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.
Preseason
Recruiting class
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released John Mackey AwardChase RogersTESOWuerffel 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.
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 consisted of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Ragin' Cajuns would host Sun Belt foes Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, and South Alabama. The Cajuns would travel to Sun Belt foes Appalachian State, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas State, and Troy.
The Ragin' Cajuns would host two of the four non-conference opponents, Grambling State of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the New Mexico State, an Independent school, and would travel to Southeastern Conference (SEC) members Alabama and Mississippi State.
The Ragin' Cajuns would travel once more to face off with the Appalachian State Mountaineers in the first annual Sun Belt Conference Championship Game.
Schedule source:
Game summaries
Grambling State
Statistics Grambling StateLouisiana First downs 15 27 Total yards 304 556 Rushing yards 145 315 Passing yards 159 241 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 31:06 28:54
Team Category Player StatisticsGrambling State Passing Geremy Hickbottom 8–18, 112 yards Rushing Geremy Hickbottom 5 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD Receiving Quintin Guice 2 receptions, 54 yardsLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 19–22, 184 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Trey Ragas 13 carries, 142 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ja'Marcus Bradley 6 receptions, 70 yards, 2 TDs
At Mississippi State
Statistics LouisianaMississippi State First downs 13 29 Total yards 310 607 Rushing yards 65 331 Passing yards 245 276 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 27:01 32:59
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 21–29, 224 yards Rushing Trey Ragas 7 carries, 49 yards Receiving Keenan Barnes 4 receptions, 76 yardsMississippi State Passing Nick Fitzgerald 14–21, 243 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Nick Fitzgerald 15 carries, 107 yards, 4 TDs Receiving Keith Mixon 4 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD
Coastal Carolina
Statistics Coastal CarolinaLouisiana First downs 25 17 Total yards 497 381 Rushing yards 311 238 Passing yards 186 143 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 38:56 21:04
Team Category Player StatisticsCoastal Carolina Passing Kilton Anderson 7–11, 104 yards, 1 TD Rushing Marcus Outlow 20 carries, 96 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Ky'Jon Tyler 2 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 7–14, 133 yards, 1 TD Rushing Raymond Calais 5 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ja'Marcus Bradley 1 reception, 53 yards
At Alabama
Statistics LouisianaAlabama First downs 15 26 Total yards 288 608 Rushing yards 200 268 Passing yards 88 304 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 29:56 30:04
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 9–15, 75 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Trey Ragas 16 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ja'Marcus Bradley 3 receptions, 24 yards, 1 TDAlabama Passing Tua Tagovailoa 8–8, 128 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Najee Harris 11 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jaylen Waddle 3 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TDs
At Texas State
Statistics LouisianaTexas State First downs 23 22 Total yards 557 425 Rushing yards 327 124 Passing yards 230 301 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 32:18 27:42
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 9–18, 149 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Elijah Mitchell 20 carries, 191 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Ja'Marcus Bradley 4 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TDTexas State Passing Tyler Vitt 28–39, 296 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Tyler Vitt 17 carries, 92 yards Receiving Keenen Brown 4 receptions, 90 yards, 2 TDs
New Mexico State
Statistics New Mexico StateLouisiana First downs 26 37 Total yards 406 759 Rushing yards 122 344 Passing yards 284 415 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 21:52 38:08
Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Josh Adkins 25–44, 284 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jason Huntley 8 carries, 85 yards Receiving Jason Huntley 5 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 19–25, 315 yards, 5 TDs Rushing Elijah Mitchell 12 carries, 107 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Earnest Patterson 3 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD
At Appalachian State
Statistics LouisianaAppalachian State First downs 16 21 Total yards 328 372 Rushing yards 140 266 Passing yards 188 106 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 27:22 32:28
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 14–23, 108 yards Rushing Trey Ragas 18 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ryheem Malone 3 receptions, 47 yardsAppalachian State Passing Zac Thomas 10–20, 106 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Darrynton Evans 26 carries, 186 yards, 1 TD Receiving Henry Pearson 2 receptions, 38 yards
Arkansas State
Statistics Arkansas StateLouisiana First downs 27 31 Total yards 478 547 Rushing yards 208 228 Passing yards 270 319 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 30:43 29:17
Team Category Player StatisticsArkansas State Passing Justice Hansen 17–30, 270 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Marcel Murray 19 carries, 121 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Kirk Merritt 4 receptions, 122 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 18–26, 295 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Raymond Calais 7 carries, 121 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jarrod Jackson 4 receptions, 129 yards, 1 TD
At Troy
Statistics LouisianaTroy First downs 18 21 Total yards 270 427 Rushing yards 100 110 Passing yards 170 317 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 28:26 31:34
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 11–25, 126 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Trey Ragas 18 carries, 106 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Ja'Marcus Bradley 4 receptions, 67 yardsTroy Passing Sawyer Smith 18–22, 317 yards, 1 TD Rushing B. J. Smith 22 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD Receiving Damion Willis 10 receptions, 213 yards, 1 TD
Georgia State
Statistics Georgia StateLouisiana First downs 19 22 Total yards 373 525 Rushing yards 252 355 Passing yards 121 170 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 31:15 28:45
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Aaron Winchester 10–21, 121 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Tra Barnett 15 carries, 82 yards Receiving Cornelius McCoy 2 receptions, 60 yardsLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 14–19, 141 yards, 1 TD Rushing Raymond Calais 13 carries, 186 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Ryheem Malone 2 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD
South Alabama
Statistics South AlabamaLouisiana First downs 27 17 Total yards 477 407 Rushing yards 223 210 Passing yards 254 197 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 35:59 24:01
Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Alabama Passing Cole Garvin 18–28, 254 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Tra Minter 23 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD Receiving Kawaan Baker 4 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 12–18, 153 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Elijah Mitchell 12 carries, 104 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Ja'Marcus Bradley 3 receptions, 62 yards, 3 TDs
At Louisiana–Monroe
Statistics LouisianaLouisiana–Monroe First downs 22 17 Total yards 453 344 Rushing yards 240 143 Passing yards 213 201 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 33:27 26:33
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 11–15, 148 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Trey Ragas 23 carries, 115 yards Receiving Ryheem Malone 6 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TDLouisiana–Monroe Passing Caleb Evans 15–24, 201 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Derrick Gore 11 carries, 79 yards Receiving Marcus Green 6 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD
At Appalachian State (Sun Belt Championship game)
Statistics LouisianaAppalachian State First downs 16 13 Total yards 301 300 Rushing yards 216 225 Passing yards 85 75 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 31:30 28:30
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 10–21, 85 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Trey Ragas 16 carries, 101 yards Receiving Ja'Marcus Bradley 4 receptions, 41 yardsAppalachian State Passing Zac Thomas 6–13, 75 yards Rushing Darrynton Evans 17 carries, 111 yards Receiving Marc Williams 1 reception, 34 yards
Vs. Tulane (Cure Bowl)
Statistics TulaneLouisiana First downs 28 11 Total yards 482 258 Rushing yards 337 84 Passing yards 145 174 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 40:31 19:29
Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Justin McMillan 11–18, 145 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Darius Bradwell 35 carries, 160 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Terren Encalade 5 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 8–17, 136 yards, 1 TD Rushing Raymond Calais 3 carries, 41 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ryheem Malone 3 receptions, 59 yards
References