2identity shift
Louisiana shifts fanbase identity, redefining program.
Michael Desormeaux's fifth season opens with a 6-7 losing record, raising questions about whether the Ragin' Cajuns can sustain their identity beyond the Napier era.
Louisiana6-7Latest
The Louisiana faithful are all the way in.
belief cooled ↓ 1.7vs prior week
Fanbase belief
Bullish
65/100 · 23 mentions · top 4% of FBS
~ our readGrounding
running on emotion
0% cite a stat · 7% typical ✓ counted
~ our readVolatility
Chaotic
σ 31 pts
Credible bullish
~ our readThe model
#91
CFB Zeitgeist · -1.9
✓ measured2Hope-Doping·Offseason
Louisiana won four straight Sun Belt titles when Billy Napier was in Lafayette — and has spent every year since trying to prove the dynasty was the program, not the man who left for Florida.
Title DroughtSince 2021 · 4 yrs
Fans point to four straight conference titles and a top-20 ranking and ask why the national conversation still files them under generic Sun Belt mid-pack — as if the best run any Sun Belt program ever…
offseason · quiet
Roster Reload - Louisiana
2026 snapshot - 2026-08-06Returning Production57%Moderate continuity
Talent Composite#91 nationally247 composite 585.8
Portal Additions5Primary repair: IOL
Portal Losses7Primary pressure: RB
Draft Loss1NFL Draft departures (1)
Recruiting Reload#91Depth class
RBin 1 - Anthony Reagan Jr.out 2 - Bill DavisEven
current room: 221 lbs avg (2025 roster)
DLin 1 - Brodrick Stewartout 1 - Fitzgerald West Jr.Even
current room: 286 lbs avg (2025 roster)
EDGEin 1 - Tito Chikereout 1 - Drenon Fite IIIEven
OTin 0out 1 - Bryant WilliamsDowngrade
QBin 0out 1 - Walker HowardDowngrade
current room: 208 lbs avg (2025 roster)
WRin 0out 1 - Charles RobertsonDowngrade
current room: 192 lbs avg (2025 roster)
Belief EKG
WinLoss · hover for scorePrior seasons
Approaching
31 days
until kickoff · vs Lamar · Sun Sep 6 · 00:00 UTC
The experience
Louisiana is the Sun Belt program whose 2018-2021 Billy Napier 4-consecutive-Sun-Belt-championships + Cajun Field + Ragin' Cajuns identity define what Lafayette-Sun-Belt-football looks like.
Offense: PoorRun/Pass: Run-heavy, ground-controlDefense: Soft
Louisiana's 2026 season hinges on roster stability and transfer impact
With a moderate continuity rate and significant portal churn, Louisiana faces a pivotal year in rebuilding its program.
- Roster reloadLouisiana has a returning total percentage of 57% and a reload score of "Moderate continuity", indicating moderate continuity.
Data as of 2026-08-03
·
Validated against program evidence
Cayenne the Ragin' Cajun is patient.
Louisiana · the story right now
7 storylines developing
What Louisiana's identity shift is really about
the open questionwhere does it go from here?
identitythis cycle~readnew
Michael Desormeaux's fifth season opens with a 6-7 losing record, raising questions about whether the Ragin' Cajuns can sustain their identity beyond the Napier era.
what happenedLouisiana: the fanbase's identity shifting. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
program_outlookthis cycle~readnew
Louisiana collapsed 52 spots in SP+ — the 6-7 record and #91 talent rank reveal a stark disconnect from the Napier-era dominance that still defines the Ragin' Cajuns' identity in the Sun Belt.
what happenedLouisiana enters 2026 rated No. 105 in 2025 SP+ (-10.1), down 52 spots from 2024. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
money downthis cycle✓ factnew
Shelton Sampson Jr. is a legitimate money-down target -- his 3rd-down conversion rate ranks among the position's best, and his per-target value holds up in that spot too.
narrative tension · our read
underdogthis cycle✓ factnew
Shelton Sampson Jr. produces at a notably higher rate when his team is an underdog than when favored, and his per-target value rises too, not just raw catches.
narrative tension · our read
deep threatthis cycle~attributednew
Caden Jensen is used almost exclusively underneath -- a low share of his targets are downfield shots.
narrative tension · our read
deep threatthis cycle~attributednew
Shelton Sampson Jr. is a real deep-ball threat -- a high share of his targets come on throws past the sticks.
narrative tension · our read
program_outlookthis cycle~readnew
Louisiana collapsed 52 spots in SP+ under Michael Desormeaux — a fanbase built on Billy Napier’s four straight Sun Belt titles now faces its steepest drop since that dynasty.
what happenedLouisiana enters 2025 rated No. 105 in SP+ (-10.1), down 52 spots from 2024. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
How past storylines here turned out
Died downLouisiana's defensive coordinator change has died down — no clear next chapter yet.
The Offseason Ledger · Louisiana
2 verified updates · portal · recruiting · staff · news- Recruiting
Ansinneo Charles commits to Louisiana
Desormeaux's backfield had one NFL departure and real pressure to reload depth — Charles is the homegrown answer to a position room that couldn't afford a thin class at #81 nationally.
- Recruiting
5-star OL commits to Notre Dame
The No. 2 IOL in the country picking Notre Dame over the field ripples straight into the Sun Belt — Desormeaux's center room was already thin enough that this chart was worth publishing.
Transfer portal snapshot
-12.4 net portal points
(raw ledger: -8.7 — unweighted, no position adjustment)OT-4.4
low confidence
RB-3.8
QB-3.5
low confidence
WR-3.5
low confidence
IOL+3.4
low confidence
LB+3.2
low confidence
DL-0.1
EDGE-0.1
Top 3 commits
2026 class
★★★☆☆
Jeremiah Birdlow
#1174 national
Profiles like a typical incoming tight end — 19 of his 25 closest recruiting profiles since 2018 shared the Complete TE archetype.~our read · projection from recruiting profile — no college snaps yet
★★★☆☆
Edrick Williams
#1358 national
★★★☆☆
Ke'Rynn Smith
#1474 national
Profiles like a typical incoming running back — 14 of his 25 closest recruiting profiles since 2018 shared the Balanced Back archetype.~our read · projection from recruiting profile — no college snaps yet
↑
Fan confidence higher than any point since 2020
96th percentile among FBS programs
Fan vs. market↑
96th
Fan percentile
(FBS mood rank)
(FBS mood rank)
7.5
Vegas O/U wins
(60th among FBS)
(60th among FBS)
Fans 36pp more bullish than market implies
Win total consensus · 3 books
Market outlook
Season expectations
Win total3 booksO/U 7.5
CFP championship#97 in field+100000
Sun Belt title#3 in market+700
Sportsbook consensus · best odds across multiple books · 2026-08-06
Louisiana · Next-Season Outcome Band
Louisiana · Next-Season Outcome BandFloor / Base / Ceiling
Floor 4-8
Base 7-6
Ceiling 9-4
floor4-8No postseason.
base7-6Bowl game.
ceiling9-4Bowl game.
Final-season-aware projection: floor / base / ceiling include conference title and CFP games where the model supports them, so a ceiling can exceed a 12-game regular season.
How the room reacted
Following now · Louisiana · Developing Confidence
Louisiana: the fanbase's identity shifting.
Louisiana: the fanbase's identity shifting.
CFB Zeitgeist Read · our take
Michael Desormeaux's fifth season opens with a 6-7 losing record, raising questions about whether the Ragin' Cajuns can sustain their identity beyond the Napier era.
Source of record: Louisiana: the fanbase's identity shifting.
How each room is reacting — tap to expand
📣Believers2 bullish items -- the case it's working.›
The optimistic read: momentum, and the 'this is real' takes.
“5 underrated Louisiana prospects in the 2028 class to keep an eye on”
247Sports · 2026-08-04 · read ↗
“Recruiting Spotlight: Preston Tilley”
Louisiana Football Magazine · 2026-07-31 · read ↗
“Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns open fall football camp”
KADN News 15 · 2026-08-06 · read ↗
🧐SkepticsNo prominent dissent — the coverage runs one way.›
The analytical counter: rankings, results, and 'the hype is ahead of the tape' takes.
Nothing in our corpus yet — this door stays open for when there is.
💬The boards2 board mentions — too thin to call a stance.›
Only 2 of 8 board posts mention it — below our floor to call a community stance. Shown as texture, not a verdict.
