TCU Horned Frogs New Mexico Bowl Lookahead: Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns

TCU returns to the college football Bowl Season on Dec. 28. The Horned Frogs head to Albuquerque to take on Louisiana in the New Mexico Bowl.

Sep 28, 2024; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns wide receiver Lance LeGendre (9) runs for yards after catch against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

For the TCU Horned Frogs, it's again the most wonderful time of the year – College Football Bowl Season! On Sunday, TCU was selected to play in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (10-3). The New Mexico Bowl kicks off Saturday, Dec. 28, at 1:15 p.m. CT from University Stadium in Albuquerque, N.M. Catch the game on ESPN.

What can TCU fans expect from the Frogs' final foe of the 2024 season? Let's dive in.

TCU Plays First-Ever Matchup Vs. Louisiana In New Mexico Bowl

Nov 23, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover (10) throws a pass against Arizona Wildcats defensive lineman Tre Smith (3) in the second quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images / Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Despite sitting in neighboring states, TCU hasn't faced Louisiana on the gridiron before. Don't call them "ULL" or "Louisiana-Lafayette" – that moniker was dumped very publicly a few years back. To be official, the university's official name is the Univerty of Louisiana at Lafayette, but that isn't used for athletics.

This season, Louisiana went 10-3 and finished as Sun Belt Conference runners up. Despite a lame duck head coach, Marshall upended them, 31-3, in the title game played in Lafayette.

This year marks the seventh-straight bowl game from a program that recently has been excellent. Head coach Michael Desormeaux took over the program after Billy Napier left for Florida and accrued a 23-17 record over three years. This year may have saved Desormeaux from finding a new position, as he led Louisiana to consecutive 6-7 seasons. He was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year last week.

Louisiana Players To Note

Cajuns quarterback Chandler Fields 18 throws a pass as Louisiana s Ragin Cajuns take on the Jaksonville State Gacmecocks in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl in the Caesars Superdome. New Orleans, La. Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. / SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK

Starting quarterback and Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year Ben Wooldridge unfortunately suffered a broken collarbone in Week 13 and won't play in this game. His backup, Chandler Fields, is a sixth-year senior with 35 games of experience. Fields exited the Sun Belt Championship with an injury and true freshman Daniel Beale stepped in relief.

Fields' status for the bowl game isn't certain. However, this would be his last opportunity to play for Louisiana, as his eligibility expires after this bowl game. Barring serious injury–which it didn't appear to be–Fields likely starts the New Mexico Bowl.

Six Ragin' Cajuns were named First Team All-Sun Belt: Wooldridge, tight end Terrance Carter (of Killeen, TX), offensive linemen A.J. Gillie and Landon Burton, linebacker K.C. Ossai, and kicker Kenneth Almendares. Five others earned second and third team honors.

Carter entered the transfer portal. It is unclear if he will play for Louisiana.

Sizing Up The Ragin' Cajuns

Head coach Michael Desormeaux holds the trophy as The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns beat Marshall University 26-21 to win The 2021 R & L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. Nola Bowl Cajuns Vs Marshall V4 1554 / SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK

What makes Louisiana so difficult to defend is how multiple the team is. Two players, WR Lance LeGendre and Carter, combined for over 1,700 yards and 10 touchdowns. Three players rushed at least 65 times for over 450 yards, with two–Bill Davis and Zylan Perry–rushing for over 600 yards and 13 combined touchdowns.

Through the air, Wooldridge was an excellent distributor, leading to the success of multiple pass catchers. His absence certainly hurts the Louisiana passing attack. Though undersized (5' 10"), Fields is experienced and seasoned in the system. He completed about 65% of his career passes with 23 touchdowns and just eight interceptions (compare to Wooldridge's 61%, 38 TDs, 11 INTs). Either player is capable of running the offense.

Another key to the successful passing game–and run game–is a strong offensive line led by two all-conference selections. That line gave up sacks on fewer than 4.5% of dropbacks, good for the 34th-best number nationally and fourth-best in the Sun Belt.

As efficient as the offense is, the defense lacks. Louisiana surrendered 30 points four times this year, including most recently in the Sun Belt Championship. While the points per game measure is solid (24.5 ppg allowed is 55th), teams move the ball better against this defense than most. Louisiana ranks 108th in rushing efficiency allowed.

The weakness to the defense is in the front seven, meaning TCU may have to lean more into the ground game to find offensive success. The Louisiana secondary is the strength of the unit, but the Ragin' Cajuns rank just 64th in passing efficiency allowed.

Per ESPN's strength of record metric, Louisiana ranks 48th, behind 7-5 Boston College and 6-6 Washington.

Opponent Rundown

Sep 28, 2024; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns running back Zylan Perry (21) outruns Wake Forest Demon Deacons defensive lineman Bryce Ganious (55) during the first half at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Team: Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns

Record: 10-3 (7-2 Sun Belt)

Coach: Michael Desormeaux (third season)

Scoring Offense: 32.5 points per game (28th)

Scoring Defense: 24.5 points allowed per game (55th)

Louisiana 2024 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Result
Aug. 31	Grambling (FCS)	W, 40-10
Sept. 7	Kennesaw State	W, 34-10
Sept. 14	BYE
Sept. 21	Tulane	L, 41-33
Sept. 28	at Wake Forest	W, 41-38
Oct. 5	at Southern Miss	W, 23-13
Oct. 12	Appalachian State	W, 34-24
Oct. 19	at Coastal Carolina	W, 34-24
Oct. 26	BYE
Oct. 29 (Tues.)	at Texas State	W, 23-17
Nov. 9	Arkansas State	W, 55-19
Nov. 16	South Alabama	L, 24-22
Nov. 23	Troy	W, 51-30
Nov. 30	at ULM	W, 37-23
Dec. 7	Marshall*	L, 31-3

*Notes Sun Belt Championship game.

TCU vs. Louisiana New Mexico Bowl Game Info

• When: Saturday, Dec. 28, 1:15 p.m. CT
• Where: University Stadium (Albuquerque, NM)
• TV: ESPN

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