Louisiana Ragin Cajuns vs Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles Final — October 24, 2026
ULOffense2026 regular season to dateUSM
ULDefenseUSMULRecent formUSMULHome and roadseason to dateUSMULLast 10 gamesUSMRest & travelrest and travel
ULRest & travelUSMAbout these numbers
2026 regular season to date, captured before kickoff. League rank in small type (138 teams); the gold side ranks higher. Bars show rank, longest = 1st. Source: Gridiron & Wine public Analytics tables.
Last five results this season, oldest to newest. Records are season to date, with home and road splits. Against-the-spread (ATS) and over–under records use the consensus closing line.
Margin of each of the last 7 games this season, oldest to newest (gold = won). Hover a bar for the score margin.
Distance is straight-line from each team's home arena; time-zone change is at game time. Rest counts days since each team's previous game.
The pre-game matchup
Louisiana (4-2) visited Southern Miss (0-5) on Saturday, October 24 at 5:00 PM ET.
Louisiana has the 64th-ranked offense by EPA per play (expected points added per snap) and the 22nd-ranked defense (ranks among the 138 teams with play-by-play data). Meanwhile, Southern Miss has the 50th-ranked offense and the 116th-ranked defense. When Louisiana has the ball, a 64th-ranked offense (+0.074 EPA per play) meets a 116th-ranked defense (+0.197 allowed); when Southern Miss has it, a 50th-ranked offense (+0.127) meets a 22nd-ranked defense (−0.063 allowed).
By success rate (the share of plays that gain expected points), the Louisiana offense is at 48.8% (48th) and the Southern Miss offense at 46.7% (72nd). Louisiana scores 28.7 points per game (50th) and allows 21.3 (36th); Southern Miss scores 19.2 (116th) and allows 38.6 (131st).
Louisiana is 5-2 and 6-1 against the spread; its last game was a 33-6 win over Troy. Southern Miss is 1-5 and 2-4 against the spread; its last game was a 23-13 loss to Arkansas State.
Louisiana closed as a 11.5-point road favorite, with Southern Miss getting the points at home. The spread opened at Louisiana -10.5. The total closed 52.5, unchanged from the open. After removing the vig, the closing moneyline (Louisiana -460, Southern Miss +350) prices Louisiana at 79% and Southern Miss at 21%.
Written from the numbers available before kickoff.
Result
Final score and result vs the closing line
Louisiana Ragin Cajuns 31, Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles 35
Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles won by 4.
- Against the closing spread (Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles +11.5): Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles covered.
- Combined score 66 vs the closing total of 52.5: Over.
- Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles closed at +350 on the moneyline (a 21% no-vig market-implied chance).
Before the game: market and G&W
From open to close the market moved 1 point toward Louisiana Ragin Cajuns.
Market numbers are the consensus moneyline with the bookmaker margin removed.
Win probability
Each team's chance of winning through the game, starting from the market's closing price (Louisiana Ragin Cajuns 79%, Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles 21%) and moving with every snap until the final.
Biggest swings
- Q1 5:20 — Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles ball, 1st & 5 at UL 47No Huddle-Shotgun #18 L.Lyddy sacked for loss of 10 yards to the USM43 (#3 M.Johnson, #68 F.West Jr.)Louisiana Ragin Cajuns 70% → 87% (+17 pts) · Drive 4 in Drive X-Ray
- Q2 0:42 — Louisiana Ragin Cajuns ball, 3rd & 2 at USM 19No Huddle-Shotgun #7 L.Winfield pass incomplete short left to #6 S.Sampson Jr. thrown to USM00, 1ST DOWN, PENALTY USM Pass Interference (#25 L.Sylvie) 15 yards f…Louisiana Ragin Cajuns 57% → 71% (+14 pts) · Drive 15 in Drive X-Ray
- Q4 10:05 — Louisiana Ragin Cajuns ball, 3rd & 8 at UL 25Kolby Peavy 0 Yd Interception Return (Creighton Wilbanks Kick)Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles 11% → 31% (+20 pts) · Drive 26 in Drive X-Ray
- Q4 1:12 — Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles ball, 4th & 1 at UL 44No Huddle-Shotgun #6 J.Wilder rush middle for 28 yards gain to the UL16 (#11 B.Gordon Jr.; #24 L.Bates), 1ST DOWNSouthern Mississippi Golden Eagles 26% → 79% (+52 pts) · Drive 28 in Drive X-Ray
- Q4 0:58 — Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles ball, 1st & 10 at UL 16Shotgun #6 J.Wilder rush middle for 16 yards gain to the UL00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 00:58, 1ST DOWN #40 C.Wilbanks kick attempt good (H: #36 D.Zimmer, LS: #46 L.Beard)Louisiana Ragin Cajuns 3% → 29% (+26 pts) · Drive 28 in Drive X-Ray
Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles won after falling as low as 9% (Q1 6:39).
Game DNA
| Louisiana | Points added | Southern Miss |
|---|---|---|
| -5.3 | Passingdropbacks | -26.2 |
| -0.9 | Rushingdesigned runs | -1.7 |
| +14.7 | Explosive plays4 plays · 6 plays | +9.3 |
| -4.0 | Turnovers1 giveaways · 1 giveaways | -8.6 |
| -8.5 | Special teamskicks, punts and returns | +1.5 |
| -2.6 | Penaltiespre-snap and dead-ball | +6.8 |
| +2.6 | Red zoneTDs on trips: 2 of 3 · 4 of 4 | +13.2 |
| -4.0 | All plays | -5.6 |
The biggest single gap: passing, worth about 20.9 points to Louisiana Ragin Cajuns. The final margin was 4.
