Louisiana is coming off one of their best seasons in program history after winning 1o games and a West Division title.
Head coach Michael Desormeaux enters his fourth season at the helm with one of his best squads yet. Last season was by far Desormeaux’s best season. While the team did lose the SBC title game as well as its bowl game, it was the first time Louisiana won 10 games in the regular season since 2021, going 13-1 and winning the Sun Belt Conference Championship.
Desormeaux is fired up for his team to go back out there this fall and get that SBC title.
“We had a chance to win the dang conference championship at home, at our place, and we came up short,” said Desormeaux. “Really in a fashion that none of us are really proud of or pleased with. When you’re really competitive, those are the types of things that just fuel your fire.”
With LSU transfer Walker Howard in at QB1 to lead this offense, and guys like Tyree Skipper on defense, the expectation is to win the West and fight for that elusive Sun Belt title.
“Hey, man, we’re hungry,” Skipper said. “That wasn’t our standard. We lost the bowl game and the Sun Belt Championship. We got a high standard that we got to complete. The team knows it, and they’re going to follow it.”
Louisiana @RaginCajunsFB picked to win @SunBelt West Division and turning to former @STMCougarFB 5⭐@Walker_Howard this season. He’s returned home to Lafayette after stops at LSU and Ole Miss. Coach @michaeldes1 who’s known Walker a long time told me at @SunBeltFB Media Days he’s… pic.twitter.com/k0COMx6ayB
— Matt Stewart (@MattStewartTV) July 26, 2025
Roster Turnover
On the offensive side of the ball, look no further than former four-star quarterback recruit Walker Howard. After stops at LSU and Ole Miss, the Louisiana native is back in his home state as QB1.
Joining Howard in the backfield is possibly the best running back duo in the conference. Zylan Perry (695 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, 6.2 YPC in 2024) and Bill Davis (796 rushing yards, nine touchdowns) both return.
In the wide receiver room, Louisiana brings in Shelton Sampson Jr. from LSU and return talent with Robert Williams, Charles Robertson, KeDarius Wade, Rahji Dennis, and Jaydon Johnson.
While the loss of players like running back Dre Washington (Alabama), tight end Terrance Carter Jr (Texas Tech), and receiver Harvey Broussard III (Houston) to the transfer portal is a huge blow, the offense has playmakers ready to help the team.
🌩️ 𝗗𝗢𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗘 ⚡️
Zylan Perry and Bill Davis are among 103 running backs in the country named to the @DoakWalkerAward Watch List
🔗 https://t.co/uJFL1QFu6k#cULture | #GeauxCajuns pic.twitter.com/0Jet9x1zgk
— Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® Football (@RaginCajunsFB) August 5, 2025
Ragin’ Cajuns have a group returning that should be one of the best defenses in the SBC. Louisiana returns two players that are preseason All-Conference selections in defensive lineman Jordan Lawson and safety Tyree Skipper. Skipper accounted for 55 tackles and four INTs last season, while Lawson had 25 solo tackles and 5.5 sacks last season.
Linebacker Cameron Whitfield, who accounted for 18 solo tackles and six sacks last season, was also recognized as a preseason All-Conference Second Team member. Having the talent on defense is a reason why many see Louisiana as a real SBC title contender this season.
𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 Day. 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 Watch List for Tyree Skipper 👀
The New Orleans native is named to the @BednarikAward Watch List
🔗 https://t.co/pL7fO1aBBY#cULture | #GeauxCajuns pic.twitter.com/YKW4J6HjbS
— Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® Football (@RaginCajunsFB) August 11, 2025
On special teams, Australian punter Nathan Torney and kicker Tony Sterner are expected to start. While Sterner had limited opportunities last season, Torney averaged 39.2 yards per punt with a long of 54 yards.
For a further look at the roster turnover you can check out this article here.
Schedule
Louisiana has a solid non-conference schedule this fall, kicking off their season hosting Rice in Week 1. The Cajuns will then host their lone FCS opponent in McNeese State, followed by road games to Missouri and Eastern Michigan.
Louisiana’s SBC conference schedule begins Sept. 27 when they head up to West Virginia to take on Marshall. Oct. 11 should be a great cross conference matchup with JMU which could be a SBC title game preview.
The most important game of the season will most likely come against Texas State Nov. 11 where they will host the Bobcats. That game could decide who will represent the West in the championship.
Here it is … the 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗘 2025 Schedule#cULture | #GeauxCajuns pic.twitter.com/Cr1gIQ5T0y
— Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® Football (@RaginCajunsFB) February 28, 2025
Projected 2025 Record
Floor: 7-5
Ceiling: 11-1
Prediction: 10-2
Story to Watch
Shelton Sampson Jr. and Walker Howard both come in from Baton Rouge where they played last season LSU. Both players had elite high school paying careers and finished their careers as some of the best players in their class coming out of the state of Louisiana. Both players at one point had a four-star ranking from 247Sports.
While both have yet to record any college stats as they were behind many NFL talents they are ready to have a large role in a conference title contending team. To learn more about the duo, click here.
If Louisiana can come out early and assert themselves in their out of conference schedule and get their offense rolling early it really sets up for lots of chaos down the stretch. The offense have enough playmakers to outscore almost anyone in this conference especially if they get the production from less experienced skill position players.
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