The 2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the 2020 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 third-year head coach Billy Napier. The Cajuns began the season with an away matchup against a preseason top-25 Iowa State and concluded their regular season at conference and in-state rival Louisiana–Monroe.
Shortly before the season began, Offensive Line Assistant Coach D. J. Looney, 31, died of a heart attack while at practice on August 1, 2020. He was honored at the Week 9 matchup against UAB in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, where players all wore Looney's name on their jerseys.
The win over Iowa State marked the first victory against a ranked team on the road in team history, the second victory ever against a ranked team, and the highest ranked team ever defeated. The following week, the Cajuns were nationally ranked for the first time since the 1940s, reaching 19th in the AP Poll. During their Week 2 overtime victory against Georgia State, the Cajuns secured their first victory in overtime since the 2005 conference matchup against the Troy Trojans. During Week 14, Louisiana was ranked for the first time ever in the College Football Playoff rankings, at No. 25. This was also the first time the Cajuns had been ranked in the three major college football rankings (No. in the 20 AP Poll, No. 21 in the Coaches Poll, and No. 25 in the CFP rankings). During Week 14, the Cajuns defeated Appalachian State for the first time in school history, bringing their all-time record against the Mountaineers to 1–8.
The Cajuns ended their season by defeating the UTSA Roadrunners in the 2020 First Responder Bowl. Senior RB Elijah Mitchell earned the bowl game MVP. This also marked the first time a Sun Belt team took part in that bowl game.
Preseason
Recruiting class
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released
Preseason Davey O'Brien Award Levi Lewis QB Senior Doak Walker Award Elijah Mitchell RB Senior Doak Walker Award Trey Ragas RB Senior Outland Trophy O'Cyrus Torrence OL Sophomore Ray Guy Award Rhys Burns P Junior Wuerffel Trophy Jalen Williams WR R-Senior Maxwell Award Levi Lewis QB Senior References:
Season/Postseason Rimington Trophy Shane Vallot OL R-Junior FWAA Freshman-All American Kyren Lacy WR Freshman Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Ken Marks OL R-Senior References:
Sun Belt coaches poll The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on August 25, 2020. The Cajuns were picked to finish first in the West with 47 votes and second in the conference behind Appalachian State. +West Division 1 Louisiana 47 (7) 2 Arkansas State 40 (2) 3 South Alabama 22 (1) 4 Texas State 21 5 Louisiana–Monroe 20 +East Division 1 Appalachian State 49 (9) 2 Georgia Southern 36 3 Troy 32 (1) 4 Georgia State 20 5 Coastal Carolina 13
Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams
Offense
1st team Elijah Mitchell (LA, SR, Running Back)
2nd team Levi Lewis (LA, SR, Quarterback) Trey Ragas (LA, R-SR, Running Back) Max Mitchell (LA, JR, Offensive Lineman) O'Cyrus Torrence (LA, SO, Offensive Lineman)
Defense
1st team Joe Dillon (LA, R-SR, Linebacker)
2nd team Zi'Yon Hill (LA, R-JR, Defensive Lineman) Eric Garror (LA, JR, Cornerback)
Special teams
1st team Rhys Burns (LA, JR, Punter)
2nd teams Eric Garror (LA, JR, Return Specialist)
Athlon Sports Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams
Offense
1st team Elijah Mitchell – SR, running back Max Mitchell – JR, offensive line 2nd team Levi Lewis – SR, quarterback Trey Ragas – R-SR, running back 3rd team O'Cyrus Torrence – SO, offensive line 4th team Jamal Bell – SR, wide receiver Shane Vallot – R-JR, offensive line
Defense
1st team Joe Dillon – R-SR, linebacker 2nd team Zi'Yon Hill – R-JR, defensive line Percy Butler – JR, Safety 3rd team Chauncey Manac – R-SR, linebacker Eric Garror – JR, cornerback 4th team Kris Moncrief – JR, linebacker Asjlin Washington – JR, cornerback Kam Pedescleaux – R-SO, safety
Special teams
1st team Rhys Burns – JR, punter Eric Garror – JR, return specialist
References:
Lindy's Sports Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams During the announcement, Lindy's also picked the Cajuns to win their third-consecutive Sun Belt West Division Championship as well as named Senior running back Elijah Mitchell to the Preseason Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year.
Offense
1st team Elijah Mitchell – SR, running back
2nd team Levi Lewis – SR, quarterback Trey Ragas – R-SR, running back
Defense
1st team Joe Dillon – R-SR, linebacker 2nd team Zi'Yon Hill – R-JR, defensive line
Special teams
1st team Rhys Burns – JR, punter
References:
Personnel
Schedule The 2020 schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Ragin' Cajuns will travel to Sun Belt foes Appalachian State, Georgia State, Texas State and Louisiana–Monroe. The Cajuns will play host to Sun Belt foes Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina, Arkansas State, and South Alabama.
The Ragin' Cajuns will host one of the three non-conference opponents at Cajun Field, Central Arkansas, from NCAA Division I FCS, and will travel to Iowa State of the Big 12 and UAB of the C-USA.
Louisiana had a game against Missouri and Wyoming, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On August 12, the Cajuns and Iowa State reached an agreement to play each other. This game will replace the Cajuns' Wyoming game that was canceled.
On August 13, New Mexico State decided to postpone all their fall sports to the spring. This canceled their October 23 contest with Louisiana.
On August 17, McNeese pulled out of the agreement to play Louisiana in the Herbert Heymann Classic on September 5.
