the football for nearly 42 minutes.
The game against Arkansas State (2-2) marks the 55th between the schools dating back to 1953 with Louisiana holding a 31-22-1 lead. The Ragin' Cajuns rallied from an early deficit and used a last-second goal-line stand to claim a 34-30 victory in last season's game in Jonesboro.
A-State opened the season at Memphis before smashing West Georgia in its home opener on September 12. After a 31-7 loss at TCU in Week 3, the Red Wolves held off Kennesaw State, 17-14, last week.
Trey Owens has directed the Red Wolves' offense, completing 69-of-102 passes for 837 yards and four touchdowns. Chauncy Cobb (17 reception), Hunter Simmons (16) and Jaylen Bonelli (12) are the top receivers for A-State with Solomon Baggett leading the ground game with 160 yards and a 5.3 average.
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 5 PREVIEW – Louisiana (3-1) vs. Arkansas State (2-2)
Location: Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium (30,932) | Lafayette, La.
Date/Time: Saturday, October 3 | 7 p.m.
TV/RADIO
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Dan McDonald (play-by-play), Steve Peloquin (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, 31-22-1
In Lafayette – Louisiana leads, 19-9
In Jonesboro – A-State leads, 13-12-1
Last 10 Meetings – Louisiana, 8-2
Streak – Louisiana +2
KICKING OFF
• The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns celebrate its 82nd recorded Homecoming on Saturday when it opens Sun Belt Conference action against rival Arkansas State at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. The 55th gridiron meeting between the schools marks the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.
LOUISIANA STORYLINES
• Louisiana is 16-9 in SBC openers and opens the conference slate at home for the second consecutive season after earning a 54-51 double overtime win against Marshall.
• Louisiana is 49-30-2 in all-time Homecoming games with Louisiana Tech (10) and Northwestern State (10) the most common opponents.
• The Cajuns are 6-1 overall against Arkansas State in Homecoming Games – the most wins against any opponent.
• Louisiana leads the all-time series, 31-22-1, and have won eight of the last 10 meetings, including six straight in Lafayette dating back to 2014.
• The Louisiana-Arkansas State series dates back to the 1953 season and have played on a yearly basis since 1988.
• In games played in Lafayette, the Cajuns are 19-9 overall.
• The teams play for the 39th time in conference play (Southland, Big West, Sun Belt) with Louisiana holding a 22-15-1 lead.
• Louisiana 3-1 start to the season is its first since 2024 when it finished 10-2 during the regular season and earned a spot in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game.
• Louisiana comes into the 2026 season with an eight-year active streak of competing in a bowl game, currently the ninth-longest streak in the FBS.
• The Ragin' Cajuns return 41 letterwinners and 15 starters from the 2025 season.
• 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.
• With his next victory, head coach Michael Desormeaux will tie Johnny L. Cain (33 wins – 1937-41, 1946) for seventh place in career wins in program history.
• UL running backs coach Marquase Lovings spent the previous four seasons in the same capacity at A-State before returning for his second stint with the Cajuns in 2026.
LOUISIANA TEAM/PLAYER NOTES
• Louisiana is one of 19 FBS teams that is perfect in red zone offense through Week 4 of the 2026 season.
• The Cajuns have converted on all 15 trips to the red zone with 13 resulting in TDs.
• Louisiana quarterbacks are completing 71 percent of their passes to rank second in the Sun Belt Conference and 15th among FBS programs.
• Louisiana (.714) ranks second behind James Madison (.750) for fourth-down conversions and rank 26th nationally.
• The Ragin' Cajuns top the SBC in total defense, allowing 260.8 yards per game to rank eighth nationally.
• The Ragin' Cajuns allow 19.3 points per game to rank second behind JMU (12.3) and 43rd nationally.
• Louisiana is holding opponents to 168.3 yards passing per game to lead the SBC and rank 27th nationally.
• Louisiana's 137 yards allowed on Week 4 against Charlotte was the fewest allowed since September 1, 2001 when the Cajuns held Nicholls to 57 yards of total offense.
• The 137 yards allowed by Louisiana against Charlotte was the first time to allow less than 200 yards of total offense since defeating Southern Miss on Oct. 5, 2024 in Hattiesburg.
• The Cajuns' 10 turnovers gained led the SBC and ranks fourth among FBS programs.
• The UL defense has allowed only seven trips into the red zone in 2026 and rank fourth in the league (5-for-7) and 18th in FBS.
• Louisiana is holding opponents to 1-for-9 (.111) on fourth down to rank eighth nationally.
• Quarterback Lunch Winfield (Lutcher, La.) enters the game as the Sun Belt Conference leader in completion percentage (.730), rushing touchdowns (6) and total touchdowns (6).
• Winfield's six rushing TDs are tied for fifth among all FBS players.
• Winfield is 14th nationally in total touchdowns (6) and sixth in the Sun Belt in total offense (238.8).
