The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns, fresh off their bye week, will welcome Georgia State to Cajun Field at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium for homecoming. This matchup will put a 4-2 Cajuns team with a 5-1 Panthers squad in a battle of two high-powered offenses on national television.
Michael Desormeaux’s team will be looking to start the 2023 season at 5-2 before they go through a five-game stretch of Sun Belt West battles with South Alabama, Arkansas State, Southern Miss, Troy, and ULM finishing up the season.
PANTHERS CAN RUN
Georgia State has a very strong rushing attack led by Marcus Carroll. He has 742 yards so far on the season and 10 touchdowns. He averages just over five yards a carry and has gone over 100 yards in four of the first six games. The Panthers quarterback, Darren Grainger, can also run the ball for this GSU offense. The super senior has 414 yards on the ground with five touchdowns. No matter what way the Panthers try to attack you on the ground, they find success. The goal for LaMar Morgan’s defense will be containing both of these guys and not letting them burn you.
NATIONAL EXPOSURE
This contest is being played under the lights in primetime on ESPNU. This is the second straight game for the Cajuns that will be nationally televised from Cajun Field.
Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Bryan Maggard says you can’t buy that kind of exposure.
“As a University, we cannot put a value on the exposure national television provides,” Maggard said. “To have our brand marketed for 3 plus hours elevates not only our football program and athletics department but also the entire institution. A platform like ESPNU provides the opportunity for the University of Louisiana to be seen in more than 60 million households.”
CRITICAL GAME FOR BOTH TEAMS
With both teams having a strong first half of the season, a win here continues the momentum. For Georgia State, they’re off to the best start in program history at 5-1 after thrashing Marshall last weekend. Meanwhile, the Cajuns are coming off a bye week after a critical win over Texas State two weeks ago. So whichever team can find a way to win this game, it will be huge for the trajectory of their season and keep them in the conversation for a division title in their respective groups.
SERIES RECORD: Louisiana leads 5-0
Previous Meetings:
2021: 21 Louisiana-Georgia State 17
2020: 34 Louisiana-Georgia State 31
2015: 23 Louisiana-Georgia State 21
2014: 34 Louisiana-Georgia State 31
2013: 35 Louisiana-Georgia State 27
STAT LEADERS
Louisiana
Zeon Chriss: 63-91, 800 yards, 7 TDs, 4 INTs
Jacob Kibodi: 51 carries, 439 yards, 4 TDs
Robert Williams: 20 receptions, 267 yards, 3 TDs
K.C. Ossai: 45 tackles (22 solo), 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles
Kenneth Almendares: 6-for-6, Long of 46, 26-26 XP
Georgia State
Darren Grainger: 113-165, 1,421 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs
Marcus Carroll: 143 carries, 742 yards, 10 TDs
Robert Lewis: 30 receptions, 536 yards, 5 TDs
Jontrey Hunter: 47 tackles (28 solo), 2.0 TFL, 3 PBUs, 2 FFs
Liam Rickman: 7-of-7, Long of 46, 25-25 XP
Kickoff for Homecoming between the Cajuns and Panthers is at Cajun Field at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium and is set for 7:00 p.m. on ESPNU.