Arkansas State vs Louisiana takes over Lafayette on Saturday night, with the Red Wolves (2-2) trying to carry a comeback win into a road date against the Ragin’ Cajuns (3-1). Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. EDT at Cajun Field at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium, and ESPN+ has the broadcast.
Arkansas State vs Louisiana game information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
- Time: 8 p.m. EDT (7 p.m. CDT)
- Venue: Cajun Field at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium, Lafayette, La.
- Streaming: ESPN+
- Records: Arkansas State 2-2, Louisiana 3-1
How did Arkansas State get here?
The Red Wolves opened with a 42-24 loss at Memphis on Sept. 5, then crushed West Georgia 52-7 and lost 31-7 at TCU. They have not won away from Jonesboro yet.
Last week they rallied past Kennesaw State 17-14 after trailing 14-7. Quarterback Trey Owens went 24 of 31 for 244 yards, threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Summers and ran for another score, CBS Sports reported. Clune Van Andel kicked a 33-yard field goal with 8:19 left for the lead, and Solomon Baggett’s 12-yard run on third-and-6 helped seal it.
What makes Louisiana’s offense go?
Louisiana beat Lamar 38-7 on Sept. 5, lost 49-30 at USC, topped UAB 21-14 and won 34-7 at Charlotte last week. The Ragin’ Cajuns average 30.8 points per game and have converted all 15 of their red-zone trips into scores.
Much of that runs through quarterback Lunch Winfield. He leads the Sun Belt with six rushing touchdowns and a .730 completion percentage, according to the Louisiana athletics preview. His six rushing scores rank fifth among FBS players.
Key matchup: Winfield’s legs vs the Red Wolves’ defense
Arkansas State has allowed 23.5 points per game, while Louisiana is scoring 30.8. Slowing Winfield on the ground is the clearest path for the Red Wolves. If they do, Owens and the passing game have a better chance to keep pace.
Arkansas State vs Louisiana also marks the Sun Belt opener for both teams. Neither has played a league opponent yet.
What is next for both teams?
Arkansas State returns home Thursday, Oct. 8, to host South Alabama. Louisiana visits Louisiana Tech on Oct. 10. Both teams also meet Georgia State later, with Arkansas State at home Oct. 24 and Louisiana on the road Nov. 28.
