Venue & Kickoff
Location: Cajun Field at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium, Lafayette, Louisiana
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT
Broadcast: ESPN+
Capacity: 30,932
Special Event: Hall of Fame/Alumni Weekend for Louisiana, honoring the 2025 Athletics Hall of Fame class and the 20th anniversary of the 2005 Sun Belt title team.
Weather Forecast
Conditions: Mostly clear, warm, humid
Temperature: ~85°F at kickoff
Wind: Light ESE at 5–7 mph
Precipitation: ~15% chance of a brief shower
Impact: Minimal; humidity could test depth in the second half
Injury Report
Louisiana
QB Walker Howard – Probable (played through minor knock in Week 1)
No other major injuries reported
McNeese State
No significant injuries reported after Week 1 win over Louisiana Christian
Team Records & Recent Form
Louisiana: Outgained 254–239 by Rice; QB Walker Howard 10/22, 88 yds, 1 INT; RB Bill Davis 58 yds rushing; WR Shelton Sampson Jr. 4 rec, 59 yds. Defense allowed just 71 yds in 2H but turnovers and penalties proved costly.
McNeese State: Rolled up 664 total yds vs. Louisiana Christian (359 pass / 305 rush); QB Jake Strong 22/28, 329 yds, 3 TD; RB Marquez Davis 97 yds, 1 TD; WR La’Vontae Mauldin 65 yds receiving.
Key Player Matchups
QB Jake Strong (MCN) vs. Louisiana Secondary
Strong: 78.6% comp., 10.6 YPA, 3 TD in opener
UL allowed 166 pass yds to Rice but picked off 1 pass
RB Marquez Davis (MCN) vs. LB Kendre’ Gant (UL)
Davis: 8.1 YPC in opener
Gant: Defensive leader, 7 tackles vs. Rice
WR La’Vontae Mauldin (MCN) vs. CB Trey Amos (UL)
Mauldin: 2 rec, 65 yds
Amos: Veteran cover man, physical at the line
QB Walker Howard (UL) vs. McNeese Pass Rush
Howard: 45.5% comp., 1 INT in opener
McNeese: 0 sacks in Week 1 but generated 5 TFL
RB Bill Davis (UL) vs. LB Kordell Williams (MCN)
Davis: 5.3 YPC vs. Rice
Williams: 8 tackles in opener
Series History
All-Time: Louisiana leads 20–16–2
Last Meeting: Louisiana 30–22 (2016, Lafayette)
Notable: Just the third meeting since 1986; McNeese won 38–17 in 2007
Betting Trends
Louisiana: 2–4 ATS in last 6; 8–4 SU in last 12; UNDER in 4 of last 6 overall and at home
McNeese: 0–5 SU in last 5 road games; OVER in 4 of last 5 road games
Head-to-Head: Series tied 1–1 ATS in last two meetings; OVER hit in both (combined avg. 52.0 PPG)
Game Odds
McNeese State Cowboys 50.5
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns – 19.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025
