This should be in the dictonary under "must-win".

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns put together one of their most complete performances of the season on Saturday afternoon, taking down the Troy Trojans 33-6 at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. UL controlled the game on both sides of the ball with a strong rushing attack along with a defense that consistently made life difficult for Troy. Louisiana entered the game looking to bounce back after a heartbreaking 32-31 loss to Louisiana Tech last weekend. The Cajuns did just that, building a 19-0 halftime lead and never allowing Troy to seriously threaten their advantage. The win moves Louisiana to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in Sun Belt play. Cajuns Continue to Find Success on the Ground One of the biggest positives from Saturday was the continued success of Louisiana's rushing attack. The Cajuns finished with 243 yards on the ground, averaging nearly five yards per carry while finding the end zone three times. For the third time this season, quarterback Lunch Winfield led the rushing attack with 65 yards on 15 runs, continuing as a major part of the Cajuns' offensive production even when the passing game isn't generating much. Redshirt freshman JJ Garner led right behind with 62 rushing yards, including a 37-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that extended Louisiana's lead to 13-0. Quarterback Lunch Winfield added 65 yards on the ground. Anthony Reagan Jr. finished with 58 rushing yards and a 15-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, while Steven Blanco added 50 yards and a short touchdown run of his own. Having four players reach at least 50 rushing yards is a pretty good indication of how well Louisiana controlled the line of scrimmage. The passing game, however, struggled yet again. Winfield completed 11 of 21 passes for 70 yards and a touchdown, with KeDarius Wade catching the Cajuns' only passing touchdown on a three-yard connection in the first quarter. Trenton Chaney led the receivers with three catches for 45 yards. Louisiana has shown throughout the season that it can move the ball effectively on the ground, and Saturday was another example of that. The concern is whether the passing game can develop enough to keep opposing defenses from loading up against the run. They threw it well against Louisiana Tech, and the expectation was that they would do the same, if not better, against a struggling Troy secondary. The lack of a passing game on Saturday proved not to be an issue, but the UL needs to have more production through the air as the schedule continues. The Defense Continues to Make Big Plays Louisiana's defense deserves a lot of credit for Saturday's performance. The Cajuns held Troy to only six points and 267 total yards, allowing just one scoring drive throughout the afternoon. Remember, this comes just one week after Troy's offense suffocated Southern Miss' defense with 662 total yards, including a whopping 437 yards on the ground. Louisiana held Troy to just 126 rushing yards. Troy's only touchdown came early in the third quarter when running back Tucker Kilcrease broke free for a 23-yard score. The drive cut Louisiana's lead to 19-6 and briefly gave the Trojans some momentum coming out of halftime. The Cajuns responded exactly how they needed to, putting together a long scoring drive on offense before the defense went back to work. Louisiana limited Troy to just three conversions on 12 third-down attempts and stopped the Trojans on three of their four fourth-down attempts. The defense also came up with two crucial turnovers. Harrison Kidder recovered a muffed punt early in the first quarter, giving the Cajuns the ball at Troy's eight-yard line and setting up their opening touchdown. Later in the second quarter, Micah Johnson recovered a fumble that helped Louisiana extend its lead. Johnson has continued to step up in an important role for this defense, and his ability to make plays around the football has been valuable. Jake St. Andre led the team with eight tackles, while Maurion Eleam recorded five tackles and a sack. Brent Gordon Jr. also finished with five tackles and three pass breakups, including a fourth-down stop that helped shut down one of Troy's second-half possessions. After allowing a touchdown to open the second half, the defense settled back in and made sure the Trojans never found another answer. Tony Sterner Stays Reliable While Saturday's win wasn't nearly as close as the Cajuns' victory over Arkansas State two weeks ago, Tony Sterner still played an important role in helping Louisiana build its halftime advantage. The redshirt senior connected on field goals from 42 and 46 yards in the second quarter, with the latter coming as time expired before halftime. The two kicks helped push the Cajuns' lead to 19-0 and gave Troy an even bigger hole to climb out of. Sterner has continued to provide consistency in the kicking game since taking over the starting job, and having a reliable kicker becomes especially important in conference play. Louisiana didn't need a game-winner this time, but his ability to convert from distance helped the Cajuns take control before halftime. The offense also deserves credit for taking advantage of the opportunities created by the defense. Louisiana scored after both of its takeaways, and the early