Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football program is a college football team that represents the University of Louisiana at Lafayette at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. Since 1971, the team has played its home games at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium in Lafayette, Louisiana. Michael Desormeaux has served as Louisiana's head coach since 2021.

Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football
2025 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team
First season	1901; 124 years ago
Athletic director	Bryan Maggard
Head coach	Michael Desormeaux 4th season, 23–18 (.561)
Stadium	Cajun Field (capacity: 41,426)
Year built	1971
Field surface	Turf (ProGrass)
Location	Lafayette, Louisiana
NCAA division	Division I FBS
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
Division	West
All-time record	582–568–34 [1] (.506)
Bowl record	8–4 (.667)
Conference titles	10
Division titles	5
Rivalries	Louisiana Tech (rivalry) ULM (rivalry) Lamar (rivalry) McNeese State (rivalry) Southeastern Louisiana (rivalry)
Consensus All-Americans	4
Colors	Vermilion and white[2]
Fight song	Ragin' Cajuns Fight Song
Marching band	Pride of Acadiana
Outfitter	Adidas
Website	RaginCajuns.com

The RCAF (Ragin Cajun Athletic Foundation) is the supporter association that assists with funding for all Ragin Cajun sports.

The program began play in 1901 when the school was known as Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute. The school's sports teams were known as the Southwestern Louisiana Bulldogs from 1921 until 1973. The school's fight name was formally changed to Ragin' Cajuns in 1974, which had been in use since the 1960s. In 1999, the university took on its current name, at which point its sports teams were referred to as Louisiana–Lafayette. A rebranding in 2017 dropped "Lafayette" from the Cajuns' name.

Between 2011 and 2014, the Cajuns won four consecutive New Orleans Bowls, representing the most successful stretch in the program's history at the time, but later had to vacate two of the victories due to NCAA violations.^[3]

Between 2018 and 2021, during the tenure of head coach Billy Napier, the Cajuns reached many milestones, including the first National ranking in program history, four consecutive division championships, two conference championships, three bowl championships, and the best season finish and conference finish in the 2021 season, finishing 13–1 and 7–0 in conference play.

The Cajuns have had several players go to play professionally in the National Football League (NFL), including Jake Delhomme, Charles Tillman, Brian Mitchell, Orlando Thomas, Brandon Stokely, Elijah McGuire, Elijah Mitchell, Kevin Dotson, Chris Cagle, Ike Taylor, and Robert Hunt.

History

See also: List of Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football seasons

Before 1974, the team's official nickname was the Bulldogs, although the current nickname was in common use with the football team for approximately the decade prior.^{[citation needed]}

Division history

Years	Division
1937–1962	National Junior College Athletic Association
1963–1972	NCAA College Division (Small College)
1973	NCAA Division II
1974–1977	NCAA Division I
1978–present	NCAA Division I-A (FBS)

Conference affiliations

Louisiana has been both independent and a member of four different conferences.^[4]: 89

• Independent (1901–1947)
• Gulf States Conference (1948–1970)
• Southland Conference (1971–1981)
• NCAA Division I-A independent (1982–1992)
• Big West Conference (1993–1995)
• Independent (1996–2000)
• Sun Belt Conference (2001–present)

Championships

Conference championships

Louisiana has won 10 conference championships, with the 2013 championship later vacated.^{[5][4]: 84–89}

Year	Conference	Coach	Conference record	Overall record
1952†	Gulf States Conference	Raymond Didier	3–0–2	5–2–2
1965†		Russ Faulkinberry	4–1	7–3
1968			5–1	8–2
1970			5–0	9–3
1993†	Big West Conference	Nelson Stokley	5–1	8–3
1994†			5–1	6–5
2005†	Sun Belt Conference	Rickey Bustle	5–2	6–5
2013†‡		Mark Hudspeth	5–2	9–4
2020†^		Billy Napier	7–1	10–1
2021			8–0	13–1

† Co-champions
‡ Louisiana vacated the 2013 Sun Belt Conference co-championship due to major NCAA violations^[5]
^ The 2020 championship game was not played due to Coastal Carolina impacted by COVID-19 pandemic^[6] For College Football Playoff purposes, Coastal Carolina was viewed as the 2020 Sun Belt Champions.^[7] Recognizing that the College Football Playoff committee had no jurisdiction to that magnitude coupled with a desire to prevent the diminishment to the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns football team’s accomplishments in 2020, Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory declared, by executive proclamation, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns football team as the 2020 sole champions of the Sun Belt Conference in football.^[8]

Division championships

Louisiana has won five division championships with the most recent in the 2024 season.