• Tony Sterner (Kingwood, Texas) is one of 29 FBS kickers who are perfect on field goals in 2026.
• Brent Gordon Jr.'s (Breaux Bridge, La.) two forced fumbles against Charlotte marked the first time a Ragin' Cajuns player forced two fumbles since Cameron Whitfield against Southern Miss in 2024.
• Gordon is third in the Sun Belt and 34th nationally in punt return average (12.2).
• The former Cecilia High product is sixth nationally in passes defended per game (1.5).
• Outside of the USC game in Week 2, the Louisiana defense has allowed one offensive touchdown in 2026.
• Steven Blanco (St. Martinville, La.) has scored a TD in all four games for Louisiana, including a 3-yard TD reception in Week 4 against Charlotte.
• Charlotte was held scoreless in the second half, marking the first time since the 2025 opener against Rice the Louisiana defense kept an opponent off the board in the final 30 minutes.
"SHOW ME MY OPPONENT ..."
• Joe Drew's 9.0 tackles per game rank second in the Sun Belt Conference and 23rd nationally.
Arkansas State has an all-time record of 103-81in Sun Belt Conference games. Along with ULM and Louisiana, A-State is one of three teams that have been a part of the conference since its inaugural football season in 2001.
• With its 17-14 victory over Kennesaw State, A-State earned its 12th one-score victory since the start of the 2024 season. The Red Wolves 12 one-score victories in that span are tied for the most in FBS.
• A-State's defense has forced seven takeaways through four games. The Red Wolves recorded two interceptions at Memphis, followed with four takeaways against West Georgia and snagged an interception at TCU.
• Two takeaways against West Georgia resulted in scores with Noah Flores' 68-yard scoop-and-score and Five Hamilton's 91-yard interception return.
• A-State's seven turnovers gained rank 17th nationally entering games this week.
• The Red Wolves rank third in all-time Sun Belt victories with 103 behind Troy (107) and Louisiana (104).
• Seventy-nine Red Wolves have seen game action through the season's first four contests.
• Forty-one of those players are in their first year with the program.
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 7 p.m. The game will be available on ESPN+ with Dan McDonald (pxp) and Steve Peloquin (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.
Louisiana (3-1) opens its 26th season of Sun Belt Conference play after closing out its non-conference slate last Saturday with a 34-7 win over American Conference member Charlotte. The Ragin' Cajuns forced four turnovers and limited the 49ers to 137 yards of total offense, while pulling away in the second half from a 10-7 lead at the break.
Brent Gordon Jr., accounted for three of Louisiana's takeaways with an interception and two fumble recoveries as the Ragin' Cajuns turned in their best defensive performance since 2001.
Lunch Winfield and Steven Blanco each scored for the fourth straight game as the Louisiana offense controlled the football for nearly 42 minutes.
The game against Arkansas State (2-2) marks the 55th between the schools dating back to 1953 with Louisiana holding a 31-22-1 lead. The Ragin' Cajuns rallied from an early deficit and used a last-second goal-line stand to claim a 34-30 victory in last season's game in Jonesboro.
A-State opened the season at Memphis before smashing West Georgia in its home opener on September 12. After a 31-7 loss at TCU in Week 3, the Red Wolves held off Kennesaw State, 17-14, last week.
Trey Owens has directed the Red Wolves' offense, completing 69-of-102 passes for 837 yards and four touchdowns. Chauncy Cobb (17 reception), Hunter Simmons (16) and Jaylen Bonelli (12) are the top receivers for A-State with Solomon Baggett leading the ground game with 160 yards and a 5.3 average.
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 5 PREVIEW – Louisiana (3-1) vs. Arkansas State (2-2)
Location: Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium (30,932) | Lafayette, La.
Date/Time: Saturday, October 3 | 7 p.m.
TV/RADIO
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Dan McDonald (play-by-play), Steve Peloquin (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, 31-22-1
In Lafayette – Louisiana leads, 19-9
In Jonesboro – A-State leads, 13-12-1
Last 10 Meetings – Louisiana, 8-2
Streak – Louisiana +2
KICKING OFF
• The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns celebrate its 82nd recorded Homecoming on Saturday when it opens Sun Belt Conference action against rival Arkansas State at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. The 55th gridiron meeting between the schools marks the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.
LOUISIANA STORYLINES
• Louisiana is 16-9 in SBC openers and opens the conference slate at home for the second consecutive season after earning a 54-51 double overtime win against Marshall.
• Louisiana is 49-30-2 in all-time Homecoming games with Louisiana Tech (10) and Northwestern State (10) the most common opponents.
• The Cajuns are 6-1 overall against Arkansas State in Homecoming Games – the most wins against any opponent.
• Louisiana leads the all-time series, 31-22-1, and have won eight of the last 10 meetings, including six straight in Lafayette dating back to 2014.
• The Louisiana-Arkansas State series dates back to the 1953 season and have played on a yearly basis since 1988.
