Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
Sun BeltLafayette, LACajun Field
2026: 5–2 (2–1 Sun Belt). Last: beat Troy 33–6 at home. Next: at Southern Miss, Saturday, Oct 24, 5 p.m. ET.
- W 38–7Lamar
- L 30–49at No. 14 USC
- W 21–14UAB
- W 34–7at Charlotte
- W 23–20Arkansas State
- L 31–32at Louisiana Tech
- W 33–6Troy
- Oct 24at Southern Miss
- Nov 7South Alabama
- Nov 12at UL Monroe
- Nov 21Coastal Carolina
- Nov 28at Georgia State
- Outfitted by Adidas
Louisiana has played football since 1901 and is officially 606–566–34; 675 of its 1,206 games are in our file. Their best finish in the final AP poll is No. 15, in 2020. They have won four Sun Belt Conference titles (the last in 2021), plus four Gulf States Conference titles, two Big West Conference titles, counting shared titles. Since 1985, the NFL Draft has taken 28 players from here in its first seven rounds, 0 of them in the first round. The College Football Hall of Fame holds 2 players from Louisiana. Nelson Stokley (1986–1998) won more games here than any other coach: 62. The most-played rival is Arkansas State: 47 meetings, Louisiana leads 28–17 (one Arkansas State win vacated, one Louisiana win vacated). This season, under Michael Desormeaux, they’re 5–2.
Résumé
- All-time record
- 606–566–34 official; 296–374–5 on file; how we count
- Postseason
- 7–6 bowls, title games, playoff
- AP No. 1 finishes
- 0
- Weeks at No. 1
- 0 of 19 ranked
- Elo now
- 1547 57th of 138 FBS
- Computer rankings
- Massey No. 82 · Composite No. 80 in FBS, Oct 17; up 10 since Oct 11. From Massey Ratings
- Conference titles
- 10 last in 2021
- Bowl record
- 8–6 official, bowls only
- Seasons
- 92 since 1902, 675 games
Identity
2026 season 5–2
RosterFull 2026 season| Date | Opponent | Result | Elo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5 | vs Lamar | W 38–7 | 76% |
| Sep 12 | at 14USC | L 30–49 | 25% |
| Sep 19 | vs UAB | W 21–14 | 68% |
| Sep 26 | at Charlotte | W 34–7 | 69% |
| Oct 3 | vs Arkansas State | W 23–20 | 64% |
| Oct 10 | at Louisiana Tech | L 31–32 | 50% |
| Oct 17 | vs Troy | W 33–6 | 60% |
| Oct 24 | at Southern Miss | Preview | 69% |
| Nov 7 | vs South Alabama | Preview | 64% |
| Nov 12 | at UL Monroe | Preview | 79% |
| Nov 21 | vs Coastal Carolina | Preview | 76% |
| Nov 28 | at Georgia State | Preview | 56% |
Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.
This season, game by game
Future schedule
2027–32- 20274 games: 2 home, 2 away, non-conference only
- 20302 games: 1 home, 1 away, non-conference only
Louisiana’s announced games beyond the seasons on our schedule, as its Wikipedia article lists them (announced schedules as of September 15, 2026). Schedules change; a season shows only the games named so far, and many articles list non-conference games only. Future schedules: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
On the 2026 team
- D’Wayne’ Winfield1,158 passing yards, 4 TD (leads Louisiana in passing yards)
- Jake St. Andre48 tackles, 1 INT (leads Louisiana in tackles)
- Brent Gordon Jr.42 tackles, 2 INT (leads Louisiana in interceptions)
- Maurion Eleam36 tackles, 1 sack
- J.J. Garner252 rushing yards, 4 TD
- Collin Jacob29 tackles, 1 INT
Program greats See all
Heisman finalists, College Football Hall of Famers, consensus All-Americans, national award winners and first-round picks, for what they did at Louisiana.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.
Around the program
- Apparel
- Adidas · Official source
- Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns; read 2026-10-10
- Ragin' Cajuns Athletics; read 2026-10-10
- Ragin' Cajuns Athletics; read 2026-10-10
- Mascot
- Cayenne · Official source
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics; read 2026-10-10
- Athletic director
- Trey Frazier · Official source
- Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Athletics; read 2026-10-10
- Offensive coordinator
- Tim Leger · Official source
- ragincajuns.com; read 2026-10-10
- Defensive coordinator
- Jim Salgado · Official source
- ragincajuns.com; read 2026-10-10
Found by several AI researchers searching the web, then kept only where the page loads and says so in words naming the program; every quote is checked again each time the data is rebuilt. Official source: the school’s own page. All of them.