Year	Division	Coach	Conf. record	Overall record	Opponent	CG result
2018	Sun Belt West	Billy Napier	5–3	7–7	Appalachian State	L 19–30
2019	7–1	11–3	Appalachian State	L 38–45
2020	7–1	10–1	Coastal Carolina	No Contest^
2021	8–0	13–1	Appalachian State	W 24–16
2024	Michael Desormeaux	7–1	10–3	Marshall	L 3–31

^ The 2020 championship game was not played due to Coastal Carolina impacted by COVID-19 pandemic^[6]

Postseason history

National Junior College Athletic Association

Date	Coach	Bowl	Opponent	Result
January 1, 1944	Louis Whitman	Oil Bowl	Arkansas–Monticello	W 24–7

NCAA Small College Division

Date	Coach	Bowl	Opponent	Result
December 12, 1970	Russ Faulkinberry	Grantland Rice Bowl	Tennessee State	L 25–26

NCAA Division I FBS

Since joining the NCAA Division I-A (FBS) in 1978, the Ragin' Cajuns have played in 11 bowl games, although two of those games (which were victories) were vacated due to sanctions. Officially, they have a record of 5–4 in bowl games.

Date	Coach	Bowl	Opponent	Result
December 17, 2011	Mark Hudspeth	New Orleans Bowl†	San Diego State	W 32–30
December 22, 2012		New Orleans Bowl	East Carolina	W 43–34
December 21, 2013		New Orleans Bowl†	Tulane	W 24–21
December 20, 2014		New Orleans Bowl	Nevada	W 16–3
December 17, 2016		New Orleans Bowl	Southern Miss	L 21–28
December 15, 2018	Billy Napier	Cure Bowl	Tulane	L 24–41
January 6, 2020		LendingTree Bowl	Miami (OH)	W 27–17
December 26, 2020		First Responder Bowl	UTSA	W 31–24
December 18, 2021	Michael Desormeaux	New Orleans Bowl	Marshall	W 36–21
December 23, 2022		Independence Bowl	Houston	L 16–23
December 16, 2023		New Orleans Bowl	Jacksonville State	L 31–34 OT
December 28, 2024		New Mexico Bowl	TCU	L 3–34

† Vacated ^[9][10]

Home stadiums

McNaspy Stadium

Main article: McNaspy Stadium

In 1940 McNaspy Stadium was built on the campus of Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette). It served as the Cajuns home field through the 1970 season and was demolished in 2000. McNaspy Stadium was located at the site where the current computer science building Oliver Hall now stands.

Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium

Main article: Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium

Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium on gameday.

Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium is a football stadium located in the city of Lafayette, Louisiana, and has served as the home field of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team since 1970. Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium has an official capacity of 41,426 with 2,577 chairback seats, and its nickname is "The Swamp."

In June of 2021 it was announced that Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium would be undergoing a $75 million renovation, with construction slated to begin summer of 2022. ^[11] The plans are to demolish the current West Tower, and replace it with a state of the art facility, including amenities such as premium suites, a club level and club seats, loge boxes, and press box. Because of a $15 million donation, the stadium will now be known as “Cajun Field at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.”

Head coaches

Years coached	Name	Record
1901–1902	Ashby Woodson	3–2
1903	J. Ovey Herpin	1–1
1904	Edwin F. Gayle	2–0–1
1906	Herbert McNaspy	1–0–1
1907	Jefferson Caffery	1–0
1908–1911; 1913; 1917–1918	Clement J. McNaspy	34–15–4
1912	H. Lee Prather	3–4
1914–1915	R. B. Dunbar	10–5–1
1916; 1919; 1921–1930	T. R. Mobley	57–48–7
1920	Herbert O. Tudor	2–8
1931–1936	Truman F. Wilbanks	19–32–2
1937–1941; 1946	Johnny Cain	33–19–5
1942–1945	Louis Whittman	14–14–2
1947–1949	Gee Mitchell	18–8–1
1950	A. L. Swanson	5–4
1951–1956	Raymond Didier	29–23–2
1957	John Robert Bell	4–5–1
1958–1960	Red Hoggatt	11–17
1961–1973	Russ Faulkinberry	66–63–2
1974–1979	Augie Tammariello	30–35–2
1980–1985	Sam Robertson	29–34–2
1986–1998	Nelson Stokley	62–80–1
1999–2001	Jerry Baldwin	6–27
2002–2010	Rickey Bustle	41–65
2011–2017	Mark Hudspeth	29–38†
2018–2021	Billy Napier	40–12
2021–present	Michael Desormeaux	23-18