"The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns are a program that is always a Sun Belt contender, but last season was on the brink of disaster until a late season surge Did the finish set them up for"
r/ragincajuns ~ fan take
"We recently sat down with Dawson Eisherloh, Host of the Loh Down for ESPN – SW Louisiana & Sideline Reporter for Ragin’ Cajun Football, to preview the 2026 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns"
r/ragincajuns ~ fan take
The boards ≠ the fanbase: a vocal, self-selected slice.
Following now · Louisiana · Season outlook Confidence
Louisiana's numbers fell sharply. The model sees a program under real pressure.
Louisiana enters 2026 rated No. 105 in 2025 SP+ (-10.1), down 52 spots from 2024. SP+ reflects three years of tape; a drop this steep is structural, not noise. The recovery window is open but the room knows it. The preview consensus leans in — but preseason ratings reward the recent past, not the season ahead.
CFB Zeitgeist Read · our take
Louisiana collapsed 52 spots in SP+ — the 6-7 record and #91 talent rank reveal a stark disconnect from the Napier-era dominance that still defines the Ragin' Cajuns' identity in the Sun Belt.
Next · what to watch
The non-obvious consequence of a steep fall isn't one bad year — it's the recruiting and portal feedback loop. A 'they're down' narrative accelerates the attrition that drove the decline. Watch whether the model holds through the first month of the schedule. The boards are already there — one thread raises exactly this.
Source of record: Louisiana enters 2026 rated No. 105 in 2025 SP+ (-10.1), down 52 spots from 2024.
How each room is reacting — tap to expand
📣Believers1 bullish items -- the case it's working.›
The 'the projection is underselling us' read -- fans betting the season beats the preview number.
“5 underrated Louisiana prospects in the 2028 class to keep an eye on”
247Sports · 2026-08-04 · read ↗
“Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns open fall football camp”
KADN News 15 · 2026-08-06 · read ↗
“Back from the portal, Fitzgerald West Jr. embraces final preseason camp”
The Daily Advertiser | Lafayette, Louisiana · 2026-08-05 · read ↗
🧐SkepticsNo prominent dissent — the coverage runs one way.›
The 'the model has seen the tape' counter -- efficiency ratings reward what a program has actually done, not hope.
Nothing in our corpus yet — this door stays open for when there is.
💬The boards3 board mentions — too thin to call a stance.›
Only 3 of 8 board posts mention it — below our floor to call a community stance. Shown as texture, not a verdict.
"What is the shower situation in Harris Hall? I know it's community showering but where would I place my towel and clothes? Thank you"
r/ragincajuns ~ fan take
"The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns are a program that is always a Sun Belt contender, but last season was on the brink of disaster until a late season surge Did the finish set them up for"
r/ragincajuns ~ fan take
The boards ≠ the fanbase: a vocal, self-selected slice.
Recent Form · last 10 games
Warming
Four of five. The board favors this trend.
Streak L1Last 5 · 4-1Last 10 · 5-5
The forecast
Opens Sep 6
vs Lamar · at home
Season line7.5 winsover +100
PoorRun-heavy, ground-controlSoft
✓ fact on line · ~ our read on style
Rival pulse
UL Monroe
Bullish+37
Battle on the Bayou
Fan mood index · most recent r/cfb data
Recruiting Footprint · 2026
Recruiting Footprint · 2026
22
LA · 14AL · 3MS · 3MA · 1TX · 1
LA leads the 2026 class with 14 commits. National footprint reaching 5 states.
Where they recruit · 2023-2026
81 signees across 8 states, 2023-2026. LA leads the pull.
r/cfb this year
[Postgame Thread] Rice Defeats Louisiana 14-12
[Postgame Thread] Louisiana Defeats ULM 30-27 (OT)
[Postgame Thread] Louisiana Defeats McNeese 34-10
Top community posts · last 12 months · r/cfb
Fumble luck
Recovering 75% of the fumbles they've forced — running hot vs. the ~49% league rate.
9 of 12 forced fumbles recovered; 5 of 8 own fumbles recovered themselves, 2025 only.
Takeaway conversion
Converting 23% of pass disruptions into takeaways — right in line with the ~19% league rate.
9 interceptions of 39 disrupted passes (30 deflected, 9 intercepted), 2025 only.
Penalty battle
Winning the penalty battle: 77 penalties committed vs. 85 drawn on opponents, a 241-yard edge.
605 penalty yards committed vs. 846 drawn on opponents, 2025 season total.
The Pulse on Louisiana
65
Δ -1.7 vs last wk
23
mentions this week · conversation velocity
What moved it — fall camp · last 14 days
Camp
Fall camp open — install + scrimmage cycle
ongoing
Kickoff
Season opener in 16 days
kickoff
"Geaux Cajuns"
— Louisiana fanbase · recurring line
Fanbase Signals
Cohort Divergence0 pctSpread between sub-fanbase cohorts in the Pulse window.
The Fever Year
Position = mood · width = volume · color = the kind of feeling
Cr/CFB
GGoogle News
UUnderdog Dynasty
CCampus paper
RRaginPagin
BBluesky
YYouTube
What little we hear
Only 2 cohort(s) cleared the signal floor this week, so we won’t stage a split we can’t back. Here’s the honest read:
National take+0.37
Millennials+0.37
How Louisiana fans actually talk real · top-upvoted
Rr/CFBthe room
Everyone told JMU when you are getting blown out it’s easy to drop 35 points and 500 yards so pretty shocked Bama didn’t have a big second half
▲ 2.5k ▼open ↗
The crowd’s loudest take by upvotes — read for mood, not as a side. The cohort read is the measured part.
77 mentions · 7 sources · week 2026-01. Counts, sources and the divergence rank are measured (fact). Cohort labels and sentiment are a source-weighted model read (our read) — never a quote attributed to a person.
Belief checklight on evidence
~ our readLouisiana fans are down on the program, with almost nothing concrete behind it yet.
backed by facts
the mood
✓ counted We read 66 posts from Louisiana fans this week.
Five Lenses
What people are saying right now
Radio, beat writers & editorial14 posts
News & campus coverage7 posts
Fanbase Health Index · Louisiana · high confidence
Fanbase Health Index · Louisiana · high confidenceGrowing (54)
DecliningStableGrowingSurging
On-Field — 6-7 (46% win rate)50
Volume — 202 effective signal-N76
Cohort Engagement — Divergence 0.00 — quiet35
Key stats — 2025 — FBS rank
Points/game#76 / 138 · 46th pct26.0
Pts allowed/game#91 / 138 · 35th pct29.2
Total yards/gm#93 / 136 · 32nd pct344.1
Rush yards/gm#35 / 136 · 75th pct182.9
Pass yards/gm#120 / 136 · 12th pct161.2
Yards allowed/gm#120 / 136 · 12th pct411.2
Rush yds allowed/gm#122 / 136 · 11th pct187.2
Sacks#89 / 136 · 35th pct22
Interceptions#68 / 136 · 51st pct9
3rd-down conv#59 / 136 · 57th pct40.6%
All 98 stats
Offense / Defense
Total yards
Team4473344.1/gm5.22/play#93 / 136 · 32nd pct#51 / 70 · 29th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Opp5345411.2/gm5.99/play#120 / 136 · 12th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Rush yards
Team2378182.9/gm2.77/play#35 / 136 · 75th pct#17 / 70 · 77th pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Opp2433187.2/gm2.73/play#122 / 136 · 11th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Rush carries
Team51539.6/gm#31 / 136 · 78th pct#14 / 70 · 81st pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp51339.5/gm#127 / 136 · 7th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Rush TDs
Team262.0/gm#41 / 136 · 71st pct#24 / 70 · 67th pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp251.9/gm#105 / 136 · 24th pct#60 / 70 · 16th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Net pass yards
Team2095161.2/gm2.44/play#120 / 136 · 12th pct#66 / 70 · 7th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Opp2912224.0/gm3.26/play#87 / 136 · 37th pct#49 / 70 · 31st pct#7 / 14 · 57th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Pass attempts
Team34226.3/gm#106 / 136 · 23rd pct#60 / 70 · 16th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp37929.2/gm#55 / 136 · 60th pct#24 / 70 · 67th pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Completions
Team18714.4/gm#118 / 136 · 14th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp25219.4/gm#86 / 136 · 38th pct#42 / 70 · 41st pct#8 / 14 · 50th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Pass TDs
Team120.9/gm#117 / 136 · 15th pct#63 / 70 · 11th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp181.4/gm#63 / 136 · 54th pct#39 / 70 · 46th pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Passer rating
Team112.5112.5#129 / 136 · 6th pct#69 / 70 · 3rd pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Opp139.3139.3#97 / 136 · 29th pct#52 / 70 · 27th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Interceptions thrown
Team141.1/gm#12 / 136 · 92nd pct#4 / 70 · 96th pct#2 / 14 · 93rd pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Opp90.7/gm#54 / 136 · 61st pct#27 / 70 · 63rd pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Sacks (def)
Team221.7/gm#89 / 136 · 35th pct#51 / 70 · 29th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct#8 / 10 · 30th pct
Opp241.8/gm#72 / 136 · 48th pct#38 / 70 · 47th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#5 / 10 · 60th pct
Tackles for loss
Team594.5/gm#106 / 136 · 23rd pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#12 / 14 · 21st pct#8 / 10 · 30th pct
Opp786.0/gm#115 / 136 · 16th pct#62 / 70 · 13th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct#6 / 10 · 50th pct
First downs
Team24618.9/gm#86 / 136 · 38th pct#49 / 70 · 31st pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp27821.4/gm#112 / 136 · 18th pct#62 / 70 · 13th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
3rd-down conv
