2018 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team


The 2018 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Ragin' Cajuns played their home games at Cajun Field in Lafayette, Louisiana and competed in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by first-year head coach Billy Napier. They finished the season 7–7, 5–3 in Sun Belt play to finish in a tie for the West Division championship with Arkansas State. Due to their head-to-head win over Arkansas State, they represented the West Division in the inaugural Sun Belt Championship Game where they lost to East Division champion Appalachian State. They were invited to the Cure Bowl where they lost to Tulane.

Previous Season

The Ragin' Cajuns finished the 2017 season 5–7, 4–4 in Sun Belt play to finish in a three-way tie for fifth place.
On December 3, head coach Mark Hudspeth was fired. He finished with a seven-year record of 51–38. However, due to NCAA sanctions in 2016 because former assistant coach David Saunders arranged fraudulent college entrance exams for recruits, his official record was 29–38. On December 15, the school hired Billy Napier as head coach.

Preseason

Recruiting class

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released
John Mackey AwardChase RogersTESO
Wuerffel TrophyDeuce WallaceDBJR

Sun Belt coaches poll

On July 19, 2018, the Sun Belt released their preseason coaches poll with the Ragin' Cajuns predicted to finish in fourth place in the West Division.
West Division

Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams

The Ragin' Cajuns had two players selected to the preseason all-Sun Belt teams.
Offense
1st team
Kevin Dotson – OL
2nd team
Trey Ragas – RB

Roster

Schedule

The 2018 schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Ragin' Cajuns will host Sun Belt foes Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, and South Alabama. The Cajuns will travel to Sun Belt foes Appalachian State, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas State, and Troy.
The Ragin' Cajuns will host two of the four non-conference opponents, Grambling State of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the New Mexico State, an Independent school, and will travel to Southeastern Conference members Alabama and Mississippi State.
The Ragin' Cajuns will travel once more to face off with the Appalachian State Mountaineers in the first annual Sun Belt Conference Championship Game.

Game summaries

Grambling State

StatisticsGrambling StateLouisiana
First downs1527
Total yards304556
Rushing yards145315
Passing yards159241
Turnovers01
Time of possession31:0628:54

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Grambling StatePassingGeremy Hickbottom8-18, 112 yards
Grambling StateRushingGeremy Hickbottom5 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD
Grambling StateReceivingQuintin Guice2 receptions, 54 yards
LouisianaPassingAndre Nunez19-22, 184 yards, 2 TDs
LouisianaRushingTrey Ragas13 carries, 142 yards, 1 TD
LouisianaReceivingJa'Marcus Bradley6 receptions, 70 yards, 2 TDs

at Mississippi State

StatisticsLouisianaMississippi State
First downs1329
Total yards310607
Rushing yards65331
Passing yards245276
Turnovers11
Time of possession27:0132:59

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LouisianaPassingAndre Nunez21-29, 224 yards
LouisianaRushingTrey Ragas7 carries, 49 yards
LouisianaReceivingKeenan Barnes4 receptions, 76 yards
Mississippi StatePassingNick Fitzgerald14-21, 243 yards, 2 TDs
Mississippi StateRushingNick Fitzgerald15 carries, 107 yards, 4 TDs
Mississippi StateReceivingKeith Mixon4 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD

Coastal Carolina

StatisticsCoastal CarolinaLouisiana
First downs2517
Total yards497381
Rushing yards311238
Passing yards186143
Turnovers10
Time of possession38:5621:04

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Coastal CarolinaPassingKilton Anderson7-11, 104 yards, 1 TD
Coastal CarolinaRushingMarcus Outlow20 carries, 96 yards, 2 TDs
Coastal CarolinaReceivingKy'Jon Tyler2 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD
LouisianaPassingAndre Nunez7-14, 133 yards, 1 TD
LouisianaRushingRaymond Calais5 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD
LouisianaReceivingJa'Marcus Bradley1 reception, 53 yards

at Alabama

StatisticsLouisianaAlabama
First downs1526
Total yards288608
Rushing yards200268
Passing yards88304
Turnovers20
Time of possession29:5630:04

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LouisianaPassingAndre Nunez9-15, 75 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
LouisianaRushingTrey Ragas16 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD
LouisianaReceivingJa'Marcus Bradley3 receptions, 24 yards, 1 TD
AlabamaPassingTua Tagovailoa8-8, 128 yards, 2 TDs
AlabamaRushingNajee Harris11 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD
AlabamaReceivingJaylen Waddle3 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TDs

at Texas State

StatisticsLouisianaTexas State
First downs2322
Total yards557425
Rushing yards327124
Passing yards230301
Turnovers10
Time of possession32:1827:42

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LouisianaPassingAndre Nunez9-18, 149 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
LouisianaRushingElijah Mitchell20 carries, 191 yards, 3 TDs
LouisianaReceivingJa'Marcus Bradley4 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD
Texas StatePassingTyler Vitt28-39, 296 yards, 3 TDs
Texas StateRushingTyler Vitt17 carries, 92 yards
Texas StateReceivingKeenen Brown4 receptions, 90 yards, 2 TDs

New Mexico State

StatisticsNew Mexico StateLouisiana
First downs2637
Total yards406759
Rushing yards122344
Passing yards284415
Turnovers21
Time of possession21:5238:08

