A Fresh Start for the Ragin’ Cajuns
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns will host Lamar on September 5, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET, with the game streaming on ESPN+. It marks the second meeting between the two programs since the Sun Belt Conference began sponsoring football, and the Cajuns hold a 22‑12 all‑time edge, highlighted by a 40‑0 shutout in 2012.
Coach Michael Desormeaux, now in his fifth year at the helm, returns with a roster that includes one All‑Sun Belt selection from the previous season and four preseason all‑conference honorees. Despite finishing 6‑7 in 2025, the team closed the year on a four‑game winning streak and secured its eighth straight bowl eligibility.
The non‑conference slate is designed to test the squad early. After the Lamar opener, the Cajuns travel to face USC in Los Angeles on September 12, return home for a matchup with UAB in Birmingham on September 19, and then head to Charlotte on September 26. These road tests precede a late‑season showdown with Sun Belt East rivals Coastal Carolina on November 21 and Georgia State on November 28.
Preseason expectations place Louisiana second in the Sun Belt West Division, earning one of fourteen first‑place votes in the conference poll. The program’s recent bowl history underscores its resilience; the Cajuns have appeared in a bowl game every season under Desormeaux and boast the most appearances in the Sun Belt Football Championship Game over the conference’s eight‑year existence.
Beyond the schedule, the team carries a rich football heritage. Louisiana’s all‑time FBS record stands at 266‑296‑3, and the program has been a staple of the Sun Belt’s competitive landscape since the conference began sponsoring football in 2001. The upcoming season offers a chance to add another chapter to that legacy while reinforcing the Cajuns’ reputation as a consistent bowl contender.