The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns have another opportunity to keep their hopes alive of becoming bowl eligible and playing in a postseason game for the eighth consecutive season.
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (4-6, 3-3 SBC) travel to Jonesboro, Arkansas, to take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves (5-5, 4-2 SBC) on Thursday night.
Louisiana is coming off a 42-39 home victory over Texas State, which was its second straight victory. Arkansas State, meanwhile, is coming off a 27-21 defeat to Southern Miss, which snapped a four-game winning streak.
Kickoff between Louisiana and Arkansas State from Centennial Bank Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
DEFENSIVE DEPTH IS AN ISSUE
Due to the altercation that occurred following the victory over Texas State, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns will be going into Thursday night’s game minus seven players, with the majority of them on defense. That includes Tyree Skipper, who will miss the remainder of the season, including if the team makes a bowl game. In addition, Courtline Flowers, Kody Jackson, Kailep Edwards, Collin Jacob, Evan Stroman, and De’Antonio Lesueur were all suspended one game. That means the secondary will feature multiple new starters, as Skipper, Flowers, and Jacob had combined for 128 tackles and four interceptions. Key-Savalyn Barnes, Steven Ranell are a few of the players who will need to fill that void Thursday night.
RECEIVING RED WOLVES
Arkansas State features one of the best wide receiving groups in the Sun Belt Conference. It is led by Corey Rucker (51 receptions for 656 yards, TD), who surpassed JD McKissic as the program’s all-time leader in receiving yards last year. Rucker is also two touchdown catches away from tying the program record of career touchdown catches of 26 set by Omar Bayless. Rucker isn’t the only dangerous weapon in the passing game, as redshirt sophomore Chauncy Cobb (team-leading 63 rec., 634 yards) and redshirt sophomore Hunter Summers (35 rec., 403 yards, 4 TD) have become reliable targets. Louisiana’s defensive secondary will have its hands full.
BOWL LIVES ON THE LINE PART III
For the third straight contest, Michael Desormeaux’s team is taking on a team that is fighting to get bowl eligible, just like them. Arkansas State is coming off an 8-5 season and a victory in the 68 Ventures Bowl over Bowling Green. Expectations were that the Red Wolves would go to a bowl yet again under Butch Jones, but with two games, they sit at five wins. Louisiana, meanwhile, had to overcome a 1-3 start and then drop three straight SBC games. The Ragin’ Cajuns have no room for error and must win their final two games to become bowl eligible.
SERIES RECORD: Louisiana leads the series 30-22-1
LAST FIVE MEETINGS:
2024: LOUISIANA 55 – ARKANSAS STATE 19
2023: ARKANSAS STATE 37 – LOUISIANA 17
2022: LOUISIANA 38 – ARKANSAS STATE 18
2021: LOUISIANA 28 – ARKANSAS STATE 27
2020: LOUISIANA 27 – ARKANSAS STATE 20
STAT LEADERS:
Louisiana:
Lunch Winfield: 78-134, 1,095 Yards, 10 TD, 6 INT
Zylan Perry: 110 Carries, 602 Yards, 7 TD
Shelton Sampson Jr.: 24 Catches, 442 Yards, 5 TD
Jaden Dugger: 93 Tackles (45 solo)
Jordan Lawson: 3.5 Sacks
Courtline Flowers: 45 Tackles (34 Solo), 2 INT
Tony Sterner: 13-of-19 Field Goals, Long of 51
Arkansas State:
Jaylen Raynor: 259-380, 2,454 Yards, 13 TD, 10 INT
Devin Spencer: 81 Carries, 428 Yards, TD
Corey Rucker: 51 Catches, 656 Yards, TD
Aaron Alexander: 63 Tackles (25 Solo), 2.5 TFL
Ethan Hassler: 5.5 Sacks
Avante Dickerson: 2 INT
Clune Van Andel: 15-of-19 Field Goals, Long of 53