LAFAYETTE — The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns are less than two weeks away from opening the 2026 football season.
Louisiana will host Lamar on Sept. 5 at Cajun Field, marking the first meeting between the two programs since 2012.
Lamar enters the season ranked No. 21 in the FCS preseason poll and will open its season this weekend against No. 15 Abilene Christian.
That gives Louisiana coach Michael Desormeaux an opportunity to watch the Cardinals before the Cajuns take the field against them.
Desormeaux said he plans to tune in, but he knows the extra preparation time only matters if Louisiana can use it effectively.
"Something's only an advantage if you take advantage of it," Desormeaux said. "If we do a good job preparing and having extra time and do a good job of figuring out how the new pieces fit to what they do, then it'll be an advantage for us."
Desormeaux also acknowledged that Lamar will have an opportunity to improve between its first game and the matchup with Louisiana.
"If we don't and they play and make a bunch of improvement from week one to week two, then it'll be an advantage for them," Desormeaux said.
Louisiana won the last meeting 40-0 in Lafayette in 2012.
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