Team786.0/gm#29 / 136 · 79th pct#17 / 70 · 77th pct#4 / 14 · 79th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Opp745.7/gm#101 / 136 · 26th pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#7 / 14 · 57th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
3rd-down att
Team19214.8/gm#17 / 136 · 88th pct#8 / 70 · 90th pct#4 / 14 · 79th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct
Opp17313.3/gm#58 / 136 · 58th pct#30 / 70 · 59th pct#4 / 14 · 79th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
4th-down conv
Team110.8/gm#90 / 136 · 35th pct#49 / 70 · 31st pct#6 / 14 · 64th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Opp120.9/gm#49 / 136 · 65th pct#23 / 70 · 69th pct#7 / 14 · 57th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
4th-down att
Team201.5/gm#101 / 136 · 26th pct#51 / 70 · 29th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp231.8/gm#46 / 136 · 67th pct#23 / 70 · 69th pct#7 / 14 · 57th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Time of possession
Team391:1930:06/gm#53 / 136 · 62nd pct#27 / 70 · 63rd pct#3 / 14 · 86th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp388:4129:54/gm#87 / 136 · 37th pct#44 / 70 · 39th pct#6 / 14 · 64th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Kicking & Punting
Field goals#102 / 135 · 25th pct20/28 (71.4%)
Extra points38/38
Punting#98 / 136 · 29th pct42.2 avg · 53 punts
Turnovers & special teams
Turnovers
Team191.5/gm#34 / 136 · 76th pct#12 / 70 · 84th pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Opp181.4/gm#79 / 136 · 43rd pct#41 / 70 · 43rd pct#6 / 14 · 64th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Fumbles lost
Team50.4/gm#91 / 136 · 34th pct#41 / 70 · 43rd pct#12 / 14 · 21st pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp90.7/gm#105 / 136 · 24th pct#54 / 70 · 24th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
INT return TDs
Team10.1/gm#36 / 135 · 74th pct#19 / 70 · 74th pct#6 / 14 · 64th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct
Opp20.2/gm#105 / 136 · 24th pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#9 / 11 · 27th pct
INT return yards
Team917.0/gm#87 / 136 · 37th pct#42 / 70 · 41st pct#8 / 14 · 50th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp18013.8/gm#108 / 136 · 21st pct#56 / 70 · 21st pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Punt ret yds
Team292.2/gm#130 / 136 · 5th pct#68 / 70 · 4th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Opp13910.7/gm#85 / 136 · 38th pct#47 / 70 · 34th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Punt ret TDs
Team00.0/gm#43 / 135 · 69th pct#23 / 70 · 69th pct#4 / 14 · 79th pct#4 / 10 · 70th pct
Opp00.0/gm#1 / 135 · 100th pct#1 / 70 · 100th pct#1 / 14 · 100th pct#1 / 9 · 100th pct
Kick ret yds
Team68452.6/gm#14 / 136 · 90th pct#5 / 70 · 94th pct#4 / 14 · 79th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Opp79961.5/gm#130 / 136 · 5th pct#68 / 70 · 4th pct#12 / 14 · 21st pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Kick ret TDs
Team10.1/gm#7 / 136 · 96th pct#3 / 70 · 97th pct#3 / 14 · 86th pct#3 / 11 · 82nd pct
Opp10.1/gm#97 / 135 · 29th pct#53 / 70 · 26th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#6 / 10 · 50th pct
Penalty yards
Team60546.5/gm#97 / 136 · 29th pct#45 / 70 · 37th pct#14 / 14 · 7th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp84665.1/gm#122 / 136 · 11th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Other
Kick returns#10 / 136 · 93rd pct#3 / 70 · 97th pct#4 / 14 · 79th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct322.5/gm
Fumbles recovered#24 / 136 · 83rd pct#13 / 70 · 83rd pct#3 / 14 · 86th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct90.7/gm
Fumbles rec (def)#25 / 136 · 82nd pct#17 / 70 · 77th pct#3 / 14 · 86th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct50.4/gm
Interceptions (def)#68 / 136 · 51st pct#35 / 70 · 51st pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct90.7/gm
Penalties#68 / 136 · 51st pct#29 / 70 · 60th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct775.9/gm
H2 epa per play opponent#70 / 143 · 52nd pct#38 / 70 · 47th pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct0.20.0/gm
H1 epa per play#79 / 162 · 52nd pct#47 / 70 · 34th pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct0.20.0/gm
Recruiting rating#80 / 138 · 43rd pct#68 / 70 · 4th pct#3 / 14 · 86th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct165.312.7/gm
Penalties (opp)#96 / 136 · 30th pct#54 / 70 · 24th pct#7 / 14 · 57th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct856.5/gm
Punt returns#96 / 136 · 30th pct#56 / 70 · 21st pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct120.9/gm
Red zone pass rate#104 / 154 · 33rd pct#47 / 70 · 34th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct0.30.0/gm
Punt ret (opp)#112 / 136 · 18th pct#61 / 70 · 14th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct211.6/gm
H2 epa per play#115 / 142 · 20th pct#60 / 70 · 16th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct0.10.0/gm
H1 epa per play opponent#120 / 167 · 29th pct#61 / 70 · 14th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct0.30.0/gm
Passes intercepted opponent#120 / 136 · 12th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct141.1/gm
Fourth down go rate#127 / 138 · 9th pct#63 / 70 · 11th pct#12 / 14 · 21st pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct0.20.0/gm
Kick ret (opp)#132 / 136 · 4th pct#69 / 70 · 3rd pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct413.2/gm
First down pass rate#183 / 215 · 15th pct#68 / 70 · 4th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct0.30.0/gm
Situational
3rd-down conversion
Off40.6%#59 / 136 · 57th pct#35 / 70 · 51st pct#6 / 14 · 64th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Def42.8%#108 / 136 · 21st pct#60 / 70 · 16th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
4th-down conversion
Off55.0%#66 / 136 · 52nd pct#42 / 70 · 41st pct#4 / 14 · 79th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Def52.2%#67 / 136 · 51st pct#34 / 70 · 53rd pct#7 / 14 · 57th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Turnover margin#77 / 136 · 44th pct#42 / 70 · 41st pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct-0.08/gm
Sack rate (def)#95 / 136 · 31st pct#51 / 70 · 29th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct#6 / 10 · 50th pct5.8%
Red Zone & Drive Efficiency (2014– , play-by-play derived)
Red zone trips
Team382.9/gm#95 / 167 · 44th pct#52 / 70 · 27th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Opp443.4/gm#104 / 166 · 38th pct#46 / 70 · 36th pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Red zone score %
Team84.2%84.2%#45 / 167 · 74th pct#27 / 70 · 63rd pct#2 / 14 · 93rd pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp70.5%70.5%#24 / 166 · 86th pct#9 / 70 · 89th pct#3 / 14 · 86th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct
Points / drive
Team2.10.2/gm#70 / 167 · 59th pct#44 / 70 · 39th pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Opp2.10.2/gm#98 / 166 · 42nd pct#55 / 70 · 23rd pct#8 / 14 · 50th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Yards / drive
Team38.22.9/gm#105 / 167 · 38th pct#61 / 70 · 14th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp43.33.3/gm#121 / 166 · 28th pct#56 / 70 · 21st pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Plays / drive
Team6.50.5/gm#91 / 167 · 46th pct#48 / 70 · 33rd pct#8 / 14 · 50th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Opp6.60.5/gm#88 / 166 · 48th pct#37 / 70 · 49th pct#7 / 14 · 57th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Three-and-out rate
Team15.7%15.7%#114 / 167 · 32nd pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp9.4%9.4%#135 / 166 · 19th pct#66 / 70 · 7th pct#12 / 14 · 21st pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Scheme Identity (2014– , play-by-play derived)
Rush rate over expected#19 / 145 · 88th pct#3 / 70 · 97th pct#3 / 14 · 86th pct+7.1%+7.1%
Havoc rate
Team13.4%13.4%#117 / 140 · 17th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct
Opp16.8%16.8%#99 / 140 · 30th pct#51 / 70 · 29th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct
Standard-downs success
Team44.9%44.9%#113 / 154 · 27th pct#60 / 70 · 16th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct
Opp53.3%53.3%#137 / 172 · 21st pct#65 / 70 · 9th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct
Passing-downs success
Team27.3%27.3%#115 / 153 · 25th pct#62 / 70 · 13th pct#12 / 14 · 21st pct
Opp28.0%28.0%#34 / 149 · 78th pct#20 / 70 · 73rd pct#3 / 14 · 86th pct
Line yards / carry
Team2.92.9#72 / 143 · 50th pct#40 / 70 · 44th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct
Opp3.33.3#134 / 155 · 14th pct#65 / 70 · 9th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct
Stuff rate
Team20.3%20.3%#103 / 143 · 29th pct#53 / 70 · 26th pct#10 / 14 · 36th pct
Opp16.4%16.4%#109 / 155 · 30th pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#12 / 14 · 21st pct
Power success rate
Team76.7%76.7%#28 / 137 · 80th pct#19 / 70 · 74th pct#2 / 14 · 93rd pct
Opp69.2%69.2%#70 / 141 · 51st pct#36 / 70 · 50th pct#9 / 14 · 43rd pct
Efficiency
Completion %
Off54.7%#129 / 136 · 6th pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Def66.5%#123 / 136 · 10th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Yards / attempt
Off6.1#125 / 136 · 9th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#13 / 14 · 14th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Def7.7#108 / 136 · 21st pct#58 / 70 · 19th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Yards / completion
Off11.2#82 / 136 · 40th pct#48 / 70 · 33rd pct#7 / 14 · 57th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Def11.6#72 / 136 · 48th pct#49 / 70 · 31st pct#3 / 14 · 86th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Yards / carry#50 / 136 · 64th pct#30 / 70 · 59th pct#5 / 14 · 71st pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct4.6