The apparel deal
Adidas. Two-year extension, $1.1 million in additional value. A 2022 extension ran through the 2023-24 school year. The current term hasn't been confirmed here.
- Louisiana Athletics, Mar 21, 2022: Two-year adidas extension through the 2023-24 athletic year, $1.1 million in additional value
Apparel deals: Field Drip. Terms as the outlets reported them; checked Oct 3, 2026.
Program strength since 1902
Best seasons everMore coverage
- Kyle Lowe's two touchdown runs help Southeastern Louisiana upset Lamar 34-31, winnipegfreepress.com,
- Louisiana Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026: Tenna Cooper, acadiananewsfirst.com,
- Louisiana Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026: Nelson Stokley, acadiananewsfirst.com,
- 2026 Week 7 Preview: Troy Trojans @ Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, underdogdynasty.com,
- When Louisiana's Cold Front Hits Friday Night, 973thedawg.com,
- Louisiana Athletics Hall of Fame: Lawrence Willis, acadiananewsfirst.com,
- Louisiana's road trip to Southern Miss gets official kickoff time, acadiananewsfirst.com,
- What Does JMU's Sun Belt Exit Mean for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns?, 999ktdy.com,
Found through the GDELT Project, which indexes news sites worldwide. Each link opens the story on the outlet’s own site; each picture is that outlet’s own preview of its story, shown from its site and credited to it.
Head coaches
| Coach | Years | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Desormeaux | 2021–2026 | 34–27 |
 Billy Napier | 2018–2021 | 40–12 |
 Mark Hudspeth | 2011–2017 | 51–38 |
| Rickey Bustle | 2002–2010 | 41–65 |
| Jerry Baldwin | 1999–2001 | 6–27 |
| Nelson Stokley | 1986–1998 | 62–80–1 |
| Sam Robertson | 1980–1985 | 29–34–2 |
| Augie Tammariello | 1974–1979 | 30–35–2 |
| Russ Faulkinberry | 1971–1973 | 2–11 |
Most-played series
All rivalries- Arkansas State
28–17 † in 47
- 2017 L 3–47
- 2018 W 47–43
- 2019 W 37–20
- 2020 W 27–20
- 2021 W 28–27
- 2022 W 38–18
- 2023 L 17–37
- 2024 W 55–19
- 2025 W 34–30
- 2026 W 23–20
Won the last three.
- UL Monroe
24–16 † in 41
- 2016 W 30–3
- 2017 L 50–56
- 2018 W 31–28
- 2019 W 31–30
- 2020 W 70–20
- 2021 W 21–16
- 2022 L 17–21
- 2023 W 52–21
- 2024 W 37–23
- 2025 W 30–27
Won the last three; holds the Wooden Boot.
Next: Nov 12
- Louisiana Tech
10–19–3 in 32
- 1996 W 37–31
- 1997 L 24–63
- 1998 L 14–77
- 1999 L 31–41
- 2000 L 14–48
- 2003 L 3–34
- 2004 L 20–24
- 2014 L 20–48
- 2015 L 14–43
- 2026 L 31–32
Lost the last nine.
| Opponent | Games | UL record |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State | 47 | 28–17 † |
| UL Monroe | 41 | 24–16 † |
| Louisiana Tech | 32 | 10–19–3 |
| Tulane | 29 | 4–23 † |
| Southern Miss | 29 | 5–24 |
| LSU | 22 | 0–22 |
| Troy | 21 | 5–12 † |
| North Texas | 17 | 7–9 † |
Official records. † Without wins the NCAA vacated. ‡ The rivalry’s own count, where it differs from the games on file. Each series page gives both.
Rivals the program names: Lamar, Louisiana Tech, McNeese, SE Louisiana.
Trophies it holds: Sabine Shoe (Lamar, since 1982), Cajun Crown (McNeese), Wooden Boot (UL Monroe, since 2023), Cypress Mug (SE Louisiana). Who holds each comes from the games on file; the trophies from Wikipedia.
Every opponent (114)
Every program Louisiana has played, A to Z, with Louisiana’s record against it. Each links to the series, game by game.