special teams recovery gave the Cajuns a short field for their opening touchdown. Those are the kinds of situations that can make a major difference in conference games. In the postgame, OL Fitzgerald West Jr. talked about how much the team valued being perfect on all three sides of the football. A Strong (and much needed) Response after the Louisiana Tech Loss The biggest takeaway from Saturday is that Louisiana responded well after a disappointing finish against Louisiana Tech. The Cajuns had a chance to win last weekend before falling by one point, but there wasn't much room for frustration to linger with another conference (and divisional) matchup on the schedule. Louisiana came out ready to play against Troy and built a comfortable lead before halftime. The most impressive drive of the afternoon came after Troy scored its lone touchdown. Louisiana responded with a 16-play, 91-yard possession that took 8 minutes and 22 seconds off the clock. Blanco finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, and the Cajuns effectively took the life out of any momentum Troy had gained. That drive was a perfect example of what Louisiana wants its offense to look like. The Cajuns ran the ball consistently, converted third downs and kept Troy's offense on the sideline. Louisiana finished with 23 first downs and controlled possession for more than 36 minutes, compared to just over 23 minutes for Troy. There are still things to improve, particularly in the passing game, but it's hard to complain too much about a 27-point conference win. The Cajuns were physical, took care of the football well enough to avoid giving Troy any easy opportunities, and made the plays necessary to put the game away. Most importantly, they did not turn the ball over. Fortunately the one fumble they had was quickly recovered by JJ Garner, but Coach Des was not happy after the game about the team's ball security issues this season, and hopes they are resolved soon. It also got a victory in a game which is believed to have massive implications down the road when it comes to determining who makes the Sun Belt Conference championship. Last season, Louisiana, despite finishing the regular season 6-6, fell just one game short of making the conference championship game. It was the loss to Troy halfway through the season that, weeks later, was revealed to have given the Trojans the edge and the right to play in the game instead of the Cajuns. Louisiana is now 5-2 overall and 2-1 in Sun Belt play, putting itself in a good position heading into the next stretch of the schedule. The Cajuns will travel to Hattiesburg next Saturday to take on Southern Miss, with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. on ESPN+. Saturday was a good reminder of what this team can look like when the rushing attack is clicking and the defense is playing at a high level. Now, the challenge is finding a way to carry that performance onto the road and continue building momentum in conference play.

Preseason: Pelicans v Wizards By Dylan Dunn October 17, 2026 Down to the Wire, In the Blender So, it's the final preseason game, which usually means it is rotational players playing, but not in this one. The Pelicans beat the Wizards 107-106 at the Smoothie King Center, and the last minute was somehow stressful even though the games don't count yet. New Orleans finishes preseason 3-1. That's a good way to head into the real season. Head coach Jamahl Mosley played his starters in real minutes for three quarters, so it actually felt like a real game for a while. Then the benches came in and things got chaotic. First Quarter: New Orleans Sets the Tone The Pelicans came out looking like they actually cared about this one. Herb Jones was aggressive right away, and the defense was locked in from the start. Pelicans player: Saddiq Bey. He was basically on fire all night and finished with 19 points in only 17 minutes. Wizards player: Kyshawn George, who had 14 points on 5-7 shooting. Pelicans play of the quarter: Jeremiah Fears had a filthy crossover on Alex Sarr which led to Anthony Davis closing in the space and made it easy for Fears to throw a lob to Yves Missi. Second Quarter: Saddiq Bey Goes Off Bey scored 13 of the Pelicans' 56 first-half points and single-handedly dragged them to the halftime lead. One time Bilal Coulibaly trapped him with the shot clock dying and Bey had zero options left, so he just threw up a crazy contested fadeaway... and drilled it anyway. He was not missing. Pelicans player: Saddiq Bey, obviously. 7-11 from the field and 3-5 from three. Wizards player: AJ Dybantsa, who had 12 points before he got hurt. Pelicans play of the quarter: That fadeaway over Coulibaly. It was honestly a terrible shot from a basketball standpoint, and it went in anyway, which is what happens when somebody is that hot. Also not a fun moment: the Wizards' No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa got bumped by Zion Williamson while shooting and rolled his ankle. He left the game and nobody announced what the injury was. Hopefully everything is okay and wishing him a speedy recovery. Third Quarter: Jeremiah Fears Playing With No Fear Jeremiah Fears was really good in this one. He started all three preseason games and looks like he belongs out there. The Pelicans held the Wizards to about 35% shooting during this stretch, which is a big deal because defense was a problem for them last year. Anthony Davis was also everywhere, bothering shots and switching onto everybody. Pelicans player: Jeremiah Fears. 