On August 20, the Cajuns reached agreements with UAB and Central Arkansas to play them away on October 23 and home on November 21, respectively.Schedule source:'
Game summaries
At Iowa State
Statistics LouisianaIowa State First downs 14 18 Total yards 272 303 Rushing yards 118 158 Passing yards 154 145 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 27:41 32:19
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 13/21, 154 yards, 1 TD Rushing Trey Ragas 14 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD Receiving Peter LeBlanc 5 receptions, 82 yards, 1 TDIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 16/35, 145 yards, 1 INT Rushing Breece Hall 20 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD Receiving Xavier Hutchinson 4 receptions, 43 yards
At Georgia State
Statistics LouisianaGeorgia State First downs 23 26 Total yards 519 419 Rushing yards 240 223 Passing yards 279 196 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 28:44 30:10
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 21/37, 279 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Elijah Mitchell 16 carries, 164 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Dontae Fleming 4 receptions, 81 yardsGeorgia State Passing Cornelius Brown IV 22/39, 196 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Destin Coates 34 carries, 150 yards, 1 TD Receiving Roger Carter 2 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TD
Georgia Southern
Statistics Georgia SouthernLouisiana First downs 21 18 Total yards 447 438 Rushing yards 192 148 Passing yards 255 290 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 35:14 24:46
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Southern Passing Shai Werts 11/18, 255 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing J. D. King 24 carries, 100 yards, 1 TD Receiving Wesley Kennedy III 2 receptions, 105 yardsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 18/32, 290 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Chris Smith 4 carries, 54 yards Receiving Peter LeBlanc 3 receptions, 64 yards
Coastal Carolina
Statistics Coastal CarolinaLouisiana First downs 23 19 Total yards 414 413 Rushing yards 212 240 Passing yards 202 173 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 38:11 21:49
Team Category Player StatisticsCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 17/24, 202 yards, 2 TDs Rushing C. J. Marable 17 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jaivon Heiligh 8 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 14/24, 173 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Levi Lewis 6 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jalen Williams 4 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TD
At UAB
Statistics LouisianaUAB First downs 17 17 Total yards 286 285 Rushing yards 134 175 Passing yards 152 110 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 30:37 29:23
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 12/20, 152 yards, 2 TDS Rushing Elijah Mitchell 21 carries, 67 yards Receiving Kyren Lacy 2 receptions, 43 yardsUAB Passing Bryson Lucero 10/23, 110 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Spencer Brown 28 carries, 128 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Ryan Davis 2 receptions, 34 yards
At Texas State
Statistics LouisianaTexas State First downs 31 26 Total yards 614 382 Rushing yards 282 204 Passing yards 332 178 Turnovers 4 3 Time of possession 33:06 26:54
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 22/32, 332 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Trey Ragas 19 carries, 131 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Jalen Williams 3 receptions, 85 yardsTexas State Passing Brady McBride 14/32, 166 yards, 1 TD, 3 TDs Rushing Brock Sturges 17 carries, 128 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Marcell Barbee 2 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TD
Arkansas State
Statistics Arkansas StateLouisiana First downs 24 19 Total yards 423 440 Rushing yards 199 196 Passing yards 224 244 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 31:45 28:15
Team Category Player StatisticsArkansas State Passing Logan Bonner 16/30, 127 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Lincoln Pare 22 carries, 121 yards Receiving Jonathan Adams Jr. 8 receptions, 95 yardsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 17/29, 244 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Elijah Mitchell 16 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD Receiving Neal Johnson 5 receptions, 68 yards
South Alabama
Statistics South AlabamaLouisiana First downs 19 23 Total yards 268 506 Rushing yards 123 254 Passing yards 145 252 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 31:47 28:13
Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Alabama Passing Desmond Trotter 15/28, 133 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Terrion Avery 14 carries, 62 yards Receiving Jalen Tolbert 5 receptions, 64 yardsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 21/31, 252 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Chris Smith 7 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD Receiving Neal Johnson 3 receptions, 40 yards
At Louisiana–Monroe
Statistics LouisianaLouisiana–Monroe First downs 26 14 Total yards 511 247 Rushing yards 344 125 Passing yards 167 122 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 31:54 28:06
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 18/25, 147 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Trey Ragas 11 carries, 95 yards, 1 TD Receiving Kyren Lacy 5 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TDLouisiana–Monroe Passing Jeremy Hunt 14/32, 121 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kadyn Roach 7 carries, 65 yards Receiving Jonathan Hodoh 1 reception, 43 yards
At Appalachian State
Statistics LouisianaAppalachian State First downs 18 19 Total yards 227 290 Rushing yards 126 198 Passing yards 101 92 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 24:17 35:43
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 8/23, 101 yards, 1 TD Rushing Elijah Mitchell 12 carries, 95 yards Receiving Jalen Williams 2 receptions, 39 yardsAppalachain State Passing Zac Thomas 10/21, 92 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Camerun Peoples 21 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD Receiving Thomas Hennigan 4 receptions, 44 yards
Vs. UTSA (first responder bowl)
Statistics UTSALouisiana First downs 27 23 Total yards 431 411 Rushing yards 223 223 Passing yards 208 208 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 27:23 32:37
Team Category Player StatisticsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 13/21, 208 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Sincere McCormick 23 carries, 122 yards Receiving Zakhari Franklin 5 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 12/22, 146 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Elijah Mitchell 19 carries, 127 yards, 1 TD Receiving Elijah Mitchell 2 receptions, 45 yards
Postseason Accolade