Yards / play#106 / 136 · 23rd pct#60 / 70 · 16th pct#11 / 14 · 29th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct5.22
Scoring margin#96 / 136 · 30th pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#8 / 14 · 50th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct-3.2/gm
FBS rankings · 2025 season · all stats vs 136 FBS programs
Player stats — 2025 season
Quarterbacks
| Player | # | G | Cmp/Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | INT | Rate | QBR | Adj ANY/A | Sack% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrambler · +0.19 EPA/play | 2 | 12 | 127 / 216 | 58.8 | 1555 | 7.2 | 11 | 7 | 129.6 | 49.1 | 6.2 | 5.3 | |
Yards by week → ScramblerMakes plays with feet when the pocket collapses. Efficiency still on the rise. Impact starter — above-average production for the conference. 45 of 183 QBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Rush usage41.3% 96th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Rush yards / carry4.4 84th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Trait fingerprint Plays like View Lunch Winfield's full player page | |||||||||||||
| Pocket Passer · -0.01 EPA/play | 11 | 5 | 42 / 84 | 50 | 385 | 4.6 | 1 | 4 | 82.9 | 13.8 | 2.2 | 5.6 | |
Yards by week → Pocket PasserBalanced passer who operates within the system, without one standout number carrying the profile. 97 of 183 QBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / attempt4.8 bottom 2th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts INT rate4.8% bottom 4th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Trait fingerprint Plays like View Daniel Beale's full player page | |||||||||||||
| +0.13 EPA/play | 4 | 6 | 18 / 41 | 43.9 | 155 | 3.8 | 0 | 3 | 61.0 | 19.2 | — | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
Running Backs
| Player | # | G | Car | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | 3rd Dn Use | Pass Dn Use | Stuff% | 10+% | Tgt Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workhorse · -0.02 EPA/play | 7 | 13 | 158 | 763 | 4.8 | 6 | 76 | 10.2 | 14.8 | 23.0 | 12.2 | 5.7% (15/264) | |
Yards by week → Workhorse· Boom-or-bustBuilt to take 20+ carries per game. Volume is the value. his yards come in chunks — feast or famine All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started. 52 of 349 RBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Weight235 lb 97th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Receiving share6.0% bottom 19th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Trait fingerprint Plays like View Bill Davis's full player page | |||||||||||||
| Balanced Back · +0.03 EPA/play | 3 | 12 | 138 | 689 | 5.0 | 8 | 84 | 14.2 | 12.4 | 17.6 | 13.7 | 7.6% (20/264) | |
Yards by week → Balanced Back· Boom-or-bustPlays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension. his yards come in chunks — feast or famine Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. The most common profile in its group this season — 186 of 349 classified this way. Played in 12 of 21 games this season · junior View Zylan Perry's full player page | |||||||||||||
| +0.20 EPA/play | 24 | 10 | 30 | 156 | 5.2 | 2 | 34 | 4 | 4.3 | — | — | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
Receivers
| Player | # | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | 3rd Dn Use | Pass Dn Use | Tgt Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Threat · +0.84 EPA/play | 6 | 9 | 32 | 537 | 16.8 | 6 #62 FBS | 45 | 10.4 | 6.7 | 14.8% (39/264) | |
Yards by week → Deep Threat· Money-downStretches the field vertically. Every snap is a potential big play. lives on the sticks and moves the chains 100 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception17.5 86th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions TD rate18.8% 95th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Shelton Sampson Jr.'s full player page | |||||||||||
| Possession Receiver · +0.39 EPA/play | — | 12 | 25 | 309 | 12.4 | 0 | 44 | 7.4 | 8.5 | 15.5% (41/264) | |
Yards by week → Possession ReceiverReliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive. 332 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception12.8 bottom 46th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions TD rate0.0% bottom 8th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Robert Williams's full player page | |||||||||||
| Deep Threat · +0.51 EPA/play | 13 | 11 | 15 | 250 | 16.7 | 1 | 45 | 4 | 5.3 | 7.6% (20/264) | |
Yards by week → Deep ThreatStretches the field vertically. Every snap is a potential big play. 100 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception20.5 97th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Reception volume15 bottom 14th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Charles Robertson's full player page | |||||||||||
| Complete TE · +0.05 EPA/play | 88 | 10 | 29 | 231 | 8.0 | 1 | 40 | 6 | 9.2 | 15.5% (41/264) | |
Yards by week → Complete TENo single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike. 177 of 223 TEs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception8.8 bottom 27th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions EPA / play (adj)0.0 bottom 9th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Caden Jensen's full player page | |||||||||||
| +1.12 EPA/play | 19 | 7 | 6 | 134 | 22.3 | 2 | 69 | 5 | 6.9 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
| Complete TE · +0.20 EPA/play | 83 | 7 | 12 | 108 | 9 | 1 | 35 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 6.1% (16/264) | |
Yards by week → Complete TENo single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike. The most common profile in its group this season — 177 of 223 classified this way. Played in 7 of 21 games this season · junior View Brock Chappell's full player page | |||||||||||
| Complete TE · -0.14 EPA/play | 86 | 10 | 13 | 102 | 7.8 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 4.4 | 8.7% (23/264) | |
Yards by week → Complete TENo single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike. 177 of 223 TEs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception7.8 bottom 19th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions EPA / play (adj)-0.1 bottom 3th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Trey Miller's full player page | |||||||||||
| +0.41 EPA/play | 23 | 5 | 10 | 78 | 7.8 | 0 | 14 | 4.9 | 2.4 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
| +0.28 EPA/play | 18 | 5 | 6 | 51 | 8.5 | 0 | 14 | 1.4 | 5.6 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
| +0.26 EPA/play | 8 | 5 | 5 | 29 | 5.8 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 1 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
Defensive Line
| Player | # | G | Tot | Solo | TFL | Sack | Hur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatile End | — | 13 | 52 | 27 | 14.5 #25 FBS | 4.5 | 9 |
Versatile EndNo single standout number, but nothing missing either — competent across the board. All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started. The most common profile in its group this season — 139 of 200 classified this way. Played in 13 of 21 games this season · senior · 3-star, 2020 class View Jordan Lawson's full player page | |||||||
| Nose Anchor | 90 | 13 | 28 | 9 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 |
Nose AnchorThe heaviest frame on the interior. Sack production is intentionally not the point of this profile. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 152 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Weight310 lb 83th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like our readTwo-star recruit — top-quartile production against his own recruiting profile | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 93 | 13 | 25 | 13 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. The most common profile in its group this season — 388 of 809 classified this way. Played in 13 of 21 games this season · senior View Jaelen Crider's full player page | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 68 | 11 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. The most common profile in its group this season — 388 of 809 classified this way. Played in 11 of 21 games this season · junior our readBreakout: his CFB Index score now sits at the 78th percentile among FBS IDLs, up from the 25th | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 95 | 8 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. 388 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate7.1% bottom 22th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Maxie Baudoin IV's full player page | |||||||
| Versatile End | 41 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
Versatile EndNo single standout number, but nothing missing either — competent across the board. 139 of 200 EDGEs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate4.2% bottom 8th percentile · FBS EDGE, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Chase Edwards's full player page | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 91 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. 388 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate0.0% bottom 6th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Priest Ashe's full player page | |||||||
| 99 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 97 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
Linebackers
