The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns are in a postseason game for a program-record sixth straight year. This time, they’re in the Big Easy for the seventh time since 2011 for the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
Their opponent is Jacksonville State from Conference-USA, a team that finished 8-4 in the regular season in just their first season in the FBS. The Gamecocks bring a dominant rushing attack to the Crescent City and will look to win their first-ever FBS bowl game on Saturday afternoon.
STOP THE RUSHING ATTACK
As mentioned above, Jacksonville State has one of America’s most dominant rushing attacks. Due to the Gamecocks going through the FBS transition, NCAA.com doesn’t list them under stat leaders for rushing offense. However, their number of 232.2 yards per game gained on the ground currently ranks fifth in the FBS.
The Cajuns currently rank 84th nationally in rushing defense, giving up about 160 yards per game to their opponents. So one of the big keys for the Vermilion and White in this bowl game will be controlling the line of scrimmage and forcing Jax State to beat you over the top in the passing game.
FINALE FOR FIELDS
Chandler Fields will lead the Cajuns offense into the New Orleans Bowl in what is likely to be his final game with the program. The New Orleans native has started since Zeon Chriss went down with an injury and has played very well. Against ULM, he completed 90% of his passes, which is a new program record.
After spending five years with the program, Fields will have the opportunity to end his career on a high note with a win in the Superdome in his hometown.
CONTROL THE ENERGY
This bowl game has been very kind to Louisiana in the past as the Cajuns have gone 5-1 in their previous six games, including winning the first four. For Jacksonville State, this is the first bowl game at the FBS level so the energy and meaning of this game will be very similar to that of 2011 for Louisiana. Now, too much energy can hurt a team just as much as it could help, so it’ll be key to see which way it swings for Jacksonville State.
Because of this, the best thing the Cajuns can do is start fast and get control of the energy and momentum early on. Louisiana should have the majority of the crowd inside the Superdome, but Jacksonville, Alabama isn’t a far trek and the fans will show up. So take control of that early and don’t let the noise be a factor in your gameplan.
SERIES RECORD: Jacksonville State leads 1-0
2000: Jax State 28, Louisiana 14
STAT LEADERS
Jacksonville State
Zion Webb: 97-194, 1,281 yards, 5 TDs, 6 INT
Malik Jackson: 133 carries, 860 yards, 7 TD
Perry Carter: 34 receptions, 603 yards, 3 TDs
Quae Drake: 86 tackles (45 solo), 1 sack, 1 INT
Alen Karajic: 14-of-20, Long of 43, 42-43 XP
Louisiana
Zeon Chriss: 102-153, 1,222 yards, 11 TD, 5 INT
Jacob Kibodi: 129 carries, 729 yards, 7 TD
Jacob Bernard: 37 receptions, 473 yards, TD
K.C. Ossai: 77 tackles (41 solo), 2 TFL, 1 sack,
Kenneth Almendares: 13-for-14, Long of 46, 46-47 XP
The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns and Jacksonville State Gamecocks will battle in the 2023 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Saturday with a 1:15 p.m. kickoff inside the Caesars Superdome. The game can be viewed on ESPN.