UL football travels to face James Madison in nationally televised clash

LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – Coming off a bye week, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns football team returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Harrisonburg, Va., to face James Madison in a nationally-televised contest at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field.

Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT, with the game televised nationally on ESPN2. Lowell Galindo (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst) and Lauren Sisler (sideline) will call the action. Fans can also listen to the broadcast on the Ragin’ Cajuns Sports Radio Network with Jay Walker (play-by-play), Cody Junot (analyst) and Dawson Eiserloh (sideline) providing commentary.

Louisiana (2-3, 1-0 SBC) rallied from a 17-point deficit midway through the third quarter, scoring five straight touchdowns in a dramatic 54-51 double overtime victory over Marshall on Sept. 27. Lunch Winfield accounted for the first five touchdowns of his collegiate career, including a game-winning, 10-yard run to earn the walk-off win.

Winfield, expected to make his first career start at quarterback, rushed for 129 yards and three touchdowns while tossing a pair of fourth-quarter TDs, highlighted by a game-tying 24-yard strike to Dale Martin with 16 seconds remaining in regulation.

Winfield would become the third different player (Walker Howard/Daniel Beale) to start at quarterback this season for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Louisiana has seen 17 freshmen, including four true freshmen (Trenton Chaney, Brent Gordon Jr., Brek Schultz, Jakoby Isom), see playing time during the 2025 season.

With one of the top-ranked defensive units in all of FBS, James Madison has won three straight contests, capped by a 14-7 victory at Georgia State last weekend in Atlanta. The Dukes have held opponents to 2.6 yards per carry and 217.2 total yards per game on the season to rank fourth overall in FBS.

Offensively, Wayne Knight (426 yards, 4 TDs) and Jordan Fuller (262 yards, 1 TD) have paced the JMU running game that ranks 10th among FBS programs at 241.6 yards per contest.

Alonza Barrett III has completed 59 percent of his passes for 667 yards and four TDs for the Dukes with Knight (16 receptions), Landon Ellis (13 catches, 2 TDs) and Jaylan Sanchez (10 catches) his top targets.

Trent Hendrick leads the JMU defense with 38 tackles and three sacks on the season. James Madison ranks ninth among FBS schools in passing yards allowed (137.4) and is 12th nationally in rushing defense (79.8).

Fans are encouraged to stay connected with Louisiana Football by downloading the official #GeauxCajuns App and by following the Ragin’ Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@RaginCajunsFB).