| Player | # | G | Tot | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sack | PD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced Linebacker | 3 | 13 | 124 | 64 | 60 | 13 #42 FBS | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. Impact starter — above-average production for the conference. 362 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume124 100th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles TFL rate10.5% 56th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like our readBreakout: his CFB Index score moved from the 37th to 97th percentile among FBS LBs | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | 6 | 13 | 95 | 51 | 44 | 2.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. Impact starter — above-average production for the conference. 362 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume95 94th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles TFL rate2.6% bottom 17th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like our readBreakout: his CFB Index score now sits at the 53rd percentile among FBS LBs, up from the 3rd | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | 44 | 12 | 50 | 22 | 28 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. The most common profile in its group this season — 362 of 660 classified this way. Played in 12 of 21 games this season · junior View Jake St. Andre's full player page | |||||||||
| Thumper | 9 | 11 | 30 | 19 | 11 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
ThumperDownhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started. 97 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate5.0% bottom 27th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles PD rate0.0% bottom 18th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like our readFading: his CFB Index score went from the 87th percentile among FBS LBs to the 44th | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | 45 | 10 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. The most common profile in its group this season — 362 of 660 classified this way. Played in 10 of 21 games this season · senior View Caleb Kibodi's full player page | |||||||||
| Thumper | 17 | 11 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ThumperDownhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. 97 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate12.5% 67th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Tackle volume20 bottom 14th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like View Ashley Williams's full player page | |||||||||
| 31 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 80 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Defensive Backs
| Player | # | G | Tot | PD | INT | TFL | Sack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rover | 11 | 12 | 62 | 11 #12 FBS | 1 | 1 | 0 |
RoverHits like a linebacker and still takes the ball away. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 83 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate17.7% 91th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Brent Gordon Jr.'s full player page | |||||||
| Box Safety | 4 | 11 | 55 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Box SafetyLives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker. All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started. 166 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume55 73th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Tyree Skipper's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 7 | 12 | 48 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Hybrid Nickel· Takeaway threatMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. the kind of DB who takes it back the other way Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. The most common profile in its group this season — 419 of 801 classified this way. Played in 12 of 21 games this season · senior View Courtline Flowers's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 21 | 9 | 47 | 3 | 0 | 1.5 | 0.5 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 419 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate6.4% bottom 42th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Maurion Eleam's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 2 | 12 | 44 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. The most common profile in its group this season — 419 of 801 classified this way. Played in 12 of 21 games this season · senior · 3-star, 2021 class our readBounce-Back: his CFB Index score shows a real arc: 67th percentile among FBS Ss, fell to 2nd, now back up to 45th | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 35 | 7 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | 0.5 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. 419 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt View Collin Jacob's full player pagePD rate3.1% bottom 26th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles | |||||||
| Cover Corner | 20 | 7 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Cover CornerSteady in coverage; doesn't get beat deep and rarely gives up the big play. 141 of 270 CBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate0.0% bottom 8th percentile · FBS corners, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Trae Tomlinson's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 46 | 8 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. 419 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate0.0% bottom 14th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Lake Bates's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 8 | 6 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. The most common profile in its group this season — 419 of 801 classified this way. Played in 6 of 21 games this season · sophomore · 3-star, 2023 class View Kody Jackson's full player page | |||||||
| 10 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Kicking
| Player | # | G | FG M/A | FG% | XP M/A | Pts | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Leg | 95 | 13 | 20/28 | 71.4 | 38/38 | 98 | 55 |
Punting
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | Long | In20 | TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steady | 92 | 13 | 52 | 2186 | 42 | 57 | 9 | 2 |
Net average is unavailable — CFBD's punting feed carries gross yards only, with no return-yardage or touchback deduction.
Kick Returns
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 4 | 9 | 318 | 35.3 | 1 | 96 | |
| Possession Receiver · +0.39 EPA/play | — | 12 | 17 | 315 | 18.5 | 0 | 50 |
Punt Returns
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Possession Receiver · +0.39 EPA/play | — | 12 | 9 | 29 | 3.2 | 0 | 13 |
2025 stat leaders
final
2025 stat leaders
1.
Terrence Williams
LB
95.0 tot (def)
2.
Brent Gordon Jr.
DB
62.0 tot (def)
3.
Tyree Skipper
S
55.0 tot (def)
4.
Jordan Lawson
DE
52.0 tot (def)
5.
Bill Davis
RB
763 yds (rush)
Roster
2025
24
players carry a qualified CFB Index Score this season.
Jaden Dugger
LB
#23 of 583
Jordan Lawson
EDGE
#56 of 420
Brent Gordon Jr.
CB
#82 of 364
Courtline Flowers
S
#140 of 544
Fitzgerald West Jr.
IDL
#102 of 330
Tyree Skipper
S
#194 of 544
+18 more
Louisiana · 2025 schedule & results6-7Hard slateAverage opponent win rate 48% · 2 AP top-25 opponents on the schedule.
| Wk | Date | Us | Opp | Line | Opponent | Result | Record | Conf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 31 | #52 | #92 | -9.5 | Rice | L 12–14 123 | 0-1 | 0-0 |
| 2 | Sep 7 | #58 | #162 | -19.5 | McNeese | W 34–10 123 | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| 3 | Sep 13 | #63 | #22 | +27.5 | @Missouri | L 10–52 122 | 1-2 | 0-0 |
| 4 | Sep 20 | #70 | #174 | -1.5 | @Eastern Michigan | L 31–34 134 | 1-3 | 0-0 |
| 5 | Sep 28 | #74 | #90 | +1.5 | Marshall | W 54–51 153 | 2-3 | 1-0 |
| 7 | Oct 11 | #95 | #50 | +18.5 | @James Madison | L 14–24 134 | 2-4 | 1-1 |
| 8 | Oct 18 | #94 | #127 | +4.5 | Southern Miss | L 10–22 134 | 2-5 | 1-2 |
| 9 | Oct 25 | #100 | #83 | +7 | @Troy | L 23–35 128 | 2-6 | 1-3 |
| 10 | Nov 1 | #110 | #117 | +3.5 | @South Alabama | W 31–22 132 | 3-6 | 2-3 |
| 11 | Nov 8 | #100 | #81 | +3.5 | Texas State | W 42–39 136 | 4-6 | 2-3 |
| 13 | Nov 21 | #102 | #146 | +2.5 | @Arkansas State | W 34–30 149 | 5-6 | 3-3 |
| 14 | Nov 29 | #101 | #200 | -11.5 | UL Monroe | W 30–27 144 | 6-6 | 4-3 |
| Bowl Season | ||||||||
| 16 | Dec 18 | #115 | #146 | -1.5 | Delaware (N) | L 13–20 | 6-7 | 4-3 |
Advanced box score (EPA, success rate, explosiveness)▼
| Date | Opp | Result | Yds | TO | TOP | EPA/play | Success% | Explosive% | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 18 | Delaware | L 13–20 | — | — | — | +0.053 | 38.0% | 112.3% | One-score loss |
| Nov 29 | UL Monroe | W 30–27 | 338 | 0 | 29:52 | +0.025 | 30.4% | 129.3% | One-score win |
| Nov 21 | @Arkansas State | W 34–30 | 349 | 1 | 33:59 | +0.097 | 39.2% | 126.1% | One-score win |
| Nov 8 | Texas State | W 42–39 | 384 | 2 | 37:58 | +0.249 | 40.2% | 120.7% | Defense's roughest night |
| Nov 1 | @South Alabama | W 31–22 | 393 | 0 | 32:54 | +0.211 | 44.6% | 129.1% | |
| Oct 25 | @Troy | L 23–35 | 371 | 3 | 29:28 | +0.045 | 46.3% | 129.3% | |
| Oct 18 | Southern Miss | L 10–22 | 352 | 3 | 35:31 | +0.077 | 48.3% | 64.3% | Best success rate |
| Oct 11 | @James Madison | L 14–24 | 288 | 1 | 23:09 | +0.011 | 21.4% | 178.3% | Most explosive |
| Sep 28 | Marshall | W 54–51 | 461 | 2 | 29:32 | +0.116 | 43.3% | 115.3% | One-score win |
| Sep 20 | @Eastern Michigan | L 31–34 | 441 | 2 | 29:59 | +0.294 | 40.6% | 138.1% | Season-high EPA/play |
| Sep 13 | @Missouri | L 10–52 | 121 | 0 | 17:09 | -0.082 | 20.6% | 143.7% | Season-low EPA/play |
| Sep 7 | McNeese | W 34–10 | 401 | 0 | 34:17 | +0.205 | 45.3% | 109.5% | Best defensive stand |
| Aug 31 | Rice | L 12–14 | 239 | 2 | 23:36 | +0.043 | 31.0% | 127.0% | One-score loss |
| Season average (13 games) | 345 | 1.3 | +0.103 | 37.6% | 124.9% | ||||
How They Play · 2025
How They Play · 2025Louisiana fields a struggling run-heavy offense behind a leaky, bend-don't-break defense.
