The University of Lousiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajun football team added two new opponents to their schedule, giving them a total of 11 games for the 2020 season.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic killed football for a number of conferences around the country, the Ragin’ Cajuns were scheduled to play McNeese State in their opener on September 5. When the Southland Conference decided to nix their league games, UL-L’s opening date changed to a September 12 showdown with Wyoming.
However, the Mountain West Conference also shut down play, meaning that both Wyoming and October 23 opponent New Mexico St. could not fulfill their commitment to play the Ragin’ Cajuns.
UL-L did not flinch, as they added Iowa St to replace Wyoming and UAB to replace New Mexico St.
One other change took place in the Ragin’ Cajuns schedule. On November 11, UL-L was set to take on Missouri. Little did the Ragin’ Cajuns know but the Southeastern Conference decided to play a league only schedule.
With that announcement, UL-L reached out to the University of Central Arkansas to fill that now open date. UCA, a member of the Southland Conference, was able to play because the league allowed schools to pick up non-conference games if they chose to do so. McNeese decided against that option.
Currently, the Ragin’ Cajuns are not looking to add a twelfth game to their season.
“Right now I would say the goal is gonna be 12, but certainly I do not know how practical 12 is going to be at this point in time,” UL athletic director Bryan Maggard said last week. “So, if we land somewhere at 10 or 11 I would not be surprised nor would I be disappointed.”
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Tracey Jagneaux
Sports Editor