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
New Mexico StatePassingJosh Adkins25-44, 284 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
New Mexico StateRushingJason Huntley8 carries, 85 yards
New Mexico StateReceivingJason Huntley5 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TD
LouisianaPassingAndre Nunez19-25, 315 yards, 5 TDs
LouisianaRushingElijah Mitchell12 carries, 107 yards, 3 TDs
LouisianaReceivingEarnest Patterson3 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD

at Appalachian State

StatisticsLouisianaAppalachian State
First downs1621
Total yards328372
Rushing yards140266
Passing yards188106
Turnovers11
Time of possession27:2232:28

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LouisianaPassingAndre Nunez14-23, 108 yards
LouisianaRushingTrey Ragas18 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD
LouisianaReceivingRyheem Malone3 receptions, 47 yards
Appalachian StatePassingZac Thomas10-20, 106 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Appalachian StateRushingDarrynton Evans26 carries, 186 yards, 1 TD
Appalachian StateReceivingHenry Pearson2 receptions, 38 yards

Arkansas State

StatisticsArkansas StateLouisiana
First downs2731
Total yards478547
Rushing yards208228
Passing yards270319
Turnovers12
Time of possession30:4329:17

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Arkansas StatePassingJustice Hansen17-30, 270 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Arkansas StateRushingMarcel Murray19 carries, 121 yards, 3 TDs
Arkansas StateReceivingkirk Merritt4 receptions, 122 yards, 1 TD
LouisianaPassingAndre Nunez18-26, 295 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
LouisianaRushingRaymond Calais7 carries, 121 yards, 1 TD
LouisianaReceivingJarrod Jackson4 receptions, 129 yards, 1 TD

at Troy

StatisticsLouisianaTroy
First downs1821
Total yards270427
Rushing yards100110
Passing yards170317
Turnovers02
Time of possession28:2631:34

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LouisianaPassingAndre Nunez11-25, 126 yards, 2 INTs
LouisianaRushingTrey Ragas18 carries, 106 yards, 2 TDs
LouisianaReceivingJa'Marcus Bradley4 receptions, 67 yards
TroyPassingSawyer Smith18-22, 317 yards, 1 TD
TroyRushingB. J. Smith22 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD
TroyReceivingDamion Willis10 receptions, 213 yards, 1 TD

Georgia State

StatisticsGeorgia StateLouisiana
First downs1922
Total yards373525
Rushing yards252355
Passing yards121170
Turnovers10
Time of possession31:1528:45

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Georgia StatePassingAaron Winchester10-21, 121 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Georgia StateRushingTra Barnett15 carries, 82 yards
Georgia StateReceivingCornelius McCoy2 receptions, 60 yards
LouisianaPassingAndre Nunez14-19, 141 yards, 1 TD
LouisianaRushingRaymond Calais13 carries, 186 yards, 3 TDs
LouisianaReceivingRyheem Malone2 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD

South Alabama

StatisticsSouth AlabamaLouisiana
First downs2717
Total yards477407
Rushing yards223210
Passing yards254197
Turnovers31
Time of possession35:5924:01

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
South AlabamaPassingCole Garvin18-28, 254 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
South AlabamaRushingTra Minter23 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD
South AlabamaReceivingKawaan Baker4 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD
LouisianaPassingAndre Nunez12-18, 153 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
LouisianaRushingElijah Mitchell12 carries, 104 yards, 3 TDs
LouisianaReceivingJa'Marcus Bradley3 receptions, 62 yards, 3 TDs

at Louisiana–Monroe

StatisticsLouisianaLouisiana–Monroe
First downs2217
Total yards453344
Rushing yards240143
Passing yards213201
Turnovers12
Time of possession33:2726:33

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LouisianaPassingAndre Nunez11-15, 148 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
LouisianaRushingTrey Ragas23 carries, 115 yards
LouisianaReceivingRyheem Malone6 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD
Louisiana–MonroePassingCaleb Evans15-24, 201 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Louisiana–MonroeRushingDerrick Gore11 carries, 79 yards
Louisiana–MonroeReceivingMarcus Green6 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD

at Appalachian State (Sun Belt Championship Game)

StatisticsLouisianaAppalachian State
First downs1613
Total yards301300
Rushing yards216225
Passing yards8575
Turnovers20
Time of possession31:3028:30

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LouisianaPassingAndre Nunez10-21, 85 yards, 2 INTs
LouisianaRushingTrey Ragas16 carries, 101 yards
LouisianaReceivingJa'Marcus Bradley4 receptions, 41 yards
Appalachian StatePassingZac Thomas6-13, 75 yards
Appalachian StateRushingDarrynton Evans17 carries, 111 yards
Appalachian StateReceivingMarc Williams1 reception, 34 yards

vs. Tulane (Cure Bowl)

StatisticsTulaneLouisiana
First downs2811
Total yards482258
Rushing yards33784
Passing yards145174
Turnovers21
Time of possession40:3119:29

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TulanePassingJustin McMillan11-18, 145 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
TulaneRushingDarius Bradwell35 carries, 160 yards, 2 TDs
TulaneReceivingTerren Encalade5 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD
LouisianaPassingAndre Nunez8-17, 136 yards, 1 TD
LouisianaRushingRaymond Calais3 carries, 41 yards, 1 TD
LouisianaReceivingRyheem Malone3 receptions, 59 yards