14 points, 5 assists and 3 steals. Really impressive preseason from him. Wizards player: Anthony Davis, who had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. Pelicans play of the quarter: Saddiq Bey gets the steal off a tipped pass and throws the lob up to Karlo Matkovic. Fourth Quarter: Hometown Hero Saves the Day This game got way closer than it should have. The starters sat and the Wizards' deep bench guys almost stole it. Down two, they trapped the Pelicans in a corner near midcourt and New Orleans almost turned it over like three times before finally calling timeout. Genuinely scary for a preseason game. Pelicans player: Jaron Pierre Jr. He had two steals and then hit the free throws that won it. Wizards player: Alex Sarr, 12 points and 9 rebounds in 26 minutes. Pelicans play of the quarter: With 1.4 seconds left and the lead down to two, rookie Jaron Pierre Jr. stepped to the line and made both free throws to seal it. Right before that, Washington got called for a charging foul, so the comeback was basically dead anyway. But still the free throws were clutch. Here’s the Mix Fromm the Blender The Pelicans forced 23 turnovers. Five different guys had multiple steals: Fears had 3, and Bey, Pierre, Trey Murphy and Bryce McGowens each had 2. That's a lot of hands in passing lanes. 62-42 in points in the paint. They just lived at the rim. The bench was the best part of the whole preseason. Jordan Poole was +45, Derik Queen was +40, and Saddiq Bey was +33. Bennedict Mathurin, who they signed in September, had 10 points in 17 minutes. Solid pickup so far. Dejounte Murray didn't play again because of his toe. The Pelicans open the real season Wednesday. After a 3-1 preseason with the bench playing like that, it's hard not to be a little excited.

The Bulldogs travel to take on the Warhawks in Monroe at 7:00 PM CST

They've always said there's something about a Friday night at Yulman Stadium. This one certainly delivered.

The 4-2 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are back home at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium this weekend as they prepare to host the 3-2 Troy Trojans on Saturday afternoon at 4pm. Both teams are looking to pick up an important Sun Belt Conference victory, with Louisiana entering at 1-1 in conference play and Troy sitting at 1-0. The Trojans are the defending Sun Belt West Division champions as they beat the Cajuns last year, making Saturday’s matchup an important one for both teams’ conference championship hopes. The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Louisiana is looking to rebound from a heartbreaking 32-31 loss to Louisiana Tech last Saturday in Ruston. In what was an exciting renewal of the rivalry between the two schools, the Cajuns led for much of the second half, at one point holding a 12-point lead early in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, questionable late-game offensive decisions, an inability to slow down Louisiana Tech’s offense in the final minutes, and costly turnovers came back to haunt the Cajuns. The Bulldogs scored 13 unanswered points in the final four minutes to complete the comeback, while a Lunch Winfield interception on Louisiana’s final possession ended any hopes of a response. One big positive from the game was Louisiana’s ability to air the ball out and create explosive plays. Winfield completed 14 of his 24 passes for a season-high 239 yards, averaging 17.1 yards per completion. Receivers found themselves open, and Winfield made some impressive throws, including a 45-yard touchdown pass to KeDarius Wade in the fourth quarter. But three costly turnovers, including a lost fumble by Winfield in the red zone on Louisiana’s opening drive, overshadowed an otherwise productive offensive performance. Despite injuries and other adversity, Louisiana’s offense has continued to evolve. Winfield has shown improvement as a passer, completing 72% of his throws for 1,083 yards this season. And while passing hasn’t been the Cajuns’ primary method of moving the football, Winfield has been effective on the ground, leading the team with 398 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. The Cajuns will also be dealing with another injury at receiver. Landon Strother is expected to miss an extended period after suffering an injury against Louisiana Tech. The good news is that Shelton Sampson Jr. made an encouraging return to the passing game last week, recording his first two receptions of the season for 60 yards. Defensively, Louisiana has remained strong against the run, allowing just 100.7 yards per game. However, the pass defense struggled against Louisiana Tech, surrendering 319 passing yards and three touchdowns to quarterback Blake Baker. The Cajuns held the Bulldogs to just 13 points through three quarters before allowing 19 in the fourth. Injuries have tested this defense, but the bottom line is simple: Louisiana needs four full quarters of consistent defensive football if it wants to win games like these. Kneaux the Opponent: Troy Trojans Unlike Louisiana, Troy enters Saturday’s matchup coming off its most dominant offensive performance of the season, defeating Southern Miss 55-34 last weekend. The Trojans put up a whopping 662 yards of