Points added: what each team's plays added to its expected points, credited to the team with the ball. Each play counts once.
The official play, graded
The official play on this game, at the price it was sent, graded against the final score.
Every official play is logged and graded, wins and losses alike. Full track record.
Line review
Louisiana Ragin Cajuns closed as the market favourite at 79% and lost.
Market
Closing line and line movement
Louisiana -10.5 (-109)
Louisiana -11.5 (-110)
Southern Miss +331 22%
Southern Miss +350 21%
Consensus of US sportsbooks. Open = first line after both teams' previous games; Close = consensus at kickoff. Percentages are the moneyline's no-vig market-implied chances.
Members
G&W Line
G&W’s own number for this game, next to the market. Analytics
Matchup
Players to watch
- Attempts125
- Completion %68.0%
- Passing yards928
- Yards per attempt7.4
- TD–INT4–1
- Rushing yards46350th
- Season line97 carries, 463 yds, 8 TD
- Receiving yards226281st
- Season line11 catches, 226 yds, 2 TD
- Tackles4987th
- Attempts122
- Completion %59.8%
- Passing yards946
- Yards per attempt7.8
- TD–INT7–3
- Rushing yards43267th
- Season line99 carries, 432 yds, 5 TD
- Receiving yards49235th
- Season line34 catches, 492 yds, 5 TD
- Tackles5533rd
Season passing totals from public box scores, captured before kickoff. Ranks among the 262 quarterbacks with at least 60 attempts. Rushing, receiving and tackle leaders: season totals captured October 21, 5:34 a.m. ET; ranks among FBS players.
Success by situation
| Situation | Louisiana | Southern Miss |
|---|---|---|
| Early-down success rateLouisiana offense vs Southern Miss defense | 43.6%63rd | 43.1%71st |
| Early-down success rateSouthern Miss offense vs Louisiana defense | 45.0%97th | 44.3%56th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateLouisiana offense vs Southern Miss defense | 40.8%65th | 42.0%89th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateSouthern Miss offense vs Louisiana defense | 40.0%65th | 25.9%134th |
| Explosive play rateLouisiana offense vs Southern Miss defense | 5.3%114th | 7.6%93rd |
| Explosive play rateSouthern Miss offense vs Louisiana defense | 5.0%20th | 8.4%27th |
| Pass rateshare of plays that are passes or sacks | 37.6%130th-highest | 61.1%8th-highest |
On 3rd down Louisiana converts 40.8% (65th) against a Southern Miss defense allowing 42.0% (89th).
On 3rd down Southern Miss converts 25.9% (134th) against a Louisiana defense allowing 40.0% (65th).
2026 regular season before kickoff, from play-by-play with garbage time removed; ranks among the 138 teams in the play-by-play data (defense: 1st = allows the least). Success = a play that gains expected points.
Coaching staff
| Staff | Louisiana | Southern Miss |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Michael Desormeaux | Blake Anderson |
| Tenureat this school | 5th season | 2nd season |
| Record at schoolthis season included, as of the date below | 34–27 | 1–6 |
| Career recordas an FBS head coach | 34–27 | 75–60 |
| Offensive coordinator | Tim Leger | Kyle Cefalo |
| Defensive coordinator | Jim Salgado | Joe Bolden |
Staff list as of October 20, 6:50 a.m. ET.
Head-to-head
The teams have met 4 times since 2021: Louisiana won 1 and Southern Miss 3.
| Date | Score | Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 2025 | Southern Miss 22, Louisiana 10 Southern Miss won | ||
| Oct 5, 2024 | Louisiana 23, Southern Miss 13 Louisiana won | ||
| Nov 9, 2023 | Southern Miss 34, Louisiana 31 Southern Miss won | ||
| Oct 27, 2022 | Louisiana 24, Southern Miss 39 Southern Miss won |
Meetings since 2021, most recent first. Line and total are the consensus closing numbers where line history is available.
Teams
Louisiana Ragin Cajuns
- Louisiana Ragin Cajuns team stats
- Troy Trojans 6, Louisiana Ragin Cajuns 33 (Oct 17)
- Louisiana Ragin Cajuns 31, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 32 (Oct 10)
- Arkansas State Red Wolves 20, Louisiana Ragin Cajuns 23 (Oct 3)
Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles
- Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles at UL Monroe Warhawks (Oct 31)
- Arkansas State Red Wolves 23, Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles 13 (Oct 17)
- Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles 34, Troy Trojans 55 (Oct 6)
Gridiron & Wine graded a pick on this game: see the archived pick.
More NCAAF games on October 24, 2026
- LSU Tigers 38, Auburn Tigers 17 (Oct 24)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders 24, Cincinnati Bearcats 37 (Oct 24)
- Rice Owls 49, Florida Atlantic Owls 51 (Oct 24)
- Pittsburgh Panthers 23, Miami Hurricanes 52 (Oct 24)
- Indiana Hoosiers 13, Michigan Wolverines 6 (Oct 24)
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 14, Northwestern Wildcats 42 (Oct 24)
- California Golden Bears 20, SMU Mustangs 59 (Oct 24)
- West Virginia Mountaineers 24, TCU Horned Frogs 20 (Oct 24)
- Western Michigan Broncos 38, Toledo Rockets 45 (Oct 24)
- Miami (OH) RedHawks 28, Central Michigan Chippewas 27 (Oct 24)
- Baylor Bears 24, Kansas Jayhawks 25 (Oct 24)
- Akron Zips 20, Kent State Golden Flashes 35 (Oct 24)
- Oregon Ducks 10, Illinois Fighting Illini 21 (Oct 24)
- Texas A&M Aggies 20, Alabama Crimson Tide 31 (Oct 24)
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