• In games played in Lafayette, the Cajuns are 19-9 overall.
• The teams play for the 39th time in conference play (Southland, Big West, Sun Belt) with Louisiana holding a 22-15-1 lead.
• Louisiana 3-1 start to the season is its first since 2024 when it finished 10-2 during the regular season and earned a spot in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game.
• Louisiana comes into the 2026 season with an eight-year active streak of competing in a bowl game, currently the ninth-longest streak in the FBS.
• The Ragin' Cajuns return 41 letterwinners and 15 starters from the 2025 season.
• 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.
• With his next victory, head coach Michael Desormeaux will tie Johnny L. Cain (33 wins – 1937-41, 1946) for seventh place in career wins in program history.
• UL running backs coach Marquase Lovings spent the previous four seasons in the same capacity at A-State before returning for his second stint with the Cajuns in 2026.
LOUISIANA TEAM/PLAYER NOTES
• Louisiana is one of 19 FBS teams that is perfect in red zone offense through Week 4 of the 2026 season.
• The Cajuns have converted on all 15 trips to the red zone with 13 resulting in TDs.
• Louisiana quarterbacks are completing 71 percent of their passes to rank second in the Sun Belt Conference and 15th among FBS programs.
• Louisiana (.714) ranks second behind James Madison (.750) for fourth-down conversions and rank 26th nationally.
• The Ragin' Cajuns top the SBC in total defense, allowing 260.8 yards per game to rank eighth nationally.
• The Ragin' Cajuns allow 19.3 points per game to rank second behind JMU (12.3) and 43rd nationally.
• Louisiana is holding opponents to 168.3 yards passing per game to lead the SBC and rank 27th nationally.
• Louisiana's 137 yards allowed on Week 4 against Charlotte was the fewest allowed since September 1, 2001 when the Cajuns held Nicholls to 57 yards of total offense.
• The 137 yards allowed by Louisiana against Charlotte was the first time to allow less than 200 yards of total offense since defeating Southern Miss on Oct. 5, 2024 in Hattiesburg.
• The Cajuns' 10 turnovers gained led the SBC and ranks fourth among FBS programs.
• The UL defense has allowed only seven trips into the red zone in 2026 and rank fourth in the league (5-for-7) and 18th in FBS.
• Louisiana is holding opponents to 1-for-9 (.111) on fourth down to rank eighth nationally.
• Quarterback Lunch Winfield (Lutcher, La.) enters the game as the Sun Belt Conference leader in completion percentage (.730), rushing touchdowns (6) and total touchdowns (6).
• Winfield's six rushing TDs are tied for fifth among all FBS players.
• Winfield is 14th nationally in total touchdowns (6) and sixth in the Sun Belt in total offense (238.8).
• Tony Sterner (Kingwood, Texas) is one of 29 FBS kickers who are perfect on field goals in 2026.
• Brent Gordon Jr.'s (Breaux Bridge, La.) two forced fumbles against Charlotte marked the first time a Ragin' Cajuns player forced two fumbles since Cameron Whitfield against Southern Miss in 2024.
• Gordon is third in the Sun Belt and 34th nationally in punt return average (12.2).
• The former Cecilia High product is sixth nationally in passes defended per game (1.5).
• Outside of the USC game in Week 2, the Louisiana defense has allowed one offensive touchdown in 2026.
• Steven Blanco (St. Martinville, La.) has scored a TD in all four games for Louisiana, including a 3-yard TD reception in Week 4 against Charlotte.
• Charlotte was held scoreless in the second half, marking the first time since the 2025 opener against Rice the Louisiana defense kept an opponent off the board in the final 30 minutes.
"SHOW ME MY OPPONENT ..."
• Joe Drew's 9.0 tackles per game rank second in the Sun Belt Conference and 23rd nationally.
Arkansas State has an all-time record of 103-81in Sun Belt Conference games. Along with ULM and Louisiana, A-State is one of three teams that have been a part of the conference since its inaugural football season in 2001.
• With its 17-14 victory over Kennesaw State, A-State earned its 12th one-score victory since the start of the 2024 season. The Red Wolves 12 one-score victories in that span are tied for the most in FBS.
• A-State's defense has forced seven takeaways through four games. The Red Wolves recorded two interceptions at Memphis, followed with four takeaways against West Georgia and snagged an interception at TCU.
• Two takeaways against West Georgia resulted in scores with Noah Flores' 68-yard scoop-and-score and Five Hamilton's 91-yard interception return.
• A-State's seven turnovers gained rank 17th nationally entering games this week.
• The Red Wolves rank third in all-time Sun Belt victories with 103 behind Troy (107) and Louisiana (104).
• Seventy-nine Red Wolves have seen game action through the season's first four contests.
• Forty-one of those players are in their first year with the program.
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.
Players Mentioned
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CB
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OLB
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QB
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Sunday, September 20
Sunday, September 20