total offense, including 437 rushing yards. Quarterback Goose Crowder completed 18 of his 21 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns while adding 145 rushing yards and two more scores on 17 carries. Running back Jordan Lovett also had an impressive performance, rushing for 142 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries. Troy’s offense has heavily relied on the ground game this season, averaging 220.4 rushing yards per contest. Running backs Gavin Griffin, Jaheim Merriweather, and Jordan Lovett have combined for nearly 900 rushing yards, with each averaging roughly five yards or more per carry. Now, it’s worth mentioning that Troy was averaging about 166 rushing yards per game before its explosion against Southern Miss, so the numbers are inflated following the win over a struggling Golden Eagles team. Nevertheless, with Crowder also showing what he can do on the ground, this is a rushing attack Louisiana will have to take seriously. Crowder hasn’t necessarily been the most consistent passer, completing just 57% of his throws while averaging 209 yards per game. But his performance against Southern Miss showed what he’s capable of when the offense gets going. Defensively, Troy has been solid against the run, allowing just 113.6 rushing yards per game and holding opponents to under four yards per carry. The Trojans are also allowing 24 points per game, including holding a ranked Missouri team to 27 points in a 10-point road loss. It’s been a different story through the air, however. Troy has allowed 236.2 passing yards per game and 10 passing touchdowns through five games. Even in its blowout victory over Southern Miss, the Trojans surrendered 391 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. But that’s not to say this defense isn’t dangerous. Troy forced three turnovers against Southern Miss and has seven takeaways this season. One player Louisiana will need to keep an eye on is Donnie Smith, a 6-foot-4, 234-pound edge defender who has recorded five sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles this season. Smith has been disruptive all year and will present a challenge for Louisiana’s offensive line and Winfield. Luckily, the offensive line is expected to be a full health with Matt Broussard returning after being in concussion protocol ever since the USC game. Three Keys to a Louisiana Victory 1. Slow Down Troy’s Rushing Attack Saturday presents an intriguing matchup between two teams that have found plenty of success running the football. Troy averages 220 rushing yards per game, while Louisiana averages 193. Both teams also have strong run defenses, making the battle in the trenches particularly important. For Louisiana, the biggest challenge will be containing a Troy rushing attack coming off a 437-yard performance. The Cajuns have allowed just 3.5 yards per carry and a little over 100 rushing yards per game this season. If they can hold Troy to under 150 or even 130 yards on the ground, it could force the Trojans to rely more heavily on a passing game that hasn’t been nearly as consistent. 2. Take Advantage of Troy’s Pass Defense Troy has struggled at times defending the pass, allowing more than 236 yards per game through the air. That said, this could be a great opportunity for Louisiana to get its passing game going. The problem is that Louisiana averages just 189 passing yards per contest, despite Winfield’s impressive completion percentage. Now granted, the Cajuns haven’t necessarily needed to throw the ball much this season with their success on the ground. But against a defense that has given up some big performances through the air, I think this is an opportunity worth taking. If Winfield can find KeDarius Wade, Trenton Chaney, Shelton Sampson Jr., and other playmakers in space, Louisiana could have some success moving the football. It almost paid off last weekend, so against a flimsy pass defense, no reason it doesn’t pan out well this weekend. Now Troy has been particularly strong inside the red zone, allowing opponents to score on just 12 of 19 opportunities, so just moving the football won’t be enough. The big positive for the Cajuns this season is they are 23 of 24 in the red zone, with their one missed opportunity being the fumble on the Cajuns’ opening drive of the game last week. They’ve done it well this season, but against a good red zone defense, the Cajuns will need to continue finish drives with points, and with touchdowns more so than field goals. 3. Protect the Football This might be the most important key of them all. Louisiana has committed 10 turnovers through six games, including three against Louisiana Tech. Troy, meanwhile, has forced seven turnovers in five games, three of which came against Southern Miss. The Cajuns have done a good job creating turnovers themselves, recording 12 takeaways this season. But as last week’s loss showed, giving the football away in costly situations can change the outcome of a game. For Louisiana, the goal is simple: protect the football, make smart decisions, and don’t give Troy unnecessary opportunities. Winfield as a leader has shown that he can bounce back from mistakes. But against a disruptive Troy defense, he and the rest of the offense will need to be disciplined for four full quarters. My Final Score Prediction: Louisiana 34, Troy 31 I see this game being another exciting, closely