Opponent-adjusted percentiles vs all FBS. Bar = where this team ranks — right is better.
Team identity · competitive snaps only
How Louisiana actually scores
19th percentile quality, 73rd percentile boom-dependency. Garbage time excluded from both axes — the same correction that changes the Q4 story below.
View all FBS teams as a table
| Team | Quality percentile | Boom-share percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 86th | 11th |
| Akron | 12th | 89th |
| Alabama | 58th | 17th |
| App State | 35th | 47th |
| Arizona | 64th | 37th |
| Arizona State | 41st | 62nd |
| Arkansas | 90th | 12th |
| Arkansas State | 17th | 66th |
| Army | 57th | 43rd |
| Auburn | 47th | 53rd |
| BYU | 78th | 19th |
| Baylor | 69th | 25th |
| Boise State | 66th | 20th |
| Boston College | 37th | 54th |
| Bowling Green | 2nd | 98th |
| Buffalo | 11th | 88th |
| California | 28th | 48th |
| Central Michigan | 52nd | 64th |
| Cincinnati | 89th | 16th |
| Clemson | 51st | 48th |
| Coastal Carolina | 17th | 83rd |
| Colorado | 18th | 84th |
| Colorado State | 16th | 83rd |
| Delaware | 38th | 58th |
| Duke | 80th | 14th |
| East Carolina | 63rd | 36th |
| Eastern Michigan | 49th | 42nd |
| Florida | 30th | 67th |
| Florida Atlantic | 62nd | 59th |
| Florida International | 42nd | 50th |
| Florida State | 83rd | 32nd |
| Fresno State | 26th | 73rd |
| Georgia | 81st | 3rd |
| Georgia Southern | 73rd | 21st |
| Georgia State | 36th | 70th |
| Georgia Tech | 84th | 5th |
| Hawai'i | 64th | 41st |
| Houston | 27th | 65th |
| Illinois | 75th | 26th |
| Indiana | 95th | 1st |
| Iowa | 44th | 40th |
| Iowa State | 68th | 22nd |
| Jacksonville State | 54th | 38th |
| James Madison | 65th | 44th |
| Kansas | 85th | 28th |
| Kansas State | 71st | 49th |
| Kennesaw State | 56th | 30th |
| Kent State | 21st | 86th |
| Kentucky | 15th | 85th |
| LSU | 14th | 81st |
| Liberty | 43rd | 56th |
| Louisiana | 19th | 73rd |
| Louisiana Tech | 39th | 61st |
| Louisville | 48th | 64th |
| Marshall | 55th | 39th |
| Maryland | 30th | 74th |
| Memphis | 80th | 24th |
| Miami | 76th | 5th |
| Miami (OH) | 34th | 67th |
| Michigan | 67th | 33rd |
| Michigan State | 27th | 75th |
| Middle Tennessee | 39th | 52nd |
| Minnesota | 29th | 77th |
| Mississippi State | 22nd | 77th |
| Missouri | 61st | 30th |
| Missouri State | 55th | 46th |
| NC State | 86th | 23rd |
| Navy | 94th | 17th |
| Nebraska | 48th | 57th |
| Nevada | 3rd | 97th |
| New Mexico | 58th | 60th |
| New Mexico State | 9th | 87th |
| North Carolina | 13th | 89th |
| North Texas | 98th | 7th |
| Northern Illinois | 8th | 92nd |
| Northwestern | 52nd | 36th |
| Notre Dame | 99th | 20th |
| Ohio | 67th | 18th |
| Ohio State | 93rd | 4th |
| Oklahoma | 20th | 80th |
| Oklahoma State | 5th | 95th |
| Old Dominion | 83rd | 45th |
| Ole Miss | 89th | 2nd |
| Oregon | 91st | 10th |
| Oregon State | 2nd | 98th |
| Penn State | 73rd | 33rd |
| Pittsburgh | 60th | 39th |
| Purdue | 25th | 78th |
| Rice | 6th | 94th |
| Rutgers | 70th | 27th |
| SMU | 74th | 42nd |
| Sam Houston | 4th | 96th |
| San Diego State | 24th | 76th |
| San José State | 45th | 69th |
| South Alabama | 36th | 58th |
| South Carolina | 23rd | 86th |
| South Florida | 87th | 23rd |
| Southern Miss | 40th | 55th |
| Stanford | 10th | 90th |
| Syracuse | 5th | 95th |
| TCU | 72nd | 35th |
| Temple | 70th | 34th |
| Tennessee | 96th | 11th |
| Texas | 45th | 55th |
| Texas A&M | 82nd | 14th |
| Texas State | 92nd | 8th |
| Texas Tech | 77th | 31st |
| Toledo | 50th | 61st |
| Troy | 14th | 80th |
| Tulane | 79th | 15th |
| Tulsa | 20th | 70th |
| UAB | 61st | 45th |
| UCF | 33rd | 82nd |
| UCLA | 23rd | 79th |
| UConn | 95th | 13th |
| UL Monroe | 11th | 92nd |
| UNLV | 88th | 9th |
| USC | 98th | 2nd |
| UTEP | 1st | 99th |
| UTSA | 77th | 51st |
| Utah | 97th | 6th |
| Utah State | 46th | 63rd |
| Vanderbilt | 100th | 0th |
| Virginia | 59th | 27th |
| Virginia Tech | 32nd | 71st |
| Wake Forest | 42nd | 72nd |
| Washington | 92nd | 8th |
| Washington State | 33rd | 52nd |
| West Virginia | 7th | 93rd |
| Western Kentucky | 53rd | 29th |
| Western Michigan | 31st | 68th |
| Wisconsin | 0th | 100th |
| Wyoming | 8th | 91st |
Fourth-quarter reliability, corrected
Louisiana's 4th-quarter offense, before and after garbage time
Raw Q4 EPA/play ranks 33rd percentile in FBS. Strip out snaps taken with a blowout margin and it climbs to the 35th — the correction is the finding, not a footnote.
Standard downs vs. passing downs
Does Louisiana hold up once the down-and-distance turns against them?
24th percentile success on standard downs, 23rd on passing downs — little dropoff between the two — a schedule-independent identity.