- Akron 1–1
- Alabama 0–9
- App State 4–8
- Arizona 0–1
- Arizona State 0–1
- Arkansas 0–5
- Arkansas State 28–17 †
- Auburn 0–4
- Boise State 0–2
- Buffalo 1–0
- Cal Poly-Pomona 1–0
- Cal State Fullerton 1–1
- Central Michigan 1–1
- Charlotte 1–0
- Chattanooga 2–3
- Cincinnati 1–3
- Coastal Carolina 2–2
- Colorado State 1–0
- Delaware 0–1
- East Carolina 7–4
- Eastern Michigan 2–2
- Florida 0–5
- Florida Atlantic 2–5 †
- Florida International 6–2 †
- Florida State 0–1
- Fresno State 2–1
- Furman 1–0
- Georgia 0–2
- Georgia Southern 5–1
- Georgia State 5–1 †
- Grambling 2–0
- Hawai’i 0–1
- Houston 1–7
- Idaho 4–2
- Idaho State 1–0
- Illinois 0–1
- Iowa State 1–0
- Jacksonville State 0–2
- James Madison 0–1
- Kansas State 1–4
- Kennesaw State 1–0
- Kent State 1–0 †
- Kentucky 0–1
- Lamar 9–4 †
- Liberty 2–0
- Long Beach State 1–1
- Louisiana Tech 10–19–3
- LSU 0–22
- Marshall 3–1
- McNeese 4–11–2
- Memphis 4–7
- Miami (OH) 1–2
- Middle Tennessee 7–6
- Minnesota 0–4
- Mississippi State 1–4 †
- Missouri 0–1
- Nebraska 0–1
- Nevada 1–1
- New Mexico State 6–5 †
- Nicholls 3–0 †
- North Alabama 0–1
- North Carolina A&T 1–0
- North Texas 7–9 †
- Northern Illinois 6–3
- Northwestern State 8–5
- Ohio 2–2
- Oklahoma State 0–9
- Old Dominion 0–1
- Ole Miss 0–3 †
- Pacific 2–2
- Pittsburgh 0–1
- Rice 3–4
- Sam Houston 1–1
- San Diego State 0–0 †
- San José State 3–3
- SE Louisiana 2–1
- South Alabama 10–4
- South Carolina 0–2
- Southern 2–0
- Southern Illinois 4–3
- Southern Miss 5–24
- Spring Hill 0–1
- Stephen F. Austin 1–0
- Tampa 0–1
- TCU 0–1
- Temple 0–1
- Tennessee 0–2
- Texas 0–3
- Texas A&M 1–6
- Texas Southern 1–0
- Texas State 12–0 †
- Texas Tech 0–5
- Texas–Arlington 5–7
- Troy 5–12 †
- Tulane 4–23 †
- Tulsa 5–5
- UAB 5–4
- UCF 0–4
- UL Monroe 24–16 †
- UNLV 4–0
- USC 0–1
- Utah State 1–1
- UTEP 0–1
- UTSA 1–0
- Virginia Tech 0–1
- Wake Forest 1–0
- Washington State 0–2
- West Texas 2–0
- Western Kentucky 4–2 †
- Western Michigan 1–0
- Wichita State 2–0
- Wofford 1–0
- Wyoming 0–1
- Xavier 0–1
Official records. † Without wins the NCAA vacated, or with forfeits counted. ‡ The rivalry’s own count, where it differs from the games on file.
Conference titles
10, counting shared titles- Gulf States Conference 4
- 1952 (shared), 1965, 1968, 1970
As the program counts them in its Wikipedia article, shared titles included, and listed under each conference’s current name (a Western Conference title of the 1900s counts as a Big Ten title); season pages use the name the conference had that year. A title the article files under a conference the team wasn’t in that season is listed under the one it was. Division titles include years the team tied for its division.
Conferences
- Independent 1901–1904 and 1906–1947
- Gulf States Conference 1948–1970
- Independent 1982–1992
- Big West 1993–1995
- Independent 1996–2000
- Sun Belt Conference since 2001
- 1996Went independent from the Big West in football. Source
Louisiana’s football conferences by season, from CollegeFootballData.com’s memberships (renamed conferences keep the name of the time). The moves and their announcement dates from Wikipedia’s lists of NCAA Division I conference changes; the year is the first season in the new conference. Conference realignment: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
National award winners
All awards| 2024 | Kenneth Almendares K | Groza |
Consensus All-Americans 1
| 2024 | Kenneth Almendares K |
Led the nation 3
| 2023 | Zylan Perry kickoff return yards (862 yds) |
| 2022 | Eric Garror punt return yards (392 yds) |
| 2013 | Elijah McGuire yards per carry (8.4) |
The NCAA’s official national leaders since 1937, from Wikipedia’s yearly leader lists.
In the Hall of Fame
Every inductee- Players
- 2
- Coaches
- 0
| 1961 | Weldon Humble OG |
| 1954 | Chris Cagle RB |
In the NFL Draft
By college- Drafted, rounds 1–7
- 28 since 1985
- First-round picks
- 0
Who came and went in the 2026 transfer portal, and every portal year.
