David Collins, Athletics Communications Assistant

Louisiana Football Heads To Orlando, Fla., To Face The Tulane Green Wave In The AutoNation Cure Bowl

OPPONENT LOCATION DAY TIME (CT) WATCH/LISTEN STATS

LOUISIANA GAME NOTES

THE MATCHUP

Louisiana heads to the AutoNation Cure Bowl to face the Tulane Green Wave for what will be the second bowl game matchup with the New Orleans based school and third meeting in five years.

LOUISIANA VS. TULANE

For the second time in program history, Louisiana and Tulane will meet in a bowl game, having met in the 2013 R&#434343434343;L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
Louisiana and Tulane will meet for the 29th time overall in the AutoNation Cure Bowl, and in terms of common opponents, Tulane is the ninth-most common opponent that Louisiana has played in program history.

A RAGIN’ CAJUNS VICTORY WOULD

Give Louisiana its first bowl win since winning the 2014 R&#434343434343;L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, a 16-3 win over Nevada.
Give the Ragin’ Cajuns its first winning season since going 7-4 in 2014.
Improve Louisiana’s record in bowl games outside of the state of Louisiana to 2-0.

RAGIN’ CAJUNS ARE BOWLING

Louisiana’s 7-6 season, and a Sun Belt Western Division Championship, means that Louisiana now heads to the AutoNation Cure Bowl in Orlando, Fla., to be played at Camping World Stadium.
It is only the second bowl game Louisiana has ever played outside of the state of Louisiana, and the first since the 1944 Oil Bowl played in Houston, Texas, a 24-7 win over Arkansas A&M.

SEVEN-TIMES 100

Sophomore running back Trey Ragas rushed for 101 yards against Appalachian State in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game, giving Ragas his seventh 100-yard game of the season.
With his seventh 100-yard game of the season, Ragas passed Tyrell Fenroy, setting a school record for most 100-yard rushing yard games in a single season by a running back.
Fenroy had rushed for at least 100 yards in six games during the 2006 and 2007 season, holding the previous record.

1,000 TIMES TWO

If sophomore running back Elijah Mitchell runs for at least 41 yards against Tulane in the AutoNation Cure Bowl, Louisiana will have its second 1,000-yard rusher on the season.
Mitchell would join Ragas, who enters the bowl game sitting at 1,141 rushing yards this season, in the 1,000-yard club giving Louisiana two 1,000-yard rushers on the season.
Mitchell would become the 12th player from Louisiana to rush for at least 1,000 yards in a single season and he would become only ninth running back in program history to rush for 1,000 yards.
Ragas and Mitchell would become only the third 1,000-yard rushing duo in school history, and the first since 2008 when Tyrell Fenroy (1,375) and Michael Desormeaux (1,035) each hit the century mark.

BRADLEY FINDS THE ENDZONE

Junior wide receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley has been a consistent weapon for Louisiana throughout the season, and his first quarter touchdown reception at ULM (Nov. 24) gave him 10 receiving touchdowns.
That tied a program record for TD receptions in a single season (Dave Oliver [1976] and Donald Richard [1996]) and one more grab in the end zone would give Bradley 11 on the season.
Bradley leads the conference in touchdown receptions and nationally, Bradley ranks 17th in touchdown receptions.

HITTING THE AERIAL TARGETS

Louisiana’s quarterbacks have been efficient and accurate all season long, with sophomore quarterback Levi Lewis leading the conference in passing efficiency (194.3) and Nunez not to far behind ranking fifth in the conference and 40th in the FBS (145.2).
Those numbers by Louisiana’s quarterbacks have added up to an efficient passing attack with Louisiana sitting second in the conference with a team passing efficiency of 153.5 and that places them 19th in the FBS.
Louisiana only sits behind Georgia Southern (165.9) in passing efficiency, but the Ragin’ Cajuns have had 213 more passing attempts then Georgia Southern.

BOUDREAUX NEARS 100

Junior linebacker Jacques Boudreaux is quickly approaching 100 tackles on the season having recorded 87 tackles thus far. He would become the first player from Louisiana to record 100 tackles in a season since Tre’Maine Lightfoot made 101 stops during the 2016 season.

TOP-20 RUSHING ATTACK

Louisiana’s rushing attack has been a force for the Ragin’ Cajuns all season long, and it has placed them among the best 20 rushing attacks in the FBS.
Through the 2018 season, Louisiana has racked up 229.1 rushing yards per game and that puts them 19th in the country. In the conference, Louisiana ranks third in rushing offense.
When considering average yards per carry, Louisiana is averaging 5.7 yards per carry and that puts them in the Top-15 in the FBS, coming in at 12th.
The Ragin’ Cajuns have scored 29 touchdowns on the ground, and that puts Louisiana in the Top-25 in the FBS sitting tied for 23rd in touchdowns scored.

THIRD DOWN TYPE OF CLUTCH

This season, Louisiana has been one of the best teams in the FBS when facing third down situations. Entering the bowl game, Louisiana ranks 10th in the FBS converting third downs at a clip of 48.2 percent (81-for-168).
In the Sun Belt Conference, Louisiana leads the conference in converting third downs, with Louisiana holding a comfortable lead over second place Arkansas State (42.6 percent).

FAMILIAR FACES UP FRONT

Over the 13 games that Louisiana has played this season, the Ragin’ Cajuns have had the same starting five offensive linemen. And the Ragin’ Cajuns are one of two teams in the conference to start the same five up front.
From left to right, juniors Rico Robinson (tackle), Ken Marks (guard), Cole Prudhomme (Center), Kevin Dotson (guard) and Robert Hunt (tackle) have all anchored the Louisiana offense.
It is the first time since 2014 that Louisiana has had the same starting five offensive linemen through the entire regular season.
Louisiana is one of six teams in the FBS that have had the same starting five on the offensive line this season. The others are Washington State; Ole Miss; Illinois; Hawai’i and ULM.

TAKING KICKS A LONG WAY

Louisiana has had 13 kickoffs returned for at least 30-plus yards through the season. That puts Louisiana tied for first in the FBS in kickoffs that have been returned for 30-plus yards.
Junior running back Raymond Calais, who has 818 combined kick return yards, is leading the way for Louisiana and his 818 yards ranks Calais fourth in the FBS.

LOUISIANA RUSHES LONGER THEN MOST

Through the season, the Ragin’ Cajuns have had 19 rushing plays that have gone for 40-plus yards. That places them fifth in the FBS for rushing plays at 40-plus yards.
When factoring in rushing plays that have gone over 60-plus yards, Louisiana has had five plays break the 60-yard barrier, and that ties them for eighth in the country.
Louisiana is one of six teams in the FBS that have had a running play go over 90 yards on the season, joining Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, TCU and North Texas. And the Ragin’ Cajuns are one of two Group of Five schools to have had a run go over 90 yards.

FBS FIRST YEAR HEAD COACHES OVERALL

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