contested matchup, much like last week’s game against Louisiana Tech. It’s not as deep of a rivalry, but the implications that may come from this game will surely make it feel like one. Both teams run the football well but will be facing some pretty good run defenses. Because of that, I wouldn’t be surprised if both offenses have to rely more on their passing games than usual. Luckily, the Cajuns ended up in that situation last week, and it worked well until costly mistakes took over. Now that they have that under their belts, let’s see if they can improve on that. In my opinion, two of the biggest deciding factors will be turnovers and special teams. Louisiana has had much more offensive success when they win the turnover battle, so keeping the ball secure will be imperative in order to win this game. Louisiana also has an advantage in the kicking game, with Tony Sterner perfect on all eight of his field goal attempts this season, compared to Troy’s 7-for-11 mark. When red zone defense plays a factor, the kicker will play a big role. Another factor to take into consideration is home-field advantage. Louisiana enters Saturday undefeated at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium this season with a 3-0 home record. Troy, on the other hand, has yet to win a game on the road, losing both of its away matchups against Missouri and Utah State. As long as Coach Des’ play-calling is on point, the offense limits costly mistakes, and the defense can slow down Troy’s rushing attack, I think Louisiana has what it takes to come away with a victory. It won’t be easy, but I’m taking the Cajuns to win a close one, get back on track, and get some revenge after last year’s 35-23 loss at Troy. Follow Abdul Abusada and Cajun Sports Talk on Instagram @CajunSportsTalk for all things Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football. 

BATON ROUGE - LSU will have an opportunity to get back on track Saturday when Mississippi State visits Tiger Stadium for an SEC matchup that carries plenty of importance for both teams. The Tigers are coming off a disappointing 35-34 overtime loss to Kentucky, a game that left little room for error as they continue working toward their postseason goals. Mississippi State, meanwhile, enters the matchup at 4-1 after a bye week, looking to respond to a 56-23 loss to Alabama. LSU is 4-2 on the season and 1-2 in SEC play, while the Bulldogs are 4-1 overall and 2-1 in conference action. With both teams looking to make a statement, Saturday presents an important opportunity for the Tigers to protect their home field. LSU's Offense Has an Opportunity to Get Back on Track Quarterback Sam Leavitt and the LSU offense will be one of the biggest storylines heading into Saturday's game. The Tigers have been productive offensively, averaging approximately 525 yards per game. Leavitt has thrown for 1,496 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also providing a running threat with seven rushing touchdowns. However, turnovers have been an issue, with Leavitt throwing eight interceptions this season. LSU cannot afford to give Mississippi State extra opportunities, particularly with the Tigers looking to regain some consistency after the loss to Kentucky. The Bulldogs have struggled against the pass, allowing 247.4 passing yards per game. That could create opportunities for Leavitt to attack through the air, especially if LSU can establish its running game and keep Mississippi State's defense from focusing entirely on the passing attack. Mississippi State's Quarterback Situation Bears Watching Mississippi State's offense could look different depending on the availability of quarterback Kamario Taylor, who is listed as questionable with a lower-body injury. Taylor has been one of the Bulldogs' most important players, leading an offense that has averaged 487 yards per game. His status will be worth monitoring leading up to kickoff. Running back Fluff Bothwell is also questionable after suffering an injury against Alabama. If either player is unavailable, Mississippi State could have to rely more heavily on its depth. Wide receiver Anthony Evans III remains an important player to watch. He has recorded 40 receptions for 574 yards and five touchdowns, making him a key target for the Bulldogs. Defense and Turnovers Could Decide the Game LSU's defense will need to take advantage of any uncertainty surrounding Mississippi State's offense. Forcing the Bulldogs into difficult third-down situations and limiting explosive plays will be important, especially early in the game. The Tigers also need to finish drives. Moving the ball between the 20-yard lines is encouraging, but converting those opportunities into touchdowns is what separates productive offenses from winning ones. LSU has won the last three meetings between these programs, including a 41-14 victory in 2023. The Tigers will look to continue that trend Saturday. Prediction LSU has the offensive talent and home-field advantage to win this matchup, but the Tigers must play with greater consistency. Protecting the football, establishing the run and taking advantage of Mississippi State's passing-defense struggles should be priorities. After a frustrating loss to Kentucky, LSU needs a complete performance. Saturday is an opportunity to show that the Tigers can respond to adversity and keep their SEC season moving in the right direction.