View all FBS teams as a table
| Team | Standard-downs percentile | Passing-downs percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 82nd | 69th |
| Akron | 20th | 36th |
| Alabama | 47th | 76th |
| App State | 41st | 80th |
| Arizona | 54th | 54th |
| Arizona State | 40th | 37th |
| Arkansas | 90th | 97th |
| Arkansas State | 51st | 40th |
| Army | 37th | 44th |
| Auburn | 73rd | 24th |
| Austin Peay | 56th | 13th |
| BYU | 91st | 46th |
| Ball State | 5th | 3rd |
| Baylor | 70th | 77th |
| Boise State | 42nd | 63rd |
| Boston College | 56th | 54th |
| Bowling Green | 10th | 17th |
| Bryant | 7th | 2nd |
| Buffalo | 29th | 20th |
| California | 25th | 66th |
| Central Michigan | 57th | 11th |
| Charlotte | 7th | 7th |
| Cincinnati | 89th | 65th |
| Clemson | 49th | 34th |
| Coastal Carolina | 16th | 22nd |
| Colorado | 8th | 48th |
| Colorado State | 29th | 35th |
| Delaware | 66th | 31st |
| Duke | 82nd | 63rd |
| East Carolina | 63rd | 91st |
| Eastern Michigan | 46th | 67th |
| Florida | 52nd | 45th |
| Florida Atlantic | 44th | 61st |
| Florida International | 50th | 26th |
| Florida State | 65th | 90th |
| Fresno State | 22nd | 71st |
| Georgia | 95th | 69th |
| Georgia Southern | 64th | 84th |
| Georgia State | 22nd | 75th |
| Georgia Tech | 92nd | 89th |
| Hawai'i | 33rd | 87th |
| Houston | 61st | 29th |
| Idaho | 30th | 78th |
| Idaho State | 93rd | 14th |
| Illinois | 79th | 95th |
| Indiana | 97th | 98th |
| Iowa | 74th | 19th |
| Iowa State | 80th | 58th |
| Jacksonville State | 59th | 56th |
| James Madison | 77th | 52nd |
| Kansas | 99th | 82nd |
| Kansas State | 37th | 59th |
| Kennesaw State | 44th | 67th |
| Kent State | 15th | 5th |
| Kentucky | 62nd | 29th |
| LSU | 18th | 52nd |
| Lafayette | 0th | 12th |
| Liberty | 65th | 53rd |
| Lindenwood | 4th | 1st |
| Long Island University | 24th | 78th |
| Louisiana | 24th | 23rd |
| Louisiana Tech | 41st | 24th |
| Louisville | 84th | 32nd |
| Maine | 3rd | 18th |
| Marshall | 71st | 62nd |
| Maryland | 11th | 86th |
| Massachusetts | 5th | 9th |
| Memphis | 75th | 68th |
| Merrimack | 1st | 83rd |
| Miami | 80th | 64th |
| Miami (OH) | 33rd | 39th |
| Michigan | 73rd | 74th |
| Michigan State | 48th | 39th |
| Middle Tennessee | 69th | 47th |
| Minnesota | 35th | 33rd |
| Mississippi State | 52nd | 35th |
| Missouri | 76th | 50th |
| Missouri State | 32nd | 50th |
| Murray State | 1st | 6th |
| NC State | 58th | 71st |
| Navy | 95th | 72nd |
| Nebraska | 78th | 51st |
| Nevada | 17th | 16th |
| New Mexico | 38th | 60th |
| New Mexico State | 16th | 33rd |
| North Carolina | 14th | 30th |
| North Texas | 100th | 97th |
| Northern Illinois | 9th | 5th |
| Northwestern | 48th | 88th |
| Notre Dame | 88th | 99th |
| Ohio | 69th | 76th |
| Ohio State | 99th | 99th |
| Oklahoma | 39th | 41st |
| Oklahoma State | 14th | 7th |
| Old Dominion | 72nd | 79th |
| Ole Miss | 83rd | 95th |
| Oregon | 93rd | 55th |
| Oregon State | 54th | 25th |
| Penn State | 76th | 73rd |
| Pittsburgh | 35th | 56th |
| Purdue | 46th | 88th |
| Rice | 20th | 0th |
| Rutgers | 71st | 84th |
| SMU | 50th | 57th |
| Sam Houston | 26th | 4th |
| San Diego State | 84th | 1st |
| San José State | 68th | 70th |
| South Alabama | 53rd | 28th |
| South Carolina | 31st | 8th |
| South Carolina State | 10th | 3rd |
| South Florida | 86th | 46th |
| Southern Miss | 27th | 38th |
| Stanford | 12th | 12th |
| Syracuse | 19th | 10th |
| TCU | 63rd | 82nd |
| Temple | 85th | 22nd |
| Tennessee | 97th | 81st |
| Texas | 27th | 61st |
| Texas A&M | 88th | 59th |
| Texas State | 60th | 93rd |
| Texas Tech | 45th | 65th |
| Toledo | 67th | 42nd |
| Troy | 18th | 27th |
| Tulane | 81st | 86th |
| Tulsa | 43rd | 43rd |
| UAB | 34th | 94th |
| UCF | 39th | 20th |
| UCLA | 28th | 48th |
| UConn | 96th | 37th |
| UL Monroe | 13th | 14th |
| UNLV | 78th | 85th |
| USC | 94th | 90th |
| UT Martin | 2nd | 41st |
| UTEP | 3rd | 10th |
| UTSA | 67th | 92nd |
| Utah | 87th | 96th |
| Utah State | 31st | 49th |
| Vanderbilt | 90th | 100th |
| Virginia | 36th | 73rd |
| Virginia Tech | 59th | 21st |
| Wake Forest | 21st | 31st |
| Washington | 98th | 93rd |
| Washington State | 61st | 44th |
| West Virginia | 12th | 18th |
| Western Kentucky | 55th | 80th |
| Western Michigan | 86th | 16th |
| Wisconsin | 6th | 27th |
| Wyoming | 23rd | 15th |
Halftime identity
Louisiana by half
1st-half offense ranks 52nd percentile in FBS; 2nd-half, 20th — competitive snaps only, garbage time excluded from both halves.
Schedule mirage
How much of Louisiana's number is the schedule?
Raw EPA/play through week 21 is 0.10; 41st percentile once opponent strength is stripped out, it's 0.02. The widest gap came in week 2: 0.12 raw vs. 0.00 adjusted.
Louisiana reads strongest in explosive plays allowed (top 28%) and rushing epa (top 44%); the crux lives in success rate allowed, where Louisiana sits at the 9th percentile.
offense · strengths lead
defense · higher bar = harder to play against
hidden math · special situations
ELITE · 90+STRONG · 70+AVERAGE · 40-70CONCERN · 10-40BOTTOM · <10
Most Similar Programs · Louisiana
Most Similar Programs · LouisianaReads Like
AkronTier 3 · Prestige T3 · Similarly-sized rosters up frontApp StateTier 3 · Prestige T3 · Similarly-sized rosters up frontArizonaTier 3 · Prestige T3 · Similarly-sized rosters up front
Static-attribute similarity across tier, archetype, conference, and voice. Not a prediction — a calibration.
Home-Field Advantage · Louisiana · 2018-present
Strong
75% home win rate vs 61% on the road. margin runs +11.2 better at home. Cajun Field seats 41,426, averaging 42% full (17,396 attendance, 25 games reported).
Home36-12Away30-19
Positional competition · RB room
The carries are split. The job isn’t.
Bill Davis and Zylan Perry split the carries (151/283 vs 132/283) -- but the job isn't split the same way.
Bill DavisZylan Perry
Carries
the baseline -- every row below is tested against this split, not a flat 50/50
Q4, leading (competitive)
shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here
Targets
shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here
Top-5-carry share
concentration alone -- EPA/carry doesn't corroborate, read with caution
Screened 3 claims, 0 survived, 3 falsified
Positional competition · WR/TE room
The targets are split. The job isn’t.
Robert Williams (WR) and Caden Jensen (TE) split the targets (40/81 vs 41/81) -- but the job isn't split the same way. Robert Williams produces in bigger chunks.
Robert WilliamsCaden Jensen
Targets
the baseline -- every row below is tested against this split, not a flat 50/50
3rd-down targets
shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here
Top-5-catch share
concentration and EPA/target agree -- a real boom/bust split
Screened 2 claims, 1 survived, 1 falsified
What changed
Louisiana’s play-calling, before and after the change
Offense: co-Michael Desormeaux / co-Tim Leger (2021) → Tim Leger (2022–2025)
Play-calling barely moved on the change — every rate held within a few points.
1st-down pass rate
Red-zone pass rate
Defense: LaMar Morgan (2022–2023) → Jim Salgado (2024–2025)
The biggest shift: 4th-down go rate moved down 13 points. The rest held closer to steady.
1st-down pass rate
Red-zone pass rate
4th-down go rate
Season by season
How Louisiana’s current staff calls plays, year over year
Offense: Tim Leger (2022–2025)
1st-down pass rate
2022: 46% → 2025: 33% · 13-pt range · #43 of 171 · more than most
Red-zone pass rate
2022: 47% → 2025: 33% · 14-pt range · #72 of 171 · a typical amount
4th-down go rate
2022: 44% → 2025: 24% · 21-pt range · #56 of 171 · a typical amount
Defense: Jim Salgado (2024–2025)
1st-down pass rate
2024: 40% → 2025: 33% · 8-pt range · #123 of 189 · a typical amount
Red-zone pass rate
2024: 40% → 2025: 33% · 7-pt range · #158 of 189 · less than most
4th-down go rate
2024: 31% → 2025: 24% · 8-pt range · #166 of 188 · less than most
Defensive identity · pass zones
What this defense gives up, by zone.
