Football: How the 3-0 Ragin’ Cajuns went from national ranking to no longer in the polls – photo gal

Tim Buckley, The Advertiser, Sept. 27, 2020

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Click here for game-winning field goal.(Video by Nick Gray). 

Now 3-0 for the first time since 1988, and coming off Saturday’s 20-18 come-from-behind win over Georgia Southern, the UL football team no longer is nationally ranked.

The Ragin’ Cajuns, who squeaked by the Eagles only after Nate Snyder hit a 53-yard field goal as time expired, started Saturday ranked No. 25 in the Amway Coaches Poll and No. 19 in the AP Top 25.

But they’re now first among “Others Receiving Votes” in the coaches poll, which includes teams from the Big Ten and Pac-12 – neither of which has started its season yet due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

UL received 108 voting points in the coaches’ poll; No. 25 Pittsburgh, which also is 3-0, received 179.

Cajuns coach Billy Napier, incidentally, is among 48 FBS coaches with a vote.

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The Cajuns were knocked out of the coaches Top 25 by previously unranked, now-No. 14 Mississippi State, which on Saturday upset now-No. 17, previously No. 5 LSU in the season opener for both SEC teams, and by previously unranked Pitt, which beat Louisville on Saturday.

UL was knocked out of the AP writers Top 25 in part because that poll, for the first time this season, now includes teams from both the Big Ten and Pac-12.

The Cajuns also did not help themselves by narrowly beating Georgia Southern just one week after having to go to overtime to beat Georgia State on the road in Atlanta, both games televised by ESPN2.

Coming from a Group of Five league like the Sun Belt Conference, there simply is little room for close calls when it comes national polls, especially with the Power 5 teams working their way back in after reversing field and deciding to play.

Despite all being 0-0, four Big Ten teams are ranked by AP – No. 6 Ohio State, No. 10 Penn State, No. 19 Wisconsin and No. 23 Michigan – and Oregon of the Pac-12 is No. 14.

Previously unranked Mississippi State is now No. 16 in the AP Top 25, which has 0-1 LSU No. 20 and has Pitt at No. 24, one spot ahead of 1-0 Memphis.

More:Cajuns really do have a national ranking to protect

The Cajuns are second behind Virginia Tech among “Others receiving votes” in the AP poll with 126 voting points. The Hokies received 195 points.

Clemson (2-0) is No. 1 in both polls.

Napier’s Cajuns became nationally ranked for the first time since 1943 following their season-opening upset win at then-No. 25 Iowa State, debuting this year at No. 21 in the coaches poll and No. 19 in the writers poll.

More:True freshmen getting it done for the 3-0 Ragin’ Cajuns