The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (3-6, 2-3 SBC) are back home and will welcome in the Texas State Bobcats (3-5, 0-4 SBC) on Saturday.
Louisiana is coming off a 31-22 road victory at South Alabama, which kept their hopes of becoming bowl eligible alive. The win also snapped a three-game losing streak.
Texas State is coming off a 52-20 defeat to James Madison, and the Bobcats have lost four straight games after starting the season winning three of their first four games.
Kickoff between Texas State and Louisiana from Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday.
BRINGING HIS LUNCH
Lunch Winfield is coming off a masterful passing performance in last week’s win over South Alabama. Winfield set a new program record for completion percentage as he completed 14 of 15 passes for 232 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Winfield continues to make strides with his arm as he has now thrown for 903 yards, seven touchdowns, and completed 57 percent of his passes. Along with his running ability, as he is averaging 56.62 yards and five yards per carry, Winfield should be able to put up some good numbers against a Texas State defense that is giving up an average of 42.5 points per game in its last four games — all losses.
FOR THE LAST TIME
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and Texas State Bobcats will meet on the gridiron Saturday for the final time as conference foes. Texas State is leaving the SBC for the greener pastures of the revamped Pac-12 Conference next season. That means Saturday’s contest will be the last time Texas State will have a chance to beat Louisiana, something the Bobcats have never done. The closest the team has come to pulling off the upset was the last two seasons, when the Ragin’ Cajuns won the games by six points and four points. Will Texas State finally break through on Saturday?
BOWL LIVES ON THE LINE PART II
For the second straight week, Michael Desormeaux’s team is taking on a team that is fighting to get bowl eligible — just like the Ragin’ Cajuns are. The two squads were the preseason picks not only to be bowl eligible but to win the SBC West title. Entering this game, both teams are still three wins away from becoming bowl eligible. That means that Saturday’s tilt between the two squads is a must-win.
SERIES RECORD: Louisiana leads the series 12-0
LAST FIVE MEETINGS:
2024: LOUISIANA 23 – TEXAS STATE 17
2023: LOUISIANA 34 – TEXAS STATE 30
2022: LOUISIANA 41 – TEXAS STATE 13
2021: LOUISIANA 45 – TEXAS STATE 0
2020: LOUISIANA 44 – TEXAS STATE 34
STAT LEADERS:
Texas State:
Brad Jackson: 149-220, 2,016 Yards, 10 TD, 5 INT
Lincoln Pare: 130 Carries, 648 Yards, 9 TD
Beau Sparks: 51 Catches, 741 Yards, 6 TD
Treylin Payne: 72 Tackles (35 Solo), 4 TFL, 2 Sacks
Kalil Alexander & DonTerry Russell: 3 Sacks
Three Players Tied: 1 INT
Tyler Robles: 12-of-14 Field Goals, Long of 50
Louisiana:
Lunch Winfield: 61-107, 903 Yards, 7 TD, 4 INT
Zylan Perry: 96 Carries, 543 Yards, 7 TD
Shelton Sampson Jr.: 19 Catches, 362 Yards, 3 TD
Jaden Dugger: 84 Tackles (40 solo)
Jaelen Crider & Jordan Lawson: 1.5 Sacks
Courtline Flowers: 41 Tackles (30 Solo), 2 INT
Tony Sterner: 13-of-19 Field Goals, Long of 51