The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are gearing up for a 2025 football season that features many challenging as well as some manageable matchups. Fresh off a 10-4 campaign in 2024, which included a fifth Sun Belt Championship Game appearance, the Cajuns will be facing a hard 12-game slate under head coach Michael Desormeaux.
Can Louisiana leverage its home-field advantage at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium and a veteran-led roster to reclaim the Sun Belt crown? The 2025 schedule gives us some hints on what we can expect.
Louisiana 2025 Football Schedule
The Cajuns kick off on Aug. 30 against Rice, a winnable non-conference matchup, followed by in-state rival McNeese on Sept. 6. These early home games are critical for building momentum before a challenging road test at Missouri, where Louisiana’s 35.6 points-per-game offense will face a Power Four defense. A trip to Eastern Michigan rounds out the non-conference slate, giving some chance to prepare for the challenge before the Sun Belt play begins.
Full Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 2025 Football Schedule:
- Sat, Aug 30: vs Rice
- Sat, Sep 6: vs McNeese
- Sat, Sep 13: @ Missouri
- Sat, Sep 20: @ Eastern Michigan
- Sat, Sep 27: vs Marshall
- Sat, Oct 11: @ James Madison
- Sat, Oct 18: vs Southern Miss
- Sat, Oct 25: @ Troy
- Sat, Nov 1: @ South Alabama
- Sat, Nov 8: vs Texas State
- Thu, Nov 20: @ Arkansas State
- Sat, Nov 29: vs UL Monroe
Louisiana’s conference opener on Sept. 27 features one of this season’s most critical matchups for the Cajuns: a home rematch against Marshall, which faced the Cajuns in the 2024 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Championship Game.
The Cajuns’ 2024 performance, which included 265.7 passing yards per game and a +12 turnover margin, suggests they have the potential to stand up to the challenge, but Marshall’s red-zone defense (379.8 total yards allowed per game) will test their mettle.
Navigating The Sun Belt
October brings a significant stretch for Louisiana. A road trip to James Madison marks Louisiana’s first meeting with the Dukes, whose high-powered offense could exploit the Cajuns’ 44.7% third-down defense. Hosting Southern Miss may result in a clutch, but consecutive road games at Troy and South Alabama will further grind the team. Troy’s veteran secondary and South Alabama’s home-field advantage at Hancock Whitney Stadium make this a make-or-break period.
November’s schedule eases slightly. A home clash with Texas State pits Louisiana’s 180.7 rushing yards per game against a Bobcats defense that struggled in 2024. A Thursday night showdown at Arkansas State will push the Cajuns to the limit, but on the bright side, they will get to close the regular season at home against ULM, a rivalry game they’ve dominated recently.
KEEP READING: UL-Monroe 2025 Football Schedule: Full List of Warhawks’ Opponents, Dates, and Key Matchups
Louisiana’s path to the Sun Belt Championship hinges on early wins and consistency during the road trip games. Splitting their tough away games and capitalizing on a favorable home slate could secure a sixth title game appearance.
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