On short passes, Louisiana’s defense allows a completion rate above the FBS mean (68.9% vs 65.9% league-wide, shrunk toward the mean for its 158-play sample) — mid-pack, 115 of 133 qualifying defenses.
We won’t show a deep-ball leaderboard here: at the defense level, most teams face well under 30 rich-feed deep targets all season — too thin to tell a real tendency from noise, so we won’t guess.
Screened 133 claims, 133 survived · 2025 only, in the 399 games with the detailed play-text feed; n=158 short-zone plays faced, raw rate 71.5%
Venue texture
75°F average kickoff temp; 15% of games had measurable precipitation; 6 mph average wind.
Based on 71 home games with weather data.
The CFP Era
12 seasons inside the CFP era, no bids yet — the era the program is still trying to break into.
TRAJECTORY · quality-score line · AP rank dotted · CFP bids marked · coach regimes ribboned
Program Quality
AP Rank (inverted)
CFP Appearance
Louisiana's 2014–2025 record is 91-63. The era is still being written; the CFP line is the one the program is arguing for.
All-Time Record
291-372-5
since 1902 · 91 seasons · .435 win rate
HOME
169-124-2
AWAY
115-241-3
NEUTRAL
7-7
1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
The program, in full — read the essay
Louisiana won four straight Sun Belt titles under Billy Napier. Napier left for Florida after 2021. The Ragin' Cajuns went 6-7 in 2025 and lost a bowl game to Delaware. The program is still deciding whether the dynasty was the building or the man who left.
The Napier years were the best run any Sun Belt program has ever produced. Four consecutive conference championships from 2018 to 2021. A 13-1 season and a No. 19 final ranking in 2021 that put Lafayette on the national map in a way that stuck. The Cajuns weren't a surprise mid-major; they were the Sun Belt's standard, playing physical trench football with an identity rooted in Cajun Acadiana and backed by a fanbase that treats Geaux Cajuns as a birthright. Then Napier left for Florida, and the question has been live ever since.
Michael Desormeaux, Napier's hand-picked successor, was supposed to be the continuity argument. Four seasons in, the answer is complicated: he maintained a 5-3 Sun Belt record in 2025 but finished 6-7 overall and lost the 68 Ventures Bowl 20-13 to Delaware — the program's first losing year in the modern FBS era of relevance. A bowl loss to Delaware is the kind of result that reopens every question Lafayette had thought it answered. The internal fracture is patient vs impatient: give Desormeaux the time to rebuild vs accept that the four-title window quietly closed when Napier walked.
The 2026 Sun Belt race is the most direct referendum Louisiana has had since the dynasty ended. The conference has caught up — James Madison arrived with a Playoff berth in 2025, Louisiana Tech joins the Sun Belt as a full member this July — and the Cajuns enter as a program trying to reclaim a standard it set, not claim one it's aiming for. That's a different kind of pressure than the Napier years knew. Desormeaux has to prove the blueprint survived the architect.
How they play
Physical, run-first Sun Belt football — the Napier template of trench play, ball control, and disciplined defense that made Lafayette a league bully for four straight years. Desormeaux has maintained the scheme philosophy without yet matching the execution — the 2025 portal class and the depth behind the starting lineup are the most-watched variables entering 2026. Cajun Field tailgating is a cultural institution in Acadiana, and the fan base brings an identity that goes well beyond conference standing.
Steady
Louisiana 2016–2025. Holding the line. The 10-year slope (+0.08 rungs / yr) doesn't tilt either way — the program lives at roughly Tier 3.
CFP Era · Louisiana
12 seasons on file
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
down middle peak CFP year
Season Standing · 2025 · 6-7
Season Standing · 2025 · 6-7Bowl eligible
Louisiana: 6+ wins, bowl access secured. The baseline of a successful FBS year.
R0R1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9
Sub-FBSBuildingBowlRankedContenderPlayoff
Sun Belt Standing · 2025
8th in the Sun Belt
Louisiana is 8th of 14 in the Sun Belt at 4-3. The path to the title is steep — the focus is on bowl access and rivalry wins.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Madison | 8-0 |
| 2 | Old Dominion | 6-2 |
| 3 | Southern Miss | 5-3 |
| 4 | Troy | 5-3 |
| 5 | Coastal Carolina | 5-4 |
| 6 | Georgia Southern | 5-4 |
| 7 | Arkansas State | 4-3 |
| 8 | Louisiana | 4-3 |
| 9 | South Alabama | 3-4 |
| 10 | Louisiana Tech | 2-0 |
| 11 | Marshall | 2-5 |
| 12 | App State | 2-7 |
| 13 | UL Monroe | 1-6 |
| 14 | Georgia State | 0-8 |
Coaching Era · Louisiana
Coaching Era · LouisianaMichael Desormeaux
Michael Desormeaux has held the program for 5 seasons — the era is established.
Era Michael Desormeaux · 2022–presentPrev: Billy Napier (2020–2021)OC: Tim LegerPrev OC: co-Michael Desormeaux / co-Tim Leger (2021)DC: Jim SalgadoPrev DC: LaMar Morgan (2022–2023)
5
years · era
Rituals
Three gameday rituals — the ones outsiders never quite catch.
Billy Napier 2018-2021 4 Sun Belt Titles
since 2018
Billy Napier's 2018-2021 tenure produced 4 consecutive Sun Belt championships + the 2021 13-1 + #19 final AP rank + multiple bowl wins. The Napier era's recruiting + coaching tree + departure to Florida (2022) gave Louisiana permanent national-narrative weight. The 2021 13-win season is the program's all-time peak.
Ragin' Cajuns Cajun Identity
since 1963
Louisiana's 'Ragin' Cajuns' identity + Cajun Field venue + Lafayette Acadiana cultural overlap + the French-Louisiana-heritage geographic catchment create a unique CFB identity. The 'Geaux Cajuns' fight cheer + the Mardi Gras spillover + the cuisine + the Acadian-cultural-pride combine into permanent program identity.
Program memory
What this program never forgets
Most weeks vanish. These didn’t.
The 2021 #19 finish
A 13-1 season, a fourth straight Sun Belt title, and the program's highest final ranking
2021
Napier leaves for Florida
The dynasty's architect departs at the peak, opening the post-Napier question
Wound
Moment of the Year · Louisiana · 2025
Moment of the Year · Louisiana · 2025Lost 10-52 at Missouri
Week 3 of 2025. A reckoning loss — the data point the next season must answer.
Bowl / Postseason Ledger
Bowl / Postseason LedgerRecent postseason (2014-2025): 4-6
Most recent: 2025 — loss 20-13 (away). Last 5 postseason: 1-4.
20252024202320222021
NFL Draft Pipeline
2022–2026
NFL Draft PipelineDeveloping
5 picks last 5 cycles. Pipeline emerging.
5
picks · 0 R1
#111
Max Mitchell
Offensive Tackle · 2022 · New York
#113
Percy Butler
Safety · 2022 · Washington · #91/509 final season
#154
Jaden Dugger
Linebacker · 2026 · San Francisco · #23/583 final season
#163 all-time in draft picksthe talent factory →
Unit lineage
Louisiana’s offense and defense, by coordinator
FBS-relative efficiency percentile per season (2014–2025), same population as the Coordinator Mirror board. Dashed vertical lines mark a coordinator change.
Offense2014–2025
2014–2015 · Jay Johnson2016 · Jorge Munoz2017–2020 · Rob Sale2021 · co-Michael Desormeaux / co-Tim Leger2022–2025 (ongoing) · Tim Leger
Defense2014–2025
2014 · James Willis2015 · co-Charlie Harbison / co-Melvin Smith2016–2017 · Charlie Harbison2018–2019 · Ron Roberts2020–2021 · Patrick Toney2022–2023 · LaMar Morgan2024–2025 (ongoing) · Jim Salgado
Elite (≥70th pct)AveragePoor (≤30th pct)
Chronicle Visuals
Average 2025 continuity (57% back) — offense anchors it, qb room is the stress point.
The portal upgraded the IOL room but opened a hole at WR.
1 player drafted in 2026; the reload runs through the portal and recruiting.
Louisiana sits where recruit talent and draft yield largely match.
r/cfb moments
1.5k
[Postgame Thread] Louisiana Defeats Appalachian State 24-21
570
[Postgame Thread] Louisiana Defeats Appalachian State 41-13
524
[Postgame Thread] Louisiana Defeats Appalachian State 24-16
180
[Game Thread] Louisiana @ Appalachian State (8:30PM ET)
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[Postgame Thread] Louisiana Defeats UAB 24-20
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