† Hudspeth's record of 51–38 was reduced to 29–38 due to alleged NCAA violations.^{[citation needed]}

Rivalries

Lamar

Main article: Sabine Shoe

Although no longer an active rivalry, the first Sabine Shoe trophy was first awarded in 1937 to the winner of the SLI–Lamar football game.^[12] The name of the bronze rivalry trophy was derived from the Sabine River that forms the Texas-Louisiana border. USL defeated Lamar in the 1978 edition of the rivalry game, but the Ragin' Cajuns were not awarded the trophy as it had vanished.^[13] The Sabine Shoe trophy now sits in at trophy case in the Ragin' Cajun Athletic Complex.

Louisiana–Lamar: All-time record

Games played	First meeting	Last meeting	LA wins	LA losses	Ties	Win %
34	October 27, 1923 (won 19–16)	September 1, 2012 (won 40–0, vacated)	22	11	0	66.7%

McNeese State

Main article: Cajun Crown

Another former rivalry. When active the Cajun Crown was the name of the trophy between Louisiana and McNeese State.^[14]

Louisiana–McNeese State: All-Time Record

Games played	First meeting	Last meeting	LA wins	LA losses	Ties	Win %
38	September 22, 1951 (won 35–14)	September 10, 2016 (won 30–22)	16	20	2	44.7%

Southeastern Louisiana

Main article: Cypress Mug

This is another former rivalry. The Cypress Mug was the turned, polished mahogany mug awarded to the winner of the Southwestern–Southeastern football game.^[15]

Louisiana–Southeastern Louisiana: All-time record

Games played	First meeting	Last meeting	LA wins	LA losses	Ties	Win %
41	November 11, 1930 (won 13–0)	September 3, 2022 (won 24–7)	21	17	3	54.9%

ULM

Main article: Battle on the Bayou

The Battle on the Bayou is the annual rivalry game between Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns and ULM. The wooden boot-shaped rivalry trophy was created in 2002 to be awarded to the victors.^[16]

Louisiana–ULM: All-time record

Games played	First meeting	Last meeting	LA wins	LA losses	Ties	Win %
59	September 15, 1951 (lost 7–13)	November 30, 2024 (won 37-23)	33	26	0	56%

Appalachian State

Louisiana–Appalachian State: All-time record

Games played	First meeting	Last meeting	LA wins	LA losses	Ties	Win %
12	November 22, 2014 (lost 16–35)	October 12, 2024 (won 34-24)	4	8	0	33%

Arkansas State

Louisiana–Arkansas State: All-time record

Games played	First meeting	Last meeting	LA wins	LA losses	Ties	Win %
51	October 17, 1953 (lost 12–13)	October 22, 2022 (won 38–18)	29	21	1	58.2%

Louisiana Tech

Main article: Louisiana–Louisiana Tech football rivalry

Louisiana–Louisiana Tech: All-time record

Games played	First meeting	Last meeting	LA wins	LA losses	Ties	Win %
87	1910 (lost 0–75)	October 3, 2015 (lost 14–43)	33	48	6	41.38%

Notable players

See also: List of Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in the NFL draft

• Michael Adams
• Louis Age
• Patrise Alexander
• James Atkins
• D'Anthony Batiste
• Bill Blackburn
• C. C. Brown
• Wayde Butler
• Chris Cagle
• Raymond Calais
• Anthony Clement
• Kenyon Cotton
• Richie Cunningham
• Jake Delhomme
• Michael Desormeaux
• Kevin Dotson
• Tyrell Fenroy
• Jason Fletcher
• Ladarius Green
• Justin Hamilton
• Alonzo Harris
• Mark Hall
• Kyries Hebert
• Keno Hills
• Weldon Humble
• Robert Hunt
• Elvis Joseph
• Damon Mason
• Randy McClanahan
• Elijah McGuire
• Brian Mitchell
• Elijah Mitchell
• Donovan Morgan
• Christian Ringo
• Todd Scott
• Rafael Septién
• Antwain Spann
• Fred Stamps
• Brandon Stokley
• Ike Taylor
• Orlando Thomas
• Charles Tillman
• Clarence Verdin
• Tracy Walker
• Melvin White

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of February 15, 2025.^[17]

2025	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030
Rice	Lamar	at Tulane	Tulsa	Louisiana Tech	New Mexico State
McNeese	UAB	at UCF			at Buffalo
at Missouri	at Louisiana Tech	Kennesaw State
at Eastern Michigan

See also

• List of NCAA Division I FBS football programs