The school
University of Louisiana at Lafayette- Enrollment
- 15,665 13,432 undergraduates, fall 2024
- Where
- Lafayette, Louisiana
- Public or private
- Public Research 1
- Founded
- 1900
- Graduates’ median earnings
- $47,089 10 years after starting
Enrollment, place and Carnegie research tier from the National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS, public domain). Earnings from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard (CC BY 4.0): the median for students who received federal aid and were working, not in school. Founding year from Wikidata. Every school’s in the data.
Official accounts
- Football
- X @RaginCajunsFBInstagram @RaginCajunsFBFacebook ragincajunsfb
- Athletics department
- X @RaginCajunsInstagram @RaginCajunsFacebook RaginCajuns
Official accounts: the schools’ athletics websites: the ones ragincajuns.com lists for its football program and athletics department, as of Oct 12, 2026.
Season by season
National champions| Season | Record | Conf. | AP pre | AP final | Coach | Elo | SP+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5–2 | 2–1 | Michael Desormeaux | 1547 | -2.3 | ||
| 2025 | 6–7 | 5–3 | Michael Desormeaux | 1478 | -10.1 | ||
| 2024 | 10–4 | 7–1 | Michael Desormeaux | 1552 | 4.8 | ||
| 2023 | 6–7 | 3–5 | Michael Desormeaux | 1496 | 0.4 | ||
| 2022 | 6–7 | 4–4 | Michael Desormeaux | 1553 | 2.0 | ||
| 2021 | 13–1 | 8–0 | 23 | 16 | Billy Napier, Michael Desormeaux | 1762 | 8.7 |
| 2020 | 10–1 | 7–1 | 15 | Billy Napier | 1692 | 8.1 | |
| 2019 | 11–3 | 7–1 | Billy Napier | 1644 | 9.6 | ||
| 2018 | 7–7 | 5–3 | Billy Napier | 1463 | -6.9 | ||
| 2017 | 5–7 | 4–4 | Mark Hudspeth | 1385 | -15.8 | ||
| 2016 | 6–7 | 5–3 | Mark Hudspeth | 1432 | -8.7 | ||
| 2015 | 4–8 | 3–5 | Mark Hudspeth | 1363 | -7.1 | ||
| 2014 | 9–4 | 7–1 | Mark Hudspeth | 1548 | 2.2 | ||
| 2013 | 9–4 | 5–2 | Mark Hudspeth | 1541 | -12.5 | ||
| 2012 | 9–4 | 6–2 | Mark Hudspeth | 1552 | 0.0 | ||
| 2011 | 9–4 | 6–2 | Mark Hudspeth | 1464 | -9.8 | ||
| 2010 | 3–9 | 3–5 | Rickey Bustle | 1293 | -28.2 | ||
| 2009 | 6–6 | 4–4 | Rickey Bustle | 1401 | -23.8 | ||
| 2008 | 6–6 | 5–2 | Rickey Bustle | 1424 | -11.1 | ||
| 2007 | 3–9 | 3–4 | Rickey Bustle | 1338 | -22.3 | ||
| 2006 | 6–6 | 3–4 | Rickey Bustle | 1386 | -19.3 | ||
| 2005 | 6–5 | 5–2 | Rickey Bustle | 1432 | -17.7 | ||
| 2004 | 4–7 | 2–5 | Rickey Bustle | 1336 | -15.9 | ||
| 2003 | 4–8 | 3–2 | Rickey Bustle | 1324 | -21.3 | ||
| 2002 | 3–9 | 2–4 | Rickey Bustle | 1269 | -19.6 |
Every season back to 1902 (67 more)
| Season | Record | Conf. | AP pre | AP final | Coach | Elo | SP+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3–8 | 2–4 | Jerry Baldwin | 1267 | -29.1 | ||
| 2000 | 1–10 | Jerry Baldwin | 1189 | -29.1 | |||
| 1999 | 2–9 | Jerry Baldwin | 1239 | -33.3 | |||
| 1998 | 2–9 | Nelson Stokley | 1259 | -23.8 | |||
| 1997 | 1–10 | Nelson Stokley | 1236 | -33.4 | |||
| 1996 | 5–6 | Nelson Stokley | 1443 | -9.8 | |||
| 1995 | 6–5 | 4–2 | Nelson Stokley | 1482 | -5.7 | ||
| 1994 | 6–5 | 5–1 | Nelson Stokley | 1442 | -8.0 | ||
| 1993 | 8–3 | 5–1 | Nelson Stokley | 1490 | -7.0 | ||
| 1992 | 2–9 | Nelson Stokley | 1257 | -29.4 | |||
| 1991 | 2–8–1 | Nelson Stokley | 1351 | -11.7 | |||
| 1990 | 5–6 | Nelson Stokley | 1455 | -4.0 | |||
| 1989 | 7–4 | Nelson Stokley | 1491 | 3.7 | |||
| 1988 | 6–5 | Nelson Stokley | 1442 | 1.5 | |||
| 1987 | 6–5 | Nelson Stokley | 1472 | -13.6 | |||
| 1986 | 6–5 | Nelson Stokley | 1447 | -6.2 | |||
| 1985 | 4–7 | Sam Robertson | 1398 | -19.7 | |||
| 1984 | 6–5 | Sam Robertson | 1501 | -1.0 | |||
| 1983 | 4–6 | Sam Robertson | 1470 | -9.7 | |||
| 1982 | 7–3–1 | Sam Robertson | 1504 | -4.7 | |||
| 1981 | 1–9–1 | 0–4–1 | Sam Robertson | 1338 | -7.9 | ||
| 1980 | 7–4 | 4–1 | Sam Robertson | 1485 | -5.2 | ||
| 1979 | 4–7 | 1–4 | Augie Tammariello | 1364 | -5.6 | ||
| 1978 | 3–8 | 2–3 | Augie Tammariello | 1355 | -12.0 | ||
| 1977 | 6–4–2 | 2–1–2 | Augie Tammariello | 1484 | 7.8 | ||
| 1976 | 9–2 | 4–1 | Augie Tammariello | 1508 | 12.0 | ||
| 1975 | 6–5 | 2–3 | Augie Tammariello | 1323 | 0.0 | ||
| 1974 | 2–9 | 0–4 | Augie Tammariello | 1152 | -18.7 | ||
| 1973 | 0–10 | 0–4 | Russ Faulkinberry | 1093 | -30.8 | ||
| 1972 | 1–1 | Russ Faulkinberry | 1257 | ||||
| 1971 | 1–0 | Russ Faulkinberry | 1176 | ||||
| 1970 | 0–1 | 1129 | |||||
| 1969 | 0–1 | 1125 | |||||
| 1967 | 0–1 | 1117 | |||||
| 1964 | 0–1 | 1105 | |||||
| 1963 | 0–1 | 1089 | |||||
| 1953 | 0–1 | 1068 | |||||
| 1949 | 0–1 | 1065 | |||||
| 1946 | 0–1 | 1087 | |||||
| 1945 | 0–3 | 1082 | |||||
| 1942 | 0–1 | 1092 | |||||
| 1941 | 0–1 | 1092 | |||||
| 1940 | 0–1 | 1092 | |||||
| 1938 | 0–1 | 1091 | |||||
| 1936 | 0–1 | 1090 | |||||
| 1935 | 0–1 | 1086 | |||||
| 1930 | 0–2 | 1081 | |||||
| 1929 | 0–2 | 1083 | |||||
| 1928 | 0–1 | 1085 | |||||
| 1927 | 0–1 | 1086 | |||||
| 1926 | 0–1 | 1084 | |||||
| 1925 | 0–1 | 1083 | |||||
| 1924 | 0–2 | 1082 | |||||
| 1923 | 0–2 | 1086 | |||||
| 1922 | 0–1 | 1088 | |||||
| 1921 | 0–1 | 1085 | |||||
| 1920 | 0–1 | 1083 | |||||
| 1919few games on file | 0–2 | 1082 | |||||
| 1917few games on file | 0–1 | 1086 | |||||
| 1916few games on file | 0–1 | 1082 | |||||
| 1915few games on file | 0–1 | 1082 | |||||
| 1914few games on file | 0–2 | 1079 | |||||
| 1913few games on file | 0–1 | 1083 | |||||
| 1912few games on file | 0–2 | 1084 | |||||
| 1911few games on file | 0–2 | 1095 | |||||
| 1908few games on file | 1–0 | 1110 | |||||
| 1902few games on file | 0–1 | 1092 |
Officially 606–566–34 since 1901 (per Wikipedia, rechecked weekly); game by game here, 296–374–5 (675 of its 1,206 games are on file). Our file starts in 1902; the program began in 1901. Some games are missing from our source.
No season on file for 1903–07, 1909–10, 1918, 1931–34, 1937, 1939, 1943–44, 1947–48, 1950–52, 1954–62, 1965–66, 1968: the program may not have played, or our source may be missing them.
Records are computed from every game on file at CollegeFootballData.com, whose coverage of the earliest seasons can be incomplete. Elo is this site’s own rating; see how it works on the records page.