Thanks to excellent defense, a 78-yard touchdown pass, and two scores on special teams, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns pulled off the first major upset of the 2020 college football season last week knocking off No. 23 Iowa State 31-14. The win secured Louisiana a place in the AP Top 25 for the first time in 77 years. Head coach Billy Napier, one of the hottest names in the business, will lead the newly minted No. 19 Cajuns to Atlanta to open Sun Belt play against the Georgia State Panthers.
Georgia State has yet to take the field this season, but the Panthers are no strangers to season-opening upset victories after knocking off Tennessee 38-30 in 2019 as a 26-point underdog. That win helped spark a seven-win season and a bid to the Arizona Bowl the second winning campaign in three years under head coach Shawn Elliott.
Louisiana was outgained 303-272 by the Cyclones, with 78 of those yards coming on a single strike from quarterback Levi Lewis to Peter LeBlanc. Lewis finished 13-for-21 for 154 yards and the touchdown, spreading the ball around to seven different receivers, and LeBlanc led the team with five catches and 82 receiving yards.
Mitchell, who was playing at less than 100 percent physically and limited to eight carries last week, led the team with 1,147 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2019. Ragas ranked third behind NFL Draft pick Raymond Calais with 820 rushing yards, and second with 11 touchdowns on the ground. Lewis isn’t asked to run much, but can when necessary. Last season, he gained 195